Changing a toilet seat is a quick and easy do-it-yourself project that can instantly update the look and comfort of your bathroom. With just a few tools and a few minutes, you can replace your old chair with a new one.
Let’s be real, today’s project may not be the most glamorous DIY project, but it’s one that every homeowner should have in their tool kit – changing toilet seats. Yes, I’m talking about replacing your old toilet seat with a new one, and trust me, it’s a beginner’s job that anyone can do!
I usually recommend replacing an existing toilet seat when moving to a new home. It’s a good idea to start over and get a replacement toilet seat. It’s healthy and nice to have new products for your family! Below is a list of other tasks that need to be accomplished when moving to a new home.
When our kids were potty training, we installed these adorable training seats with a small built-in seat on top. Now that our potty training days are over (thank goodness!), it’s time to update the seat in our first floor bathroom – the bathroom that all of our guests use. Let’s just say, the old one has definitely seen better days!
Choose the right size of toilet seat
First thing, make sure you take the correct measurements so that you can buy the right size toilet seat. Before I headed to the store, I took a quick measurement of the length of the toilet bowl. There are two main types of toilet seat sizes: round bowl or elongated bowl.
Honestly, you can usually tell just by looking at the shape of your toilet bowl. But if you want to be safe, and avoid a trip back to the store, use a tape measure and measure from the bolts at the back of the toilet seat to the front.
Round toilet bowl: about 16.5 inches Elongated (or rectangular) toilet bowl: about 18.5 inches
Toilet seat widths can vary, but may not be enough to affect the fit of your toilet. It may seem a bit narrow or wide, but it won’t spoil the functionality. So you can often tell by just the shape of the toilet seat.
After measuring the toilet, I realized I needed a round seat. So, I headed to Home Depot and went straight to the plumbing section to check out the options.
Since I don’t plan on changing this seat anytime soon, I decided to go with a better option that was around $42. They have cheaper options (like $10), but I thought spending a little more was an easy way to upgrade the bathroom a little without breaking the bank.
Here is a link to the exact toilet seat I chose. I love it because it has a soft close feature and can be easily removed for cleaning. I chose white to match the toilet, but there are plenty of color options to choose from if you want to change things up.
After that, all you have to do is get some basic tools to decommission the old one and run the new one.
How to change your toilet seat
Remove your old seat
Once your new toilet seat is ready for use, it is time to remove the old toilet seat. Every toilet seat is a little different, but they usually have screws that go through the screw holes at the top of the toilet bowl. They are then secured by nuts under the toilet.
You can use an adjustable wrench to loosen the nuts, which is the most difficult part of the entire project. The nuts are usually located under the back of the toilet seat, which can make accessing them a bit difficult, especially in tight spaces. But don’t worry, with some patience, this will still be a fairly straightforward task.
I highly recommend investing in a toilet seat wrench for this job. It slides right over the top of the screws and nuts, allowing you to easily remove them without scraping your knuckles in the toilet. It’s an easy-to-use $10 tool that has saved me time on many quick DIY tasks around the house, especially on plumbing projects.
If the nuts are very old and sticky, you can use some WD-40 to loosen them.
Once the nuts are removed, you can lift the old toilet seat up and out of place. Be sure to check for any plastic covers or hinge covers that may need to be removed first.
Clean your toilet
Once your old toilet seat is off, it’s time to tackle the dirt that’s been hiding under the screw caps and plastic covers. Grab your heavy-duty cleaner and scrub brush, and get ready to clean the hard-to-reach areas around the toilet rim and mounting bolts. Trust me, you’ll be surprised (and maybe a little annoyed) at the gunk that builds up in those hard-to-clean spots.
Deep cleaning your toilet before installing the new fixtures will make everything look fresher. Plus, you’ll get rid of any harmful germs that may be lurking around the old screws. Make sure you finish by spraying some antibacterial spray to completely disinfect the area.
Install a new toilet seat
With the old seat out and the toilet clean, it’s time to install the new style seat. Each replacement toilet seat may come with slightly different instructions, but here’s how mine went:
My bench came with a hardware kit that included two metal bolts and two plastic nuts. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, I inserted the mounting screws through the seat hinges on the back of the toilet seat, making sure they aligned with the screw holes on the top of the bowl. Once the seat was positioned correctly on the bowl, I secured it by screwing the plastic nuts underneath.
To tighten the bolts, I held the wing nuts under the toilet and used a flathead screwdriver on top of the bolts to hold everything in place. The entire installation process took only a few minutes.
While tightening everything, make sure the seat stays in the middle of the toilet. Otherwise, you may end up with a loose toilet seat or one that doesn’t fit a bit when you use it. Trust me, a crooked seat is never fun!
How do I fix a wobbly toilet seat?
Maybe your toilet seat doesn’t need a complete replacement, but it has become a bit wobbly and could use some TLC. The good news? Fixing a loose toilet seat is a super quick fix in 30 seconds!
All you have to do is open the hinge covers (or hinges, depending on your toilet model) and use a flat-head screwdriver to tighten the toilet seat bolts. Make sure the seat stays centered while doing this to avoid twisting.
And that’s it – no more living with a wobbly or wobbly toilet seat! It’s just a fairly straightforward task that makes a big difference in your bathroom experience.
Go ahead and change your toilet seats!
You know you’re officially a stupid homeowner when changing toilet seats makes you excited! But honestly, it makes a big difference. I love the soft close feature on this model, and it is incredibly easy to clean. So, if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to upgrade your bathroom, definitely consider replacing your old toilet seat.
If you’re like me, you’ll be strangely happy every time you walk into your bathroom and see that new bench in place. Trust me, it’s a simple step that will leave you feeling accomplished!
Note: This is one of the 13 essential skills that I recommend every homeowner know how to do. Can you do the other 12?
