A toilet seat is essential when using the toilet because it provides comfort while doing your business and protects you from germs. As a result, we can’t use the toilet in today’s world without a toilet seat, which is an essential part of our bathroom.
The toilet seat and lid have a tendency to fade or peel. This is a concern for most of us who want our bathroom interior decor, including the toilet, to remain bright, colorful, and tidy.
Peeling toilet seats are an eyesore for homeowners because they will always appear dull, stained, and dirty, even if you clean them with the most effective detergent available. The stained or faded effect will still be visible on the surface of the toilet seat.
In this post, we will cover:
- Why do toilet seat peel?
- How to restore a peeling toilet seat.
- Why should you repaint your bathroom toilet seat?
- How to Paint a Peeling Toilet Seat.
- What is the lifespan of a toilet seat?
Table of Contents
Why do Toilet Seat Peel?
The surface of toilet seats deteriorates over time due to age or cleaning products we frequently use. These effects dull the toilet seat’s glossy finish and expose the surface material of the seat and lid.
One type of seat that is more prone to peeling is the wooden toilet seat; once the protective varnish has worn off, the wooden material absorbs moisture in the bathroom and begins to peel; this is why wooden toilet seats require more care than plastic toilet seats.
Read:- Toilet Seat Makeover
On the other hand, plastic toilet seats are more susceptible to cleaning products and UV light effects; while they do not peel, they do lose their white gloss shiny appearance.
How to restore a peeling toilet seat
Painting the toilet seat is one of the most effective ways to restore a peeling toilet seat. Both wooden and plastic toilet seats can be repainted to restore their original appearance and smooth surface.
Rust-Oleum Primer and Rust-Oleum Paint are the best paints for plastic toilet seats because they are precisely designed to adhere to plastic, ensuring a glossy and long-lasting finish.
These are the most well-known plastic toilet seat sprayer paints. A faded, peeling, and dirty toilet seat can be repainted using a step-by-step Do It Yourself technique to restore its brilliant white surface and last another decade without being replaced.
Why Should You Repaint Your Bathroom Toilet Seat?
The need to repaint your toilet seat may arise as the color fades or discolors and the glossy finish wears out due to a variety of factors. You can restore the bright color of the toilet seat by painting it rather than buying a new one.
Repainting a toilet seat is a low-cost and simple way to refresh the look of your toilet while saving money and improving the appearance of your bathroom.
You may want to read our comprehensive guide of the best paint for wooden toilet seats.
How to Paint a Peeling Toilet Seat
If you’re up for the challenge of painting a toilet seat, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it without hiring a professional, saving you money and allowing you to show off your artistic abilities.
First, here’s a list of the equipment and materials you’ll need to complete this project successfully.
- Sand Paper.
- Piece of cloth.
- Screwdriver.
- Old newspaper.
- Masking tape.
- Primer and paint.
- Clean water.
- Dish soap.
First, remove the toilet seat and lid from the toilet, allowing you to access all of the toilet seat’s components. With a flat screwdriver, remove the bolt covers, unscrew the bolts that secure the seat and lid to the toilet, and safely remove the toilet seat.
The next step is to thoroughly clean the toilet seat, including underneath the seat and the hinges. You will be able to remove any dirt, bacteria, or paint peelings from the surface.
Allow the cleaned toilet seat to completely dry, preferably in the sun, to ensure that the paint adheres to and dries perfectly on the surface of the toilet seat.
Cover the areas you don’t want to paint with newspaper and masking tape; this is a personal preference, as some people prefer to paint the entire toilet seat and lid, while others prefer only to paint the seat.
Sanding the toilet seats is important because it ensures that the paint adheres to the surface. Begin by gently sanding the surface of the toilet seats with 180 to 220 grit sandpaper to prepare the surface for painting.
Then, blow away any dust accumulated on the surface of the toilet seat as a result of sanding. While blowing the dust away, you can protect yourself from fine dust by wearing a mask.
The next step is to find a well-ventilated area, preferably outside, and then place the old newspaper on the floor, followed by the toilet seat. Begin by evenly spraying a light coat; take note of the wind direction as this can blow away the paint while spraying.
