Most of us actually take our toilet seats for granted. We think of them as necessary but not so useful other than keeping our bottoms from falling into the toilet.
But this negligence may result in your health condition being compromised if you don’t keep them neat and clean. This is even more true if you have wooden seats since they require a different approach.
What’s the approach? We’re here to walk you through the whole process!
How to Clean a Wooden Toilet Seat?
1. Get a cleaning agent
Some of the most common cleaning agents are:
- Dish soaps
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Murphy’s soap
- Rubbing alcohol
Among these, hydrogen peroxide handles stubborn stains pretty well while Murphy’s soap helps balance out the sealing of the wood rather than disinfecting it.
2. Let the seat dry
Apply the cleaning agent gently and clean up the area thoroughly. Let it dry afterward.
3. Remove urine stains
Unlike plastic, wooden seats are sensitive to bleaching agents. That’s why you should never use bleach to remove urine stains.
Instead, go for options like hydrogen peroxide that will take out the stain without harming the seal and the color of the wood.
4. Sanitize and disinfect
You can use a hydrogen peroxide solution with rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol will help with the disinfection and speed up the drying process.
Cleaning Products You Should Avoid
-
Harsh cleansers
There are different types of harsh cleansers and a majority of them come in the powder form that creates a frictional force against the wooden surface. As a result, you may end up spoiling the texture of the seat.
-
Bleach
The bleach reacts on the outer surface of the wood and ruins the color and shine.
-
Vinegar
Vinegar is a widely popular cleaning agent. The natural acetic acid makes it an ideal choice for cleansing and disinfecting.
But the acidity of the vinegar tends to spoil the color of the wood that may also ruin the integrity of the wood as well.
Commonly Used Toilet Seat Materials
1. Wood
Wooden toilet seats are still so popular for their comfortable finish and added durability while the wooden surface keeps the seat temperature stable in any weather condition, especially in winter.
2. Plastic
Super easy to clean and maintain, plastic seats are more on the modern side. Their robust build yet easy affordability has made them the most common material in US households.
Why Choose a Wooden Toilet Seat?
1. Durability
Wooden seats usually are heavier and thicker than their plastic counterparts. The integrity of the wood makes them sturdy enough to use for years if you take good care of them.
2. Environmentally friendly
We all know how plastics are harming our environment today and opting for safe, natural, and eco-friendly materials is always a wise decision.
We recommend that you replace your plastic toilet seat with a wooden one.
3. Always in style
Wooden products never go out of style, and this holds true even for the toilet seat.
4. Temperature balance
As said before, the insulating property of wood helps it maintain a perfectly balanced temperature throughout the year. Once you use them, there will be no coming back!
What Makes a Wooden Toilet Seat Unhygienic?
Despite being hygienic, wooden seats tend to crack if there is moisture and abrasion.
Urine along with other fluids may seep into these tiny cracks and cause buildup of bacterial.
There could also be skid marks that may gross you out.
Care and Maintenance Tips
1. Keep the seat nice and dry all year round
Always remember that moisture is the worst enemy that can promote bacterial growth and mess up with the exterior sealing of the seat.
2. Say no to cracked seats
Do regular checkups to see if the seat has any cracks and fix them immediately if found.
3. Don’t forget about the hardware
Follow the same cleaning procedure for the seat hinges as well.
The bumpers below the seat can be easily replaced if they get dislodged, discolored or break down. They are necessary to keep your toilet stable and wobble-free.
What if the Gold Hardware Loses Its Shine?
Some wooden toilet seats have these gold hardware that attach the seat to the toilet. They can discolor soon and turn brown or green.
Here’s a unique tip: coat the hardware with a clear nail polish!
FAQs
1. Are wooden toilet seats sanitary?
Ans. Wooden toilets are indeed safe and sanitary but they may trap more bacteria and germs when compared to plastic seats at times.
2. Do wooden toilet seats smell?
Ans. If maintained well, it will not smell. But there could be odor if the sealing is broken or cracked.
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