# Is a lit match for bathroom stink the best solution? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094 "2015-08-05T20:15:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stinkz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@stinkz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stinkz)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/1 "2015-08-05T20:15:49Z")
This is really three questions… 1. How many of you light a match after doing your business and making a bathroom stink? I do when I have matches available and am always amazed at how well it seems to work, but I don’t know if it’s just for me or if other people in the house benefit as well. 2. How does this work? I can’t imaging it burns up all the stinky gas. Does it just burn my nostrils so I can’t smell the stink, and can other people still smell it? Does it eliminate the stink or just cover it up? 3. Do you have a better solution? I don’t like perfume that just covers up (overpowers) the smell and replaces it with (in my opinion) a worse smell. Is there anything else out there that really neutralizes the little stink molecules floating around? I appreciate any and all input! ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/2 "2015-08-05T20:22:14Z")
For whatever reason, the sulfur compounds in the match head are more noticeable than the mercaptans in your poop and by the time the scent of the match has dissipated, so have the poo gases. Poo-pourri and Trap-a-Crap are products that claim to trap smells beneath the waterline in the toilet. I’ve never tried them and make no claims as to their efficacy. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/3 "2015-08-05T20:22:28Z")
I’ve never tried it, but I know that many people swear by [Poo-Pourri](http://www.amazon.com/Poo-Pourri-Before-You-Go-Toilet-2-Ounce-Original/dp/B0014DP9Y4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438805958&sr=8-1&keywords=poo+pourri+spray). You can read the Amazon reviews and see that it seems to work. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/4 "2015-08-05T20:26:22Z")
It sure works. Yes it does. Lighting farts pretty much kills any odor too. ETA Just noticed the username/thread title relationship. ---
**Author:** ![stinkz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@stinkz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stinkz)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/5 "2015-08-05T20:50:06Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > I’ve never tried it, but I know that many people swear by [Poo-Pourri](http://www.amazon.com/Poo-Pourri-Before-You-Go-Toilet-2-Ounce-Original/dp/B0014DP9Y4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438805958&sr=8-1&keywords=poo+pourri+spray). You can read the Amazon reviews and see that it seems to work. Wow. Never heard about this stuff. It certainly has a LOT of believers (reviews), and if nothing else, the number one review is a crack up to read! I’ll have to look into it. But I’m also skeptical, as I think the stink comes both from the solid and the gas that comes out. The solid goes into the water and I think the water would hold the smell. It’s the solid on it’s way to the water and the gas that I think would be the issue. Is this just a scented covering for the water, and what about the odor molecules that never go into the water. I can see I’ll have to investigate! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/6 "2015-08-05T20:51:01Z")
> [@stinkz](#): > > 1. Do you have a better solution?! When we remodeled our master bath, they replaced the normal useless fan with a really good one. It sucks up all the air in about a minute. ---
**Author:** ![stinkz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@stinkz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stinkz)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/7 "2015-08-05T20:52:56Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > For whatever reason, the sulfur compounds in the match head are more noticeable than the **mercaptans** in your poop and by the time the scent of the match has dissipated, so have the poo gases. > > Poo-pourri and Trap-a-Crap are products that claim to trap smells beneath the waterline in the toilet. I’ve never tried them and make no claims as to their efficacy. I googled “mercaptans” and its now my new word of the day. Just have to remember that its spelled [mercaptans] and not [mercraptans]… Thanks for the education! ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/8 "2015-08-05T21:08:23Z")
There are products that claim to stop the smell before it even starts, like this one: [http://www.amazon.com/DEVROM-Chewable-Tablets-Internal-Deodorant/dp/B0026786WY/ref=sr\_1\_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438808604&sr=8-1&keywords=internal+deodorant](http://www.amazon.com/DEVROM-Chewable-Tablets-Internal-Deodorant/dp/B0026786WY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438808604&sr=8-1&keywords=internal+deodorant) Note: I have not used this and can make no claims as to its efficacy. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/9 "2015-08-05T22:49:38Z")
> [@stinkz](#): > > Wow. Never heard about this stuff. It certainly has a LOT of believers (reviews), and if nothing else, the number one review is a crack up to read! I’ll have to look into it. But I’m also skeptical, as I think the stink comes both from the solid and the gas that comes out. The solid goes into the water and I think the water would hold the smell. It’s the solid on it’s way to the water and the gas that I think would be the issue. Is this just a scented covering for the water, and what about the odor molecules that never go into the water. > I can see I’ll have to investigate! The product has a lot of floral scents. You spray it on the water in the bowl. I know this isn’t how the manufacturers claim it works, but a shorthand I use is: when the poop hits the water, it releases additional floral scent, either masking or eliminating the gas produced odors. So yes, it really works. All of the males in my family swear by it. 🙂 J. ---
