Is wooden toilet seats the right option? Is it one among the best toilet seats? Most homeowners have installed toilets in their homes. You will note that these toilets normally help them enjoy more convenience as they do not need to step out of their houses when they want to relieve themselves and so on.
If you have a toilet at home, you should consider getting a toilet seat for it. Here, there are many options that you can consider. One of them is a wooden toilet seat.
Chances are, you have seen that most residential toilet seats are made of plastic. However, this is not always the case. A popular alternative nowadays is wood. Wooden toilet seats can add warmth and style to your bathroom.
Here, you will note that wood not only adds visual warmth but also comfort in your bathroom. With a wooden toilet seat, you can trust that you enjoy a more comfortable experience when using it. This is because wooden toilet seats are known to be warmer than other toilet seats, especially during the winter season.
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What should I know about Wooden Toilet Seats?
Natural wooden toilet seats look more traditional and can be bought in an array of finishes to suit your bathroom. However, most homeowners normally ask whether wooden toilet seats are hygienic or not.
First, you will note that wood is a porous material. It is not scratch-proof and durable as the plastic seat. If hygiene is a priority to you, you should not consider wooden toilet seats. If you have to consider this seat, there are many considerations you should make to improve their hygiene
For instance, if you have kids at home, they are likely not to care about the delicacy of the toilet seat. As a result, they might scratch the wooden toilet seat and thereby expose wood to other harsh elements such as water and moisture in the bathroom.
With too much moisture in the bathroom, this seat can become a breeding ground for bacteria. The situation can be worse if you use harsh chemicals to clean the wooden toilet seat. This might lead to painful rashes on your children. Therefore, this seat is not hygienic compared to plastic toilet seats.
How can improve the hygiene of wooden toilet seats?
Since wooden toilet seats are more porous than the plastic toilet seats, you should consider taking a gentler approach. Here, you should use those products that will not harm the wooden surfaces. Also, you should consider keeping the toilet seat as dry as possible.
Finally, you should be ready to replace natural oils and moisture. This way you can be sure that the seat will not easily absorb any liquid which might make it retain germs and bacterial which might further the process of splintering. The following are some helpful ideas that you should consider:
1. Choose the right cleaning product for your wooden toilet seat
Failure to clean your toilet seat can be detrimental to your health. You might end up getting rashes in the long run. Your kids might be at a higher risk if your toilet seat is always dirty.
Therefore, if you have a wooden toilet seat, you should not hesitate to clean it. However, which is the right cleaning agent for your wooden seat? Ideally, you should consider using a mild detergent to clean this seat.
Here, you can consider using dish soap for this purpose. All you need to do is to wipe it with a soft sponge or cloth and then rinse it.
The other product that you can use here is a hydrogen peroxide solution. This solution has been used as a disinfectant for many years in the past. Therefore, it can readily kill bacteria and even fungus or mod that might be on the toilet seat.
If your wooden toilet seat is painted or finished, you can consider using a product such as Murphy oil soap. You will note that this soap is not antibacterial. To disinfect your toilet seat, you can consider using a little alcohol.
When cleaning this toilet seat, you should avoid a solution that can bleach your seat. Using such a solution will discolor your wood and eventually remove the protective coating on the wood. This further exposes the wood to other harsh elements such as excess moisture and so on.
Also, you should avoid using vinegar for this undertaking. This is because vinegar is an acid that can ruin a wooden surface.
2. Always keep the wooden toilet dry
Regardless of the product that you use to clean your toilet seat, you should never soak the wooden surface. You should not leave water or any other cleaning product on the surface for longer periods.
Ideally, you should wipe it dry and leave the toilet up for quite some time. This way, you will allow airflow to completely dry the wood. It is worth noting that damp wood is a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and even fungus.
3. Ensure that you replace the cracked seats immediately
There are instances when your wooden toilet seat might crack despite taking great care of it. These cracks can be detrimental as they might be breeding grounds for bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.
Therefore, to improve the hygiene of this seat, you should replace it as soon as possible. This might cost you some money but it worth it.
4. Take care of other toilet components too
Besides taking care of the toilet seat, you should take care of the other toilet components as well. Here, you should consider using the above-mentioned cleaning methods when cleaning the hinges and so on.
For instance, you can use hydrogen peroxide when cleaning the hinges. The good news is that it can readily reach all the nooks and crannies and will not promote rusting on the metal hinges.
Also, remember to check the bumpers under the wooden toilet seat. If you notice that they are discolored, you can readily replace them.
Besides, if they start to break down or become dislodged, you should replace them as soon as possible. This will help ensure that your toilet seat remains stable for longer.
Conclusion
A wooden toilet seat is not as hygienic compared to other toilet seats such as those made of plastic. However, if you have this kind of toilet seat at home, you can readily consider these ideas and you will be able to improve its hygiene. It will be cleaner and healthy for your family. Consider these ideas today and you will not be frustrated.