Loose Toilet Paper Holder? Try This Simple Fix

With people constantly pressing down on toilet paper holders and wiggling them to rip off a piece of paper, they can loosen from the wall with use and time. Though a wobbly holder isn't a serious problem, it can be an annoying inconvenience. Luckily, fixing your loose wall-mounted toilet paper holder shouldn't be too difficult, and the project can be done in just a few minutes. Depending on how loose your toilet paper holder has become, you may just need to tighten or replace a few screws, or you might have to install new wall anchors.

As toilet paper holders get jostled around, the screws can move in the wall, creating a hole larger than will tightly fit the screws. Wall anchors can help to remedy this problem by fitting into the hole and then expanding when the screw is inserted. This prevents them from coming loose as quickly. You can find a four-pack of Twist-N-Lock Drywall Anchors at The Home Depot for under $3.

If your toilet paper holder has just started to come loose and only moves slightly, it's possible that the screws attaching your bracket to the wall are the culprit. First, take the removable piece that the roll slides onto off the holder and inspect the two brackets mounted to the wall. You may need to unscrew and remove the arms of the holder to access the brackets. See if either one has any give to it, and if it does, check the screws.

Using a screwdriver that corresponds with the type of screws, such as a flathead, Phillips head, or an Allen wrench, gently tighten the screws into the wall, being careful not to strip them. If the screws don't seem to be properly lined up when you inspect them, take them out and adjust them before tightening, or replace them if they appear damaged. This is a quick and easy fix for a loose toilet paper holder, but if you find that the holes in the wall have become larger from movement, this project might take a little more work.

For this method, you'll need to know how to use and remove wall anchor screws. If your toilet paper holder already has simple wall anchors, they should come out with the screws when you remove the bracket. Then, use pliers to take the anchors off the screws. Inspect the holes left in the wall to ensure that your new anchors are the right size to fit firmly before placing them into the wall. Once the anchors are in place, hold the bracket over them and put the screws into your wall anchors. Make sure the screws are tight before reassembling the rest of your toilet paper holder.

If your toilet paper holder seems to continually come loose, you may want to consider different types of drywall anchors. These Zinc-Plated Toggle Bolt anchors from The Home Depot ($7 for a 10-pack) have little metal arms that expand inside the wall, allowing the anchor to have a better grip than some other versions.