How to Make a Loose Toilet Seat Stay Tight

There is nothing more frustrating that trying to use the commode perched upon that pesky, loose seat. My husband, a farmer, has the strength to tighten anything to the point of breakage, but he could not get the toilet seat to stay tight.

The cause of the problem is the nylon bolts and taps that are used by most toilet seat manufactures. It was becoming a real chore having to retighten the cheap nylon bolts every few weeks. Finally, I discovered a simple solution that can easily be done by almost anyone.

Your local hardware or home improvement store will have just what you need. In the plumbing department look for the package labeled "toilet bowl bolt set," This little package contains metal bolts normally used to secure the toilet bowl to the floor flange, the size is 5/16 x 2 ¼ inch. This may be a little smaller that the nylon bolts you are replacing, however, it works just fine. You may also need to purchase two nylon washers if the old ones are ragged from being over tightened.

With a screwdriver remove the old nylon screws from the toilet bowl seat. Use a cloth to clean around the area as needed. Replace the old nylon bolts with the new metal bolts. Keeping all the pieces in order, put the metal oval shaped washer on the seat hinge. Next put the bolt through the washer and down through the back of the toilet seat. From underneath, place the old nylon tap, or a nylon washer, and the new metal tap to the bolt. Keeping pressure on the top of the bolt, use the pliers, or an open-end wrench to gently, tighten the taps. Carefully tighten the right tap, evenly with the left tap, to keep the seat level on the toilet bowl.

Caution: Do not over tighten, to prevent cracking the porcelain.

Items needed:

5/16 x 2 ¼ inch Toilet Bowl Bolt Set, Screwdriver, Open-end Wrench, Pliers