How to choose a toilet seat?

In the 21st century, few people can be surprised with anything. Technological progress is striding by leaps and bounds, and some things have become so commonplace for us that we do not even think about who invented them and when. One of those things is everyone's favorite and ubiquitous toilet.

The history of this remarkable device begins three thousand years BC in Mesopotamia. And also around the same time, a whole sewage system was discovered in Mohenjo-Daro, with wooden seats and sewage drains. A very valuable exhibit is kept in the British Museum - this is a device made in the form of a throne, which served as a "night vase" for the Sumerian queen Shubad. This find dates back to 2600 BC. Ancient China, Rome, Egypt also had sewerage systems, very perfect considering how long ago it all happened.

However, medieval Europe did not please with its technical progress due to the lack of such. There, even the nobility relieved themselves in ordinary pots, and their contents were then thrown out of the windows onto the street! The first drain device was invented for Queen Elizabeth I in 1596. Its author was John Harrington. The design was carefully described and documented, but did not receive mass distribution, not so much because of the high cost, but because of the lack of a plumbing system in the English kingdom.

The flush toilet was invented almost two centuries later, in 1738. And in 1778 the first toilet seat appeared - a folding seat with a lid. The mass production of toilets was started in 1909 in Spain. This was done by a firm called Unitas. Hence the name of these wonderful objects, without which now we cannot imagine our life.

At first, the lineup was very small. Now you can contemplate a huge variety of toilet bowls of all colors, in any price range and with various additional functions. People often approach the choice of a toilet responsibly. Someone looks at models cheaper, others, on the contrary, give an exclusive model "with bells and whistles." However, when it comes to choosing a toilet seat, customers take the first model that fits the shape and size and walk away. But this is wrong, because the choice of the seat is no less important than the choice of the toilet itself.

A toilet seat, or as it is also called a toilet seat, is not an easy part of a "white friend". The comfort of being in the "rest room" depends on how it will be. Now on the market there are a lot of models of toilet seats that differ from each other in shape, size, color, materials of manufacture, as well as the presence or absence of options.

Regardless of what a toilet seat looks like, it falls into one of several categories in one way or another.

• Disposable pads. Most often they are used in public places: hotels, restaurants, cinemas. Their main purpose is to ensure safe access to a public toilet without the risk of contracting any dangerous disease. Of course, these seats have a very limited shelf life, as a rule, they are disposable. They are made from polymeric materials, but most often from paper.

Such a toilet seat has no fasteners and this is both an advantage and a disadvantage.The plus is that its installation and preparation for operation will take no more than a minute; disadvantage - it can slide on the surface of the toilet and be not very comfortable to sit on it.

• Plastic seats. If you want to purchase the simplest and most durable toilet seat, you should opt for a plastic product. Its service life will be at least 3 years. It should be ensured that the plastic from which the toilet seat is made is rigid and of sufficient thickness. As for the variety of shapes, plastic products have nothing to boast of: as a rule, they are only universal, oval, without additional functions and decorations. But this is not a drawback, on the contrary, due to their simplicity, such seats are often the most comfortable.

But they still have minuses, or, more precisely, one minus - these are fasteners. Most often, they are also made of plastic, and therefore break easily enough. Now on the market there are plastic models with metal mounts, so it is recommended to purchase them.

• Soft seats. Not the best option, because despite the apparent ease of use, such products are rather fragile and their service life is no more than six months. With wear and tear, soft seats lose their presentation and spoil the impression of the design of the toilet room. Of course, they are very democratic in terms of price, but this is exactly the case when "the avaricious pays twice."
• Chair with built-in bidet. One of the newfangled "bells and whistles" that appeared in the XXI century was the emergence of toilet seats with a bidet function. A small fountain is mounted in such a toilet seat for carrying out hygienic procedures. Many models have a hot water option for more comfortable use. However, do not forget that comfort costs money, so you will have to spend money on such a pleasure.

• Seat with microlift. This interesting device is designed to automatically lower the toilet lid. Such models have a solid design, a high service life (from three years), of course, and their price is considerable. Some of them have the function of turning off the microlift to ensure the possibility of mechanical closing of the lid by the user.
• Heated chair. The warm seat is designed to provide the most comfortable conditions for staying in the "rest room". Most often, this option is present in expensive models, although there are also budget plastic variations.
• Electronic seat. It appeared not so long ago, but has already won a huge audience of buyers. The essence of this "smart" seat is the recognition of the approach of a person and the actuation of the lid lifting mechanism. When the visitor leaves the toilet, the lid closes automatically.

