Toilet seat - how to choose the size, material of manufacture, design and cost

Selection Guide

Selection Recommendations:

Know the size of the toilet.
The shape of the lid should follow the shape of the toilet
Select the color to match the color scheme of the bathroom or toilet.
When buying, carefully check the entire set. Availability and integrity of all parts
It is ideal to buy covers with high rigidity - this will protect against deformation with a large body weight of a person.
The antibacterial seat surface will help keep the toilet clean.

Convenience

The toilet seat is selected for a person, taking into account his requests. Should not cause discomfort during operation. Discomfort and irritation are signs of poor quality. The manufacturer has moved away from the anatomical shape of the product.

Appearance

The toilet seat is chosen in accordance with the style direction, so that it harmoniously fits into the design. It is advisable to exclude bright colors with lapis patterns, as well as ruffles, bows, rhinestones and sequins.

Strength

The lid is subjected to everyday stress, which leads to frequent breakdowns.

To save the budget, special attention should be paid to the material from which the product is made. The higher the strength, the longer the service life

hygiene

Most often, the toilet seat is cleaned in the toilet room. Strong preparations with acid and chlorine are often used to treat the toilet bowl and seat.

It is important to consider the resistance of the material to various chemicals contained in cleaning products.

Peculiarities

The simpler the shape of the seat, the easier and better it will be cleaned. Various gaps, corners and internal cavities lead to contamination, which is difficult to wash. Which leads not only to the accumulation of germs and a hotbed of infection, but also to an unpleasant odor.

Not only hard-to-reach places bring problems when caring for the product. The complex relief with large cracks and pores leads to the fact that over time all the recesses become contaminated.

It is great if the surface contains water-repellent components.

It does not matter which product you choose, the main thing is that it meets the main requirements. Comfort, practicality, hygiene, aesthetics

The purchase should satisfy you and leave a good impression whether it is a bidet seat, a smart cover, a microlift or a classic.

All types of toilet lids

Seat types

Chairs are divided into categories according to their purpose:

Soft
Plastic
With microlift
with integrated bidet
heated
Automatic
Baby
Disposable
Universal
For people with disabilities and the elderly

Consider all options.

Soft

The soft seat is perfect for the home. Differs in easy leaving and comfort at contact. The term of operation is limited, a maximum of a year. Most are made of plastic, foam rubber and dermantin.

Plastic

Compared to soft ones, they are more durable. The rim is designed with load in mind, thanks to special protrusions or rubber inserts, it fits snugly to the toilet. This product is not subject to refrigeration

Please note that all parts are made of plastic.

The mount may break due to frequent use. When buying, it is advisable to choose a toilet seat with metal fasteners. A clear plus of this material is that it is easy to choose a model that will harmoniously fit into any design. Large range of colors.

Microlift

Mircolift is a system of smooth lowering of the lid, which does not create noise and protects the product itself. There are models with disabling the lowering function.

Products with a bidet function are made according to the type of bidet. The main advantages are convenience and space saving.

There are accessories that have water heating.Of course, this feature creates comfort. The price is justified by the convenience.

Heating function

All types of toilet seats can have a heating function. In seats with a hygienic shower and a microlift, heating is an integral part. Heating is not necessary, but definitely creates a pleasant effect.

Automatic

It's also called "smart". This seat has a built-in motion sensor. This adapter allows the lid to be raised and lowered automatically to meet hygiene requirements. Ideal for lovers of comfort.

Child toilet seat

These products belong to a separate category and occupy their own niche among plumbing accessories. The toilet seat contributes to the comfortable habituation of the child to a regular toilet.

In this category there are:

An ordinary seat. Only the size distinguishes it from an adult.
Anatomical - has the shape of a baby potty and is equipped with mounts. The disadvantage is that in order to remove the lid from the toilet, you will need to disconnect the fasteners.
Throne - the main advantage is security. The chair has steps, a soft base, hand rests that fit snugly against the toilet.
Road - used for travel, which involves visiting a public toilet. The diameter varies.

