Normal toilet covers require menial effort to maintain. Nevertheless, if your toilet seat is wooden, more caution is needed for it not to be damaged.
So how do you care for a wooden toilet seat? Wet the surface of the wood using warm water and dish soap, and scrub every inch of the seat in circles. Reach into the hinges and behind the seat. Rinse the soap with warm water and dry it with a paper towel.
You might not manage to clean the toilet every day. This article points out the various proactive ways to help you avoid damaging the wood. You also get tips on how to maintain your seats properly.
Let’s dig in.
How To Care For A Wooden Toilet Seat?
Unlike the classic plastic covers, wooden seats require more attention when cleaning and maintaining. The steps and materials required are not complicated. However, unlike the other seat, you might need to increase your cleaning frequency.
To better understand having a healthy wooden seat, we can classify the process into three.
- Cleaning
- Disinfecting
- Protecting
Maintaining a healthy toilet cover will not
Cleaning
Whether dead or living, wood absorbs water, which might expose it to damage. It would be best if you handled the seat with extra care to prevent water surface.
The recommended material to wash is a sponge, warm water, disinfectant (hydrogen peroxide), and toilet washing soap.
Wet the surface of the toilet before applying washing soap all around. Use the sponge to scrub in circles all spots in the wooden toilet. Rinse thoroughly with warm water until the seat is clear of the soap.
Spray disinfectant around the toilet then dries off with tissue/paper towels.
What to avoid
*Bleaches: Bleaching eats into your wooden seat and eventually leads to discoloring. The natural color of the wood disappears over time as the bleach slowly eats it away, and your wooden seat becomes exposed.
*Vinegar: It’s ideal for killing germs in your toilet. However, not the best for wooden seats. It’s an acid and will eat into the seat. You are eventually exposing and harming the wood.
*Abrasive cleaners: Aside from scratching the surface, it also eats into your wooden coat, eventually discoloring.
Disinfecting
Hydrogen peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide is widely available from pharmacies to grocery stores and is available in concentrations of 3 or 6 percent. It’s an antiseptic treatment for minor wounds and scrapes. Because of its disinfecting characteristics, it can be used in various treatments.
Isopropyl alcohol – This is another disinfectant you can use which is prevalent in pharmaceutics, hospitals, clean rooms, and electronics or medical device manufacture. Isopropyl acts fast against bacteria, fungi, and viruses and is available in solutions between 60 percent to 90 percent alcohol.
Murphy oil – The job of this oil acts as a wood floor restorer. It offers to restore the shine of wooden toilet seats. The product may also cover scratches that have remained over time.
Protecting
Keep it dry: Wood absorbs dampness and eventually destroys it. You need to ensure dry surfaces at all times. Applying an outer coat to your wooden surface temporarily protects the water from getting absorbed.
Repair cracks: Exposed openings on the wood will lead to wider exposure and eventually damage the wood. Ensure you seal any openings which might expose the wood to further damage.
Maintain the other parts: Hinges, porcelain toilet, and tank are some components you’ll need to take care of. This ensures their cleanliness and shields the wooden seat from harmful exposure.
Tips for Daily Care of Wood
Cleaning may not provide the ultimate solution to taking care of the wooden seat, and you’ll need to be proactive. And below are a few tips to help achieve that.
- Spills should be wiped immediately and not allowed to rest.
- Clean sticky spills like urine with a damp sponge.
- Use mild dish soap.
- Keep the wooden seat away from the sun’s rays.
- Never use scratchy material to clean and scrub stains on your seat.
- Avoid cleaning materials that contain lemon, ammonia, citrus, silicon, or tung oil.
- Ensure the toilet is far from any sources of heat.
- Lubricate and clean the hinges around the seat to ensure it doesn’t rust and further harm. You can also apply nail polish around the hinges.
Drawbacks in Caring for Wooden Seat Toilets
A few challenges may deter you from maintaining your wooden toilet cover. However, some of this can be managed, as we’ll highlight below.
- Common toilet and bathroom– When wood gets in contact with water, it slowly depreciates and eventually gets destroyed. Sharing a bathroom and toilet exposes your wooden toilet seats to get in contact with water. Showering in a bathtub or a non-enclosed shower cubicle guarantees water spilling and splashing everywhere.
- Children– It’s common for kids to use toilets the wrong way. You’ll find urine drops on the toilet seat, which will damage your wooden covers with time. Some will even use the toilet water to play around, eventually exposing your wooden seat to water damage.
- Hygroscopic nature- It’s natural for wood to pick up moisture in the air and release it when it dries, which results in the expanding and shrinking of wood.
Addressing the Challenges
- The best way to overcome this is by covering your seat covers with protective gear that will not sip in water.
- You are partitioning your bathroom section from your toilet areas.
- You must be vigilant and frequently clean and disinfect your toilet seats.
- Have a separate toilet for kids with plastic covers that you can maintain easily
- Polish the outer cover of your seat to protect the wood from harm
Final Thoughts
Your restroom might seem attractive with the wooden toilet cover, however, without proper care, it might turn into an eye sore.
You don’t need excessive equipment or skills to care for a wooden toilet seat. This article has provided the guidance you need to clean your toilet.
When you follow these cleaning tips, your toilet will remain an attraction for your family and guest.
Amos Christen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Drexel University — Philadelphia, PA. Since 2003, Amos has worked with top interior design professionals in this area, including architects and interior/graphic/lighting designers. As a skilled interior designer, Amos Christen is highly versed in fine arts and crafts and uses that to supplement his main area of expertise. He often publishes articles related to home décor on several websites, including Sprucetoilets.com, Sprucebathroom.com, and Mybesuitedhome.com. He also contributes to leading interior design magazines.