**Author:** ![dr\_zippermeyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dr\_zippermeyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dr_zippermeyer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/10 "2015-08-06T10:39:02Z")
If you don’t mind a slighty off-topic question: is there even a theoretical risk of causing an explosion in your bathroom by igniting a match? We all know that flatus is combustible. So if air in bathroom would be thoroughly saturated with these gases, could it explode? ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/11 "2015-08-06T12:08:26Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > When we remodeled our master bath, they replaced the normal useless fan with a really good one. It sucks up all the air in about a minute. I agree and be sure to vent it to the outside. Never into an attic area. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/12 "2015-08-06T12:22:09Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > I agree and be sure to vent it to the outside. Never into an attic area. Forget that, I’m going to vent it into the guest bedroom and after 3 days the fan comes on. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/13 "2015-08-06T13:33:39Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Forget that, I’m going to vent it into the guest bedroom and after 3 days the fan comes on. Genius. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/14 "2015-08-06T15:05:22Z")
Burning probably does burn off some of the complex organic molecules, but probably not fast enough to change things in a matter of minutes. I agree, it’s more likely the sulphur dulls your sense of smell. Light a candle instead, maybe. I have heard of using candles to help dispel the “fresh paint” smell of the off-gasses from a recently painted house. An explosion happens when the concentration of flammable gasses to oxygen reaches a “flash point”. Unless Herr Hindenburg is using your bathroom, this is physically impossible. ---
**Author:** ![stinkz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@stinkz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stinkz)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/15 "2015-08-06T16:49:17Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Forget that, I’m going to vent it into the guest bedroom and after 3 days the fan comes on. **Absolutely brilliant! Killing two birds with one stone!** Now that I’m done laughing, back to the real question. I thought more about this poo-puri last night. Does it really create a “barrier” on top the water that keeps the stink molecules from getting through? If the stink can travel through water, why can’t it travel through the thin poo-puri layer. I’m thinking more and more **it is just MASKING the smell with a different (but pleasant) smell**. Do people agree, or does anyone think it is really creating an impenetrable barrier??? Also, so what would actually neutralize or destroy the stink molecules, or do they just fade away over time anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/16 "2015-08-06T23:59:43Z")
> [@dr\_zippermeyer](#): > > If you don’t mind a slighty off-topic question: is there even a theoretical risk of causing an explosion in your bathroom by igniting a match? We all know that flatus is combustible. So if air in bathroom would be thoroughly saturated with these gases, could it explode? Pretty sure the Mythbusters tested that and, IIRC, didn’t get an explosion even when they filled the room up with fart gases. I remember Adam solemnly explaining at the beginning of the episode that the network wouldn’t let them use “the most common word” for intestinal gas, and insisted they use the word “flatus” throughout the episode. ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/17 "2015-08-07T20:30:03Z")
I’ve tried a UK equivalent of the bowl spray stuff called “Poo-fume”. I don’t know how it works, but it definitely works. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/18 "2015-08-07T20:51:32Z")
My bathroom de-stinkerizer of choice is Ozium. ---
**Author:** ![Polar\_Iceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Polar\_Iceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polar_Iceman)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/19 "2015-08-08T02:53:09Z")
Sorry, but this doesn’t make a lot of sense. My extensive experience and hands on research tells me that when anyone does their business there is a physical gap between their “producing the goods area” and the surface of the water in the bowl. Therefore, when their product drops there is a discharge of the smellies into the air, before the load even hits the bowl. In addition, as they dump their load, a considerable amount of gas is discharged into the air before, during and after dumpage. This volume of gas never gets close to the water in the bowl. That being the case, how does this Poo Poo stuff “neutralise” these airborne gases? I suspect that this Poo Poo stuff is really some kind of narcotic that has a direct action on the brain cells thereby inducing the illusion of desmellifying. Probably invented by George Bush. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-lit-match-for-bathroom-stink-the-best-solution/727094/20 "2015-08-08T15:03:25Z")
> [@stinkz](#): > > Wow. Never heard about this stuff. It certainly has a LOT of believers (reviews), and if nothing else, the number one review is a crack up to read! I’ll have to look into it. But I’m also skeptical, as I think the stink comes both from the solid and the gas that comes out. The solid goes into the water and I think the water would hold the smell. It’s the solid on it’s way to the water and the gas that I think would be the issue. Is this just a scented covering for the water, and what about the odor molecules that never go into the water. > I can see I’ll have to investigate! I swear it is a wonder potion. Really.