The electronic seat has more than just this function. More often than not, it contains a range of options such as a bidet, heated seat, air deodorization and even a built-in hair dryer! Of course, there is a great temptation to purchase such an equipped toilet seat, but it is worth correlating the feasibility of this acquisition with its price and your financial capabilities. If they match, it will be great.

• Double family seat. In families where, in addition to adults, there are small children, the issue of the convenience of the toilet seat for all family members is very relevant. In this case, you should stop at purchasing a dual device. It looks like this: two seats (large and small) are fastened together, one is superimposed on the other, while the small one is always on top. This seat will be comfortable for both adults and children. As the little family members grow older, the small attachment can be removed.

• Seats with options for the disabled, the elderly and people with reduced mobility. This is truly a great invention to help those who temporarily or permanently experience difficulties in performing personal hygiene procedures.There are orthopedic structures with folding armrests on the market. And there are also models with the possibility of raising the seat up to 20 centimeters higher than usually required.

Toilet chairs are made from a wide variety of materials. Among them are fabric, plywood, and natural wood, as well as plastic and duroplast.

Their advantages and disadvantages should be considered in more detail.

• The most popular were and remain plastic seats. This is due to the almost optimal ratio of price and quality. However, if, in addition to low cost and long service life, and also worried about presentable appearance, you should pay attention to products made from other materials, since plastic seats are not beautiful, they can turn yellow over time and there is a danger of scratching them when washing.
• The Duroplast toilet seat is more attractive in terms of both aesthetics and hygiene. Duroplast contains a special component that prevents the appearance and reproduction of harmful microorganisms. And in appearance, such a toilet seat resembles a ceramic one.

• The most unfortunate and unpopular material from which toilet seats are made is plywood. Of course, its price is low, but it also looks cheap. In addition, its porous structure is ideal for the growth of bacteria.
• Wooden products are considered the most beautiful and presentable. They are not very popular due to their relatively high cost. However, their quality is also "luxury", the service life is calculated in years. But even such ideal seats have a drawback: they are very massive and if the lid is carelessly lowered, the toilet bowl can crack. Therefore, it is often wooden models that are equipped with a microlift.
• Disposable paper products are commonly found in public places, as mentioned above. The fabric, as a rule, is not used as the main material for making a seat, but as a decoration. For example, for sewing a removable cover for the toilet lid.

If the dressing room has a certain style, then it makes sense to think about a more picky choice of a toilet seat, as it can become “the icing on the cake” when the renovation of the bathroom is completed. Of course, no one canceled the classic white color, but with the advent of colored toilets - yellow, black, red - and the lids for them began to be produced bright, multi-colored. There are even models with patterns - butterflies, flowers, patterns. And kids will appreciate the cover with cars or funny animals.

Even if the toilet does not have any special requirement for the color scheme of the toilet seat, this does not mean that you should opt for the classic white model. You can choose a cover imitating wood or marble, or even just a colored one, but a monochromatic one that matches the shade of the tile or rug.

You should not go to the store without precisely measured parameters, which the toilet seat must correspond to for a particular toilet bowl.

The following needs to be measured:

• the width of the toilet. It is measured at the widest point;
• the size of the gap between the holes for the mounting bolts with which the cover is screwed. This value is measured from the center of one hole to the center of another. An error of a couple of millimeters is allowed;

• the size of the gap from the edge of the seat to the beam passing through the centers of the mounting holes. This parameter is measured by drawing an imaginary line through the centers of the holes. A perpendicular is brought to this line from the edge of the lid.

An important role in the long-term life of the toilet seat is played by its fasteners. As a rule, they are made of plastic or metal. When choosing fasteners, you should take into account the features of a particular toilet model, since fasteners are not universal.

The variety of covers available on the modern plumbing market has given rise to the variability of their fastening. There are both the simplest mechanisms (quick-detachable plastic toilet seats on two bolts) and those that are quite problematic to install and remove on their own (electronic "smart" seats, with a microlift and sensors that detect movement and presence).