Hygiene pads

A hygienic toilet seat is an irreplaceable thing. Designed for use in public places. Protects against pathogenic bacteria and unpleasant diseases. It is difficult to overestimate the convenience of disposable pads. The only downside is the lack of fasteners.

Universal

Universal toilet seats are widely used and are in great demand. This product is often called "family". It is double or triple.

The kit includes several seats with different diameters, which allows each member of the family to have their own toilet seat. "Family" covers are most often made of duroplast, have metal fasteners, which significantly increases the service life.

For people with disabilities and the elderly

The main thing that distinguishes this toilet seat is the height and handrails. There are height-adjustable and monolithic. Equipped with handrails, and without them. It should be noted that this unit appeared on the market not so long ago.

Nozzles of this kind make going to the toilet very easy for people with disabilities and the elderly. They are made of durable plastic, the handrails are always metal. Lots of modifications.

The choice depends on the capabilities of the person. There are also soft high toilet seats, they are not as practical as plastic ones and the lack of handrails is a clear drawback. When choosing a seat, you should adhere to several parameters: practicality, comfort, pleasant appearance.

How to choose the right lid

The first point when choosing a fixture should be to check for compliance with the size of the toilet. This point is especially relevant in view of the fact that the standardization of such equipment is rather conditional.

This feature can lead to annoying bugs. As mentioned above, the best option is if the product is slightly larger than the toilet itself.

Next, you need to address the issue of strength, because only it will ensure durability.

To do this, pay attention to the quality of materials, read reviews about the selected model, and also make sure that there are no damages, which may be cracks, chips.

In addition, the following points should be controlled:

Comfort in use. This applies not only to a suitable shape, but also to checking for sharpness of the closing sound - it annoys many users.

Additionally, it is worth paying attention to checking for the presence / absence of roughness, notches, because such shortcomings are a significant disadvantage.
Functionality that must fully meet the requirements of the potential buyers themselves.
Aesthetics.The lid, in addition to what future owners should like, must fit into the interior of the bathroom.

If the buyer can afford to spend a fortune on the purchase of a cover, then it is necessary to take a closer look at multifunctional products, as they can provide a much greater level of comfort than traditional equipment.

Types of seats and covers

A toilet seat with a lid, no matter how trite, can be completely different colors, sizes and shapes. So, covers are:

Model - usually going together with a toilet seat and suitable specifically for one type of seat.
Universal - designed for all types of toilet seats.

If the model cover is broken, the owner often has to go through an exciting “quest” to find a new copy.

Usually the seats are limited to an oval shape. But toilet lids can have a wide variety of sizes and appearance - from a musical instrument to an animal figure, as well as be decorated with illustrations or additional decorative elements. This option will definitely appeal to fans of non-standard solutions and those who want to bring a bright touch to an ordinary room.

The functionality of the toilet seats

A couple of decades ago, toilet seats performed only one, the most important, fundamental function - hygienic. Progress, which never stands still, has reached the toilets: additional opportunities and “skills” have appeared.

One of the most common achievements, which is deafeningly popular with haters of loud sounds, is a microlift, which is a device for slowly and smoothly lowering the lid.

Other functions are quite varied:

Heating of a stool will please fans of heat.
IR beams will make life easier for lazy users by automatically triggering and operating the toilet lid.
The combined bidet seat optimizes a small space and will greatly help those who need to have both devices in the same room. In addition to the main shower, modified models include lighting, water heating and even a hairdryer.
Instances with built-in electronics are "smart" inventions: they are able to repel dirt, clean themselves, heat the surface of the toilet seat, while being easily removed and operated.

Manufacturers do not stop there and create devices that combine all the functions, and even equipped with additional options:

automatic flushing with several modes;
the possibility of self-deodorization;
hydromassage services;
music players, radios or audio systems;
anti-freeze functions for models installed in unheated and cold rooms;
sound notification of the failure of a single element.

