How to Mount Toilet Seats
If your toilet seat is cracked, worn or stained by hard water deposits, you may want to replace it. This simple household project should take five minutes or less, as long as you've purchased the correct replacement seat. Hold the new toilet seat over the old one and verify that the mounting bolts line up--and that the seat is the right size and shape--before beginning the project. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Remove the nuts holding the old toilet seat in place. Usually they're under the hinges of the seat, protected by a protruding lip and close to the toilet tank. You may need a flashlight to help you see under the lip, and you might need a ratchet wrench with an extension to be able to reach the nuts if they're deeply recessed.
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Pull off the washers, then lift the toilet seat straight up. The mounting bolts should come out easily. If not, you may need to apply penetrating oil to the bolts where they enter the toilet. Wait a few minutes for the oil to sink in, then try again.
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3
Place the new toilet seat over the toilet bowl. Line up the new mounting bolts with the holes in the toilet base, then slowly lower the toilet seat into position.
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Place a washer on each mounting bolt and hand-tighten the nut, working from below, then tighten each nut firmly with the wrench. Do not overtighten the nuts; they should be just firm enough to keep the seat from shifting. Don't reuse the old mounting hardware; new nuts and washers should come with the new seat.
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Tips & Warnings
If there was a lot of corrosion around the mounting bolts on the old toilet seat, apply a thin coating of penetrating oil to the new bolts before installation to help prevent rust.