Removing a conventional cover includes the following steps:

• lift the lid (seat down);
• in the lower left corner, unscrew the bolt-fastener;
• unscrew the same bolt on the right;
• remove the entire seat.

Installation of such a toilet seat is carried out in the reverse order.

There are two types of fasteners: with and without washers. In the absence of such, but to maintain the reliability of the fastening, nuts are released with an edge at the end in the form of a washer. The most reliable is a combination of a metal bolt and a nut made of nylon material, which provides the best coupling.

Now let's talk about how the lid is attached to the toilet seat. As a rule, this is a hinged structure, in which bushings made of metal, plastic or metal-plastic serve as fastening elements. Plastic joints are most commonly found in inexpensive models. Metal, as stronger ones, are used in the production of "smart" products equipped with various mechanisms. Plastic connecting elements have a huge advantage in their resistance to rust, which cannot be said for metal fittings. But plastic is fragile and can break if mishandled, and metal hinges are more durable.

If one of the seat components fails, in most cases it is enough to simply dismantle it and replace the damaged part with a new one. But, in a situation with a breakdown in a more "sophisticated" design, a more detailed study of the problem and, possibly, a call to a specialist will be required, since fixing, for example, a microlift is not so easy without the appropriate knowledge and skills.

There is a consumer demand - the market reacts with the appearance of offers. As soon as the toilet seat ceased to be just an insignificant part of it, but turned into an opportunity to make the stay in the bathroom more comfortable, then the manufacturers of plumbing and accessories immediately reacted appropriately. Today there are several brands that have received the best reviews from consumers.

• Gustavsberg. Toilets and accessories from this company are an example of true Swedish quality. Among the models there are both simple products and more modern ones, equipped with a microlift. All seats are equipped with metal chrome fittings. Gustavsberg cares about its consumers and provides a mandatory guarantee for its products. By the way, this is one of the few companies whose assortment includes seats made of natural wood: oak, ash, teak.

• Jika. This company appeared in the Czech Republic in the 19th century. From its inception to the present day, this company does not get tired of improving technology and introducing innovations, which allows it to produce high-quality and environmentally friendly products. Now the following models of Jika toilets are presented on the market: Lyra, Vega, Zeta, Baltik, Era. For any of them, you can pick up a plastic seat, both classic and equipped with a lifting mechanism.
• Ifo. Another manufacturer from Sweden that deserves attention. He makes heavy-duty, luxury plastic seating models. The choice is presented both classic options and with such an option as a microlift.

• Haro. This German company produces sanitary ware and accessories, combining aesthetic appearance with comfort of use and functionality. The choice of buyers is provided with many colors and style solutions. Haro is also a supplier to many healthcare organizations thanks to a unique development - antibacterial cushions.
• Iddis. Duroplast products from this company are among the most "long-lasting" components for toilets on the market. Duroplast is not subject to yellowing, is resistant to cracks and scratches, and prevents the appearance and reproduction of harmful microorganisms. Thanks to its properties, Iddis seats have a long service life while maintaining an attractive appearance. The covers of the Iddis models are equipped with a lifting mechanism.

When choosing a toilet seat, care should be taken to ensure that it meets the following requirements:

• safety in use;
• comfort;
• high strength of the material of manufacture;
• rather long service life;
• aesthetic and attractive appearance;

• perfectly matched to the selected toilet model;
• the required set of functions;
• did not enter into dissonance with the design of the bathroom.

The stool is usually oval in shape. But this rule does not apply to the lid! It can be either square or rectangular; may have an outline of an animal or a violin. Any ornament, photograph or hand-drawn illustration can be applied on the lid. And also it can be decorated with decorative elements such as beads or rhinestones.

Regardless of the price and the declared quality of the toilet, it needs much more thorough and frequent care than any other plumbing. Wastes from the human body leave both on the toilet itself and on its seat very unpleasant traces.

The toilet is especially affected by the so-called urinary stone. The fact is that urine in its composition contains special minerals that can settle on the walls and under the rim of the toilet bowl, and harden over time, forming the very stone. If you don't get rid of it periodically, it will cause a lot of hassle when cleaning. Therefore, when carrying out cleaning procedures for the toilet bowl and its components, one of the most important requirements is their regularity. Only in this case the toilet will always be clean and will not need additional manipulations.