Spraying 6 to 8 inches away from the toilet seat is recommended, as spraying closer may result in an uneven paint coat and drips on the toilet seat’s surface. Allow the first spray coat to dry before repeating for a perfect glossy finish.
It is recommended that you carefully read and follow the paint manufacturer’s instructions to achieve a perfect painting on the toilet seat. Allow the toilet seat to dry before reinstalling it on the toilet.
Conclusion
Repainting a toilet is a simple DIY project that can be completed on a perfect Saturday afternoon to give your toilet seat a new look.
Though toilet seats cost between $30 and $50, painting them is less expensive than purchasing a new one. Repainting your toilet seat is a good idea if it is in good condition but discolored.
You may want to check some of the best paint for a plastic and wooden toilet seats in 2022 (Buying guide and Reviews)
FAQs About Toilet Seat Peeling
What is the lifespan of a toilet seat?
The average lifespan of a toilet seat is 5 to 8 years, though this may vary depending on how you care for it in terms of hygiene and use. Your toilet seats will likely crack or loosen on the hinges after 8 years of use, and the glossy, shiny finish will fade due to routine cleaning.
Furthermore, due to hard water stains and dirt, the cotton white of the toilet seat will begin to fade. That is when the toilet seat will need to be replaced, as it will have served its purpose for the past 8 years.
When looking for a toilet seat, consider some of the key features that will allow your toilet seat to provide more than just a seat when you’re on the toilet. Modern toilet seats have fantastic features that extend the life of the toilet seat beyond that of previous generations.
When shopping for new toilet seats, consider the following features.
- Slow close mechanism
When one is finished using the toilet, the slow close mechanism allows the lid to close slowly on its own without slamming on the toilet seat. The lid requires a gentle touch and then closes slowly on its own without slamming on the toilet seat. This avoids potential breakages caused by the lid slamming against the toilet seat.
- Stain resistant toilet seat
While having a toilet seat that is stain resistant is essential, most toilet seats lose their white glossy color over time due to hard water, dirt, and urine stains that develop on the surface of the toilet seat.
The anti-stain glossy white finish on modern toilet seats is designed to prevent the formation of stains on the surface of the toilet seats. Furthermore, the toilet seats are easy to clean, thanks to the glossy white finish.
- Material
When looking for a toilet seat, one of the most important factors to consider is the material. You don’t want to buy a cheap plastic toilet seat because they are made of lightweight plastic that is prone to breakage.
The best toilet seats are made of wood, porcelain, and polypropylene and can last for more than a decade. These toilet seats have been shown to resist stains, chips, cracks, and scratches.
Proper way to clean a wooden toilet seats
Wooden toilet seats are preferred over plastic toilet seats because they are more comfortable to use, resilient, and warm even in the winter. They do, however, have a drawback in that, if not correctly cared for, hardwood toilet seats will absorb moisture from the bathroom and hence will not last as long.
The best approach to clean a wooden toilet seat is to gently scrub it using a non-abrasive sponge or cloth with any soap, whether dish soap or hand soap. Additionally, antibacterial soap or alcohol can be used to eliminate germs that are commonly found on the surface of the seat and lid.
Then, using a damp towel, carefully rinse the seat and lid to ensure that all germs and dirt are removed. Finally, dry the washed areas with a dry soft cloth to eliminate any remaining wetness on the surface of the toilet seats.
Why do wooden toilet seats tend to crack?
If properly cared for, wooden toilet seats last longer than plastic toilet seats. However, many users have complained that wooden toilet seats crack. Most wooden toilet seats are made of compressed wood, such as MDF, which warps or cracks when subjected to extreme pressure.
Furthermore, they are more affected by bathroom humidity or high heat; if the protective varnish on the wooden toilet seats is depleted due to routine cleaning, the wooden seat and lid tend to absorb moisture in the bathroom environment, causing the wooden structure to soak and swell.
This weakens the toilet seat structure, making it more likely to crack, peel, or break. The need to properly care for wooden toilet seats is also critical, as this will ensure that the seat and lid last longer and remain in good condition for many years.