re: Plumbers of the OT: guest bathroom reeks of ammonia…

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So essentially…let the water run in the tub for a bit?

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Yes. It’s that simple.

If you don’t use the bathroom regularly, the water that sits in the “P” can dry up

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May have a blocked vent, causing the toilet to suck the water out of the the traps for the tub/shower and lav.

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This is very likely the cause, or as another poster said a dried up trap if you never use that bathroom. The trap prevents septic/sewer gases from venting into the room.

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Ran water through both sink faucets and bathtub for about 5 minutes. I guess it’ll take a while for the existing smell to dissipate. No bleach on hand, so I’ll get that going tomorrow.

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Vinegar and baking soda worked wonders for my smelly drain in a bathroom. Surprisingly better and cheaper than bleach or any other harsh chemicals.

Pour the soda powder down there first. then flush with big jug of vinegar.
fizzes up good and kills smells

You've got a dead mouse in the wall

You need to mix some ammonia and water then let it sit in the pipes.

The only time I experienced anything like this was finally having to get the “septic tank” pumped after 40 years of my grandparents and then me living there. (Septic tank was a 10’ section of concrete culvert with a concrete cap, had to literally chip out a piece of the cap to stick the pump hose in.)

The lines of perforated pvc for the tank to drain finally deteriorated and collapsed having to be replaced. It was as awful a job for the plumber. Smelling like when the hayfield next door had been freshly fertilized from the owner’s chicken operation manure until the next couple of big rains.