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AIBU?

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AIBU to expect air freshener in toilets when visiting friends?

683 replies

HangryBrickShark · 09/09/2026 23:11

Is there an expectation that people's toilets should have an air freshener in? Like a spray air freshener?

We always have air freshener in both our toilets in case friends or family get caught short when visiting us or even to freshen the bathroom after having a wee if necessary, so I hate it if I go to a friend/family members house and they have none.

I get some people may be affected by asthma but surely if you had asthma you wouldn't use it?

We have a glade air freshener at work that sprays into the space where the wash handbasins are for example.

OP posts:
TaptheCap · 12/09/2026 19:52

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:10

We have a toilet at work which has no window. Outside of MN land, many people shit when they need to. Striking a match isn’t an option. No bleach is available.

So should people just leave the shit smell for the next person ?

Well you are leaving the smell of shit for the next person whether you use air freshener or not, it's just whether you are also leaving the smell of artificial scent as well.

RowsOfFlowers · 12/09/2026 19:51

I’d rather open the window

TaptheCap · 12/09/2026 19:42

I absolutely cannot stand the smell of air freshener and won't have it in my house.

I'd rather smell your shit than a mix of shit and horrendous air freshener.

WhyIsThereGlitterEverywhere · 12/09/2026 19:39

YABU, the chemicals in synthetic air fresheners are disgusting and not something I want my family breathing everyday.

WWomble · 12/09/2026 19:16

Yuck. Bathroom smells can be bad but so can air fresheners.

I’m allergic so wouldn’t have the,, but it had never crossed my mind to have them even before my allergies prevent it. Open a window.

BillieWiper · 12/09/2026 19:16

Not really because unless I'm sleeping at their house I doubt I'd be going for a number 2. I guess it would be handy. But if someone doesn't have it then they obviously accept the possible associated brief waft of odour.

Moveoverdarlin · 12/09/2026 19:16

HangryBrickShark · 09/09/2026 23:17

Why? It actually annoys me to not see one if I'm honest.

How often do you have a pooh in someone else’s house??

mymswashing · 12/09/2026 19:15

Ireallycantthinkofagoodone · 12/09/2026 18:30

I agree. I have mentioned this on numerous posts where people have talked about what they allow in various bathrooms in their homes.

No-one seems to take any notice. They would rather spray nasty chemicals into the atmosphere.

Bonkers!

We can’t use matches at work, it would set off the smoke alarms! There’s no window and no extractors so it’s poo pourri or Febreze. We have both. Most people use the poo pourri

Sherrijames138 · 12/09/2026 19:15

aterriblemiddleclassfanny · 09/09/2026 23:17

This.
It wouldn't ever occur to me.
I'm vegan which may make a difference but honestly other than the odd occasion where I've maybe been on holiday and eaten a lot of foods I wouldn't usually, you could go in the bathroom straight after I'd been for a number 2 and not smell anything.

Do you have bowel issues and/or a rubbish diet in your family? I'd understand why you'd have air freshener if so. But to expect others to always follow suit is unrealistic.

Absolutely, no!! Sorry but everyone's poop SMELLS and being vegan is no exception to that lol.

Yes, the particular foods you consume play a role in how your poop smells but it's only one small factor. Eating "rubbish" isn't the sole determinant of odor. Digestive factors, hormones, gut bacteria, whether you consume alcohol, conditions like diabetes or celiac, tolerances and allergies to things like gluten, activity level, OTC & Rx medications.... ALL play a role.
Eating clean definitely has an impact. Being vegan doesn't automatically mean one isn't eating rubbish, either.
Common to have freshener in the bathroom.

CandidRaven · 12/09/2026 19:01

I can't deal with air fresheners or perfume of any kind so no it doesn't come in my house.

Teddy1949 · 12/09/2026 18:57

ThisAutumnTown · 09/09/2026 23:30

In each of my bathrooms, I have little baskets on the windowsills. In the baskets I have 3 loo rolls, flushable wipes, poo-pouri (spray in the loo before you poop to trap the smell) and air freshener.
All set up neatly!
I don’t know a single other person that does this so I think I might be the weird one 😂

There are no flushable wipes.

RG89 · 12/09/2026 18:56

What an odd thing to get so hung up about! If it worries you that much then carry one with you. To me the poo smells worse mixed with air freshener and lingers a lot longer than just the smell of poo on its own! Expensive, bad for the environment and I haven't found one that actually smells nice.

If something like that annoys you so much you must live a really nice, trouble free life.

BlueFahrenheit · 12/09/2026 18:54

Air fresheners make me feel sick. Prefer reed diffusers.

Iloveeverycat · 12/09/2026 18:54

Haven't you heard of vipoo you can take your own with you

Outtaxed · 12/09/2026 18:52

No those sprays are horrible. What appears to be the on trend solution is to buy some very overpriced French scented matches.

Teddy1949 · 12/09/2026 18:52

Open the window.

Seziah · 12/09/2026 18:51

MrsSlocombesCat · 12/09/2026 18:30

Toilet brushes are vile. Just wipe the poop off with toilet paper.

Do you never get limescale that needs scrubbing off? No skids in my toilet because I use loo paper too but it needs scrubbing once a week due to the scale. I do agree they’re gross though, I have found that some people (men) use brushes before they’ve flushed instead of after, so the brush gets paper mashed into it 🤮

BridgetMonica · 12/09/2026 18:50

BabblingBiddy · 12/09/2026 18:47

And ignore any allergies in your friends houses.

Don’t get your britches in a wad, Babbling Biddy. She can easily ask her friend if the friend minds freshener spray in the bathroom. 🙄

BabblingBiddy · 12/09/2026 18:47

BridgetMonica · 12/09/2026 18:45

Carry a small air freshener in your bag.

Edited

And ignore any allergies in your friends houses.

BridgetMonica · 12/09/2026 18:45

Carry a small air freshener in your bag.

Seziah · 12/09/2026 18:45

Ireallycantthinkofagoodone · 12/09/2026 18:30

I agree. I have mentioned this on numerous posts where people have talked about what they allow in various bathrooms in their homes.

No-one seems to take any notice. They would rather spray nasty chemicals into the atmosphere.

Bonkers!

I’ve tried this, it actually didn’t work that well for me. I took a box of matches on my first ever holiday with a boyfriend. But the room still smelled a bit of shit, but also burning and blown out birthday candles too. Then you have to dispose of a match. And if the box gets damp from the bathroom the matches won’t light. Unfortunately didn’t eradicate embarrassment like I thought it would

Mumtotornadoes · 12/09/2026 18:43

I'm asthmatic. We have no aerosols at all in our house. I would be fuming if I went into my bathroom and someone had fogged it in chemical spray just because they'd done a poo on a toilet. It's 50% of its purpose. Clean you skids and flush the toilet. Yeah there might be a faint smell for a short period, it's a toilet, we don't congregate in there. Who cares?

SunnyOchreNewt · 12/09/2026 18:42

I made the mistake of buying a spray air freshener once and had to hide it after visitors insisted on using it. The stench (worse than s**t) would permeate the entire house.
I provide scented candles, incense and matches. They can take their pick.

Ocean67 · 12/09/2026 18:41

Yes… usually men who stay in there for hours on their phones🤢

ClairDeLaLune · 12/09/2026 18:40

Ewww I hate air fresheners, they NEVER smell nice. If you do a poo at someone’s house, flush it immediately (“courtesy flush”) then wipe yourself and flush again. By the time you’re out of the loo, the smell should’ve gone.

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