Individual models

Families with small children used to manage with all the usual pots: it was problematic and dangerous to put a child on the toilet. Now there are numerous helpers for parents designed to facilitate the care of babies, including a toilet seat for children. This device will not only greatly simplify the child's "coping" of needs, but will also contribute to the rapid weaning from diapers and potty.

It is important to consider only a few points:

Size: you can either choose a universal toilet seat or buy a model already equipped with a child device. The main thing is to fit in size.
Color: bright, juicy palette and cheerful drawings will attract the baby more than a plainly painted surface.
Convenience: It is desirable that the toilet seat be made of a warm material that is soft to the touch.

There is a "family" option, which provides for a separate toilet seat for each tenant, while all the mugs are stacked like a pile. Intending to use the device for its intended purpose, simply takes out "his" seat.However, this option is unacceptable for houses in which there are often guests.

Producers have also provided options for people who have temporarily lost the ability to move, and the disabled. Given the difficulties that this part of the population faces when performing hygiene procedures, manufacturers have released special devices equipped with additional options. These include conventional or reclining armrests and seats located 15-20 centimeters higher than conventional toilet seats. In addition, such structures are securely fastened without fail and often have a height adjustment function.

What are the seats made of?

The most common and popular material for the manufacture of such items is plastic, PVC or polypropylene. Lightweight, comfortable toilet seats are very easy to care for, but short-lived. Even with very careful handling, sooner or later cracks, scratches and stains appear on the surface.

In "second place" is a soft toilet seat, which consists of a solid frame wrapped with a film. The filling of a kind of sandwich is soft foam rubber. A very comfortable device that also does not require special care. But, similarly to plastic specimens, it lives for a maximum of six months, gradually becoming unusable. The advantage is that it's cheap.

The third option is fabric toilet seat pads. Some manufacturers have gone a step further and launched toilet seats already wrapped in fabric. Accordingly, the price has increased compared to the two previous options, but the operational properties are definitely worth it. Fabric wraps are easy to remove, easy to wash and dry, they last much longer than their counterparts, and they look much prettier.

A fourth representative of materials for toilet seats has also appeared - duroplast, which combines the appearance of ceramics, the convenience of plastic and the strength of wood. Such products are superior to opponents not only in terms of quality characteristics, but also in terms of weight - they are much more massive and heavier. Price according to functionality is higher. Duroplast products are very durable, resistant to mechanical damage, moreover, the surface is often treated with a special compound that can kill bacteria. A similar toilet seat and lid for the Keramin toilet bowl are suitable.

Rounding out the "hit parade" of materials for toilet seats are wooden specimens. Natural material has considerable strength, stability, elegance and attractiveness. But the weight of such an object is very significant, which carries the danger of damaging the design of the toilet bowl as a whole if it is used incorrectly.

Best Answers

Anton Bolshakov:

Well, the toilet should not be hammered. Deform the cover. The easiest way is cord or fishing line. Tie holes and that's it.

Sergey Parfilov:

Lids are universal. There, either the mounts move, or it is regulated by eccentric bolts. It makes no sense to put a completely different design - it will quickly burst, you can even get hurt

Grandfather Au:

you post a photo of the cover - tell me how

Stas Shabanov:

Swap the fasteners, you may not be installing correctly

Mikhail Karpov:

If the mounting holes really do not match (that is, this is not the result of improper assembly of the seat, but only the purchase of incomplete plumbing). Naturally, we do not drill faience. I offer 2 options: 1. We take 1 or 2 steel plates with holes for mounting bolts and for fasteners in the lid (1 if the holes in the toilet are narrower than on the lid), insert the mounting bolt and press the plate against the lid using small bolts passed through the lid, you can use cap nuts to aesthetics.2. we pass the fixing bolts directly through the cover at the place of attachment.

If you use stainless steel for fasteners, it will not even look very bad. But (IMHO) it is better to buy a new cover ...

