How to replace a toilet seat

Before you start working on the toilet, disinfect the bowl with anti-bacterial wipes, making sure to wear protective gloves.

Use a tape measure to make sure you get a seat that’s the right size for your toilet. It’s a good idea to get a seat in the same measurements as the one you’re replacing; you don’t need to bring your old seat into the store. You’ll also want to get a seat that matches the shape of your toilet, for example: D-shaped, round, or square.

Remove the caps and pull off the seat, lifting it off the bolts.

Then you’ll need to take off the remaining caps, loosen the screws, and lift off the rest of the mechanism.

At this point, measure between the bolt holes in your toilet.

Your new seat will come with instructions walking you through how to install it.

First, insert the rubber plugs into the holes.

Peel off the tab under the seat to reveal a rubberised base. This will prevent the seat from slipping.

Place the fixings onto the holes. Use a spacer to ensure they’re the perfect width apart and match with the holes in the toilet seat.

Place the bolts into the fixings, tightening them as much as you can by hand. It’s a good idea to check the spacing again here before you fully tighten the bolts.

Place the new seat onto the fixings.

Tighten the bolts using an allen key. You may not be able to tighten them all fully yet if the toilet seat gets in the way. Apply pressure to the fixings for around 20 seconds so they adhere to the toilet.

Take the seat back off so you’ve got space to fully tighten the screws with your allen key.

Remove the spacer bar and place the caps on top.

Attach the toilet seat. It should click into place as you push it down.