The inevitable happened, and your toilet seat is trying to throw you off every time that you use it. Why does your toilet seat loosen over time, and how do you fix the issue? This quick instruction will show you how to tighten your seat and keep it from sliding around in the near future.
Why Is My Toilet Seat Loose?
In most cases, there are only a couple of bolts securing your toilet seat to the bowl, and in many cases, at least some of the hardware is plastic. This means that as you shift your weight, sit, or cause stress to the seat, your plastic components are ground on by the bolts. Eventually, between loosening hardware and eroded plastic, your toilet seat will start to move side-to-side.
Tightening The Seat
With the majority of toilet seats, tightening is simple and can be done in minutes. Most toilet seats have plastic caps over the bolts, which can easily be “popped off” with a flathead screwdriver or similar tools. After you have access to the head of the bolt, find the screwdriver that fits the bolt threads. If you have “wingnuts” securing the bolts, these can be held while you secure the top. If not, grab your wrench set or pliers to hold the nuts in place.
Once you have the proper tools, simply tighten the bolts until the seat is completely secure on both sides, being careful not to overtighten, especially if you have plastic threads.
How To Keep It Tight
There are limited options for keeping your toilet seat tight over an extended period, however, improved hardware is a great place to start. Toilet seat components are designed to be corrosion-resistant, safe for the bowl, and more often than not, cost-effective. Completely removing the bolts, nuts, and any other pieces that are securing your seat will let you see signs of wear, which can tell that it’s time to purchase new hardware. You can buy plastic nuts and bolts that fit your seat for around $2.50, but you will end up sliding off again in a few months. Higher quality options are available, and well worth it for those who are tired of shifting toilet seats.
Summary
Tightening your toilet seat is typically a simple and fast process, as long as you are wary of overtightening. Keeping it tight, however, is the challenge. Upgrading your seat hardware can help, or you can upgrade into something more comfortable, like these state-of-the-art bidet toilet seats.
