Q&A for How to Fix a Loose Toilet Seat

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Why is my toilet seat loose?

Dave Jones
Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Dave Jones is a Professional Plumber and the Midwest Regional Vice President at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. In 1992, Jones joined Roto-Rooter as a drain service technician at the age of 18. Since then, he has risen through the ranks into positions of increasing authority. Dave served as general manager of Roto-Rooter’s Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia branches before being promoted to Contractor Area Manager and later to Regional Vice President. Dave holds Master Plumber Licenses in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Dave Jones

Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Expert Answer

It's possible that the bolts that attach the toilet seat to the toilet bowl rim are loose. They must be tightened to prevent accidents and injuries.

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Question

How do you tighten toilet seat bolts?

Dave Jones
Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Dave Jones is a Professional Plumber and the Midwest Regional Vice President at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. In 1992, Jones joined Roto-Rooter as a drain service technician at the age of 18. Since then, he has risen through the ranks into positions of increasing authority. Dave served as general manager of Roto-Rooter’s Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia branches before being promoted to Contractor Area Manager and later to Regional Vice President. Dave holds Master Plumber Licenses in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Dave Jones

Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Expert Answer

First find the right screwdriver type and size and insert it into the bolt heads slots, then reach under the back of the bowl and grip the nut using your fingers or an adjustable wrench. Tighten them one by one, being careful as to not overtighten the bolts and crack or break the porcelain.

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Question

My seat was designed to close slowly. Now, 5 years later, it just slams down. Can I fix it without replacing it?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

No, you'll need to replace it. Toilet seats do wear out. Fortunately, it's an easy replacement.

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Question

The nut I need to screw in is in an awkward place and I can't get good leverage. How can I tighten it?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

First, clamp the nut with vice grips. Then, turn it on top with your screwdriver to tighten it.

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Question

What size deep-pocket wrench should I use?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You should use either a 9/16 or 1/2 inch deep-pocket wrench to fix a loose toilet seat.

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Question

I have an 'off the floor' toilet, which doesn't give access to the underside. Any ideas?

Community Answer

It may be held by top-fixing bolts. These may be held in place by a small grub screw at rear of the silver fixing (tiny and difficult to see). You will need to unscrew these first.

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Question

I have a wobbly toilet seat, but the seat is placed on with two l-shaped bolts (with Allen key access) that is too difficult to remove. How can I fix the loose seat?

Community Answer

You could get a set of allen keys and have someone else try to tighten the seat. If you'd rather 'jerry-rig' a solution, you could try adding some rubber washers (making a cut in them so you can get them around the bolts) or squirting something around the bolts that will harden as it dries, like caulk or glue.

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Question

I'm trying to tighten a bolt on my toilet and it won't tighten. It just keeps turning.

Community Answer

There is a nut that holds the screw where it protrudes beneath the toilet lid. Use a pair of pliers to clamp this nut while you tighten the screw. This should provide enough tension to make the bolt tight!

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Question

I bought a toilet seat with plastic bolts and screwed it on as tight as it can go. After a few months, it's moving. How can I fix this without replacing the seat?

Community Answer

Buy some new bolts that are made out of metal at your local hardware store and replace the plastic bolts. Take the plastic ones with you to measure for the right size.

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Question

How can I keep the seat from sliding to one side?

Community Answer

Tighten the bolts that hold the seat to the bowl; they are loose. It's a simple fix.

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Question

If I tighten the screw too tightly, can I break the toilet?

Community Answer

I never have and I tighten the toilet seats I install with an impact driver.

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Question

What do I do if the holes for my toilet are too big for the screws?

Community Answer

You can buy plastic plugs from your local hardware store. You may need to gently hammer the plugs in place. Take the screws with you to find the best fit.

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Question

I cannot access the underside of the toilet to tighten or clamp the long bolts. The toilet seat is loose and sliding. How do I tighten the long bolts?

Community Answer

There are some toilets that simply do not allow access to the seat fixing bolts without dismantling the toilet. An appalling design fault, but often encountered. If you have to call in a plumber then you might do well to have the toilet replaced with one of conventional design which allows easy access to the seat fixing bolts.

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