I used the first method in a rented apartment, when I discovered that the regular mount had broken off. It held with a bang, the owner then asked to replace the second ear as well ... Yes, bushings or gaskets are required under the fasteners so that the plastic does not bend.

Oleg Yankovsky:

Apparently you just purchased some cheap defective cover, since these holes go at the same distance and I know this from my own experience, since I recently purchased a high-quality cover for myself through the santehnika-online store /

What to look for when choosing

After you have decided on the material from which the cover should be made, you can proceed to the selection of a specific model.

In this case, you need to take into account:

dimensions - if it exceeds the size of the toilet bowl, then a replacement will be needed in the near future;
shape - it must correspond to the outlines of the bowl of the plumbing fixture. It would be foolish to try to install round toilet lids on a plumbing fixture with an oval bowl;
decoration and color - the toilet is also an interior detail, sometimes an intricate pattern on its surface will complement the restroom decor.

A beautiful picture on the top of the cover diversifies the interior of the restroom

How not to miss the size

If a non-square or round toilet is installed in the apartment, then the question of how to choose the size of the toilet lid can puzzle the owner - it is not entirely clear what exactly needs to be measured.

Schematic representation showing all dimensions

In fact, in the store, when choosing a new thing, you will need only 3 sizes, you need to know:

distance between holes for installation;
width - measured in the widest part;
the distance between the outer edge of the cover and the line through the center of the mounting holes.

Dimensions you need to know when choosing

Making it easier to find the right model is that most toilet models on the market come in standard sizes. Therefore, the manufacturer is not so important - the main thing is that the dimensions correspond to the toilet bowl.

It will not be superfluous to think about the appearance of the new thing.

Here you have to rely on your own taste:

If there are children in the house, then you can choose a model of cheerful, bright colors.
If the restroom is decorated in a simple style, then the lid should not shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow.
If dark calm colors prevail in the bathroom, then a white toilet bowl with a black lid will look good.

An example of a successful combination of black and white

High tech

In the simplest models of covers, no additional functions are provided.

But if the budget allows, then you can pay attention to models equipped with a number of useful additions.

Worthy of attention:

models with a microlift - the lift of the toilet lid allows it to close smoothly without hitting the toilet, just gently push it. The design of the microlift copies the work of a door closer;
seat heating function - it is not pleasant to sit on cold plastic, the heating system will not allow the surface temperature to drop below 30-36 ᵒС;

Cover cable visible

on sale there are models of lids for the toilet bowl with a bidet function. In some models, even heating of the supplied water is implemented. With the help of such a cover, you can turn even a simple toilet bowl into a 2 in 1 type device;
a smart toilet lid stands apart - the list of additional functions directly depends on the manufacturer.

The simplest electronic models are equipped with a motion sensor and are able to open independently when a person approaches. After that, the lid will also close on its own.

The more advanced electronic toilet lid comes with a remote control and has an impressive range of additional features. Such a model can be adjusted individually for male / female washing, nozzles change their position and water pressure, it is possible to perform hydromassage, etc.Such covers are high-tech devices, respectively, and they cost a lot.

Smart lid device

If there is a child in the house

In principle, there are separate toilets for children on sale, the dimensions of such plumbing fixtures take into account the low growth of babies. But, as a rule, parents limit themselves to buying a special toilet lid with a pattern and cheerful colors.

The main difference between children's models is somewhat smaller internal dimensions. This is a necessary measure, because a small child simply cannot physically sit comfortably in a seat suitable for an adult.

Ideal solution if there is a child in the house

theoretical question

Quite a standard picture: the bathroom is equipped with an ordinary ceramic product, equipped with a seat with a lid, which in most cases always remains open. A reasonable question arises, why is it provided at all then?

Most households perceive this element as an integral part of the toilet room, thinking little about the real purpose. However, the toilet lid is necessary to protect the surrounding area from bacteria that can spread around, especially when they are “activated” by flushing. Well, the second function is the creation of external aesthetics.