Daily care rules:

• after each visit to the toilet room, it is necessary to flush the toilet by draining the water from the tank;
• wipe the toilet seat with toilet paper or napkins if drops of physiological fluids get on it;
• once every 3-4 days, treat the surface of the toilet bowl with special means to avoid the formation of plaque;
• Lozenges or cassettes attached under the rim of the toilet are a good preventive measure. Every time a flush occurs, particles of the disinfectant that make up these cassettes will get into the water; thus, the prevention of the growth of pathogenic bacteria and the appearance of plaque will be carried out.

There are several products that can be used to remove fine dirt.

• Table vinegar. To prepare a cleaning agent based on it, you need to take a saucepan and heat about 1 cup of vinegar in it to a temperature slightly above room temperature. Next, you should pour it into the toilet and add 2 tsp there. baking soda. Leave it overnight. In the morning you need to clean the toilet bowl with a brush and rinse.
• If the lid has slightly yellowed, it is necessary to mix the heated vinegar with baking soda until a mushy mass is obtained. Wear gloves to protect your hands and apply this mixture with a sponge to the lid and toilet seat. Leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse with clean water.
• Another very cheap and affordable remedy, citric acid, also copes with fine dirt. In order to clean the toilet with it, you don't even need any tricks - you just need to pour two bags of acid into the toilet and leave for several hours. Then "walk" on the toilet bowl with a brush and drain the water.

Effective methods will help to remove old plaque.

• Of course, first of all, it is recommended to use household chemicals specially designed for these purposes. But be careful here! Most of them contain a lower concentration of substances responsible for removing plaque in order to increase the safety of use; therefore, they will not cope with very strong, old pollution. It is necessary to find such means, the use of which is possible only in conjunction with a protective mask-respirator and rubber gloves due to the high content of the active substance.
• As strange as it may sound, Coca Cola will help to cope with the old plaque! You should pour a bottle of this fizzy into the toilet, wait a while (4–5 hours will be enough), then wipe the toilet with a sponge or brush and rinse. Contamination will disappear.

• Oxalic acid. Outwardly, it looks like a powder of small crystal-like particles. Wear rubber gloves when using this substance to clean the toilet. It must be carefully applied to the cover with a wet sponge so that splashes do not get into the eyes and on the skin. And also it is worth pouring the powder on the bottom of the toilet bowl so that it can dissolve and remove all existing dirt. As with other similar funds, the exposure time is from 3 to 5 hours.
• When all of the above substances are powerless in the face of a very old and dense plaque, "heavy artillery" comes to the rescue in the form of an electrolyte. It is the most powerful but also the most dangerous toilet cleaner. The main danger he poses to others is his toxic fumes. Therefore, you should try to protect yourself as much as possible - put on a rubber mask-respirator, goggles, gloves made of thick rubber, as well as clothes that cover the whole body. You need to fill the toilet with electrolyte. Its exposure time is only 15 minutes. Rinse it off thoroughly and ventilate the washroom.
• "White". This tool is familiar to many. It used to be used to bleach fabrics, although it did them great harm. Now clothes, bed linen, towels and other things are bleached with more gentle means, but "Whiteness" has not gone into oblivion, it has simply changed the scope. It is necessary to pour it into the toilet and wash it after 4–5 hours. The toilet will shine with pristine cleanliness.

To clean the yellowness of the toilet seat, several proven methods will help.

• The best way to get started is to remove the toilet seat and soak it so it can be easier to clean. If self-removal is problematic, you just need to lift it and apply the detergent with a sponge on both sides, then wait a few hours and rinse the seat thoroughly with clean water.

The list of remedies for removing the yellow plaque from the lid includes bleach or products containing it, hair clarifier, a mixture of washing powder, baking soda and water, "Whiteness". All of these tools are quite effective. They will help remove unpleasant yellowness. However, if the contamination was so great that it was not possible to completely remove them, then the right solution would be to replace the seat and cover in order to preserve the aesthetics of appearance and comply with hygiene requirements.

A toilet seat is an important element that not only guarantees convenience and comfort during use, but also makes the toilet attractive and beautiful. Among the huge assortment of models presented from various manufacturers, you can choose an option for every taste. A wide range of colors, shapes and sizes, as well as materials provides a wide range of stylish, reliable and practical models.

For information on how to choose a toilet seat, see the next video.