Crazy Novice Toilet Plan

matchboxfull

Erm, so neither my husband or myself are in any way DIY people, but we've had an idea and I want to ask you clever people if it's a totally stupid plan.

All our toilets are the same - the ones with round hinges going into holes. We clean them all the time but have noticed that there is often rancid yellow/brown muck seeping out from under the hinges, which we assume is wee.

Our plan is to take all the seats off, clean inside the holes, replace the hinges, and then seal them with some clear sealant so that nothing gross can drip down there.

Is this a dumb idea or a good idea? What should we watch out for?

paddy's_mum

Is it wee, though? We get something similar in only one of our loos and it turns out to be the coldest room so we believe it to be a mixture of condensation and mild rust.

phil24_7

More likely to be rust from the fittings. Get some seats which have plastic hinges and fittings.

Regards
Phil

matchboxfull

Thanks both. We don't think it's rust and it certainly smells. Four male people in the house.

I_have_spoken

What should we watch out for?

Germs ?

phil24_7

Check to make sure the current toilet seat has it's rubber washers intact. If not then wee may well be leaking down there. Replacing the seat (or just the washers if you can get the right size) should sort the problem.

DRP

We just bought a toilet with a 'quick release' seat. Helps with cleaning.

matchboxfull

Just had to Google that DRP. I don't think that would solve our problem as the muck is getting in under those round hinge hinges.

We're implementing our plan as we speak. Put the sealant under the hinge caps so it doesn't even actually show.

London50

phil24_7 wrote: »

More likely to be rust from the fittings. Get some seats which have plastic hinges and fittings.

Regards
Phil

You need to be careful with the plastic fitting as they can easily break when you tighten the nuts and I have found they can come loose far quicker than metal ones.

phil24_7

I'm ham fisted and my all plastic toilet seat has stood up to a few years use. I tighten as much as 2 hands on a small wingnut will allow. I've had to re-tighten 1 side up within the last 6 months but that's it. If it's a decent toilet with a reasonably course thread then it should stand up to a bit of abuse.

Davesnave

matchboxfull wrote: »

Thanks both. We don't think it's rust and it certainly smells. Four male people in the house.

Have they been to Specsavers recently?