How To Revive A Dirty Wood Toilet Seat (And Popular Cleaning Ingredients To Avoid)

Cleaning wood toilet seats requires a more deliberate touch than you would need when cleaning a plastic or acrylic seat. This is due to the sensitivity of the wood's surface. The same cleaning solutions and ingredients you might use to clean a plastic toilet seat may damage the wood and its coating, even potentially causing stains or discoloration. When reviving a dirty wood toilet seat, you should be careful to only use gentle cleaners and avoid harsh options such as bleach or disinfectant wipes. While you can use vinegar to clean your toilet, it's important to avoid using it on a wood seat.

For some, the idea of a toilet with a plastic white seat is egregious as it can offer a somewhat clinical look to your bathroom, and sometimes they're flimsy compared to the durability of wood seats. For others, it's about comfort, and the fact that the plastic seats can be quite cold, especially first thing in the morning. The warmth, both literally and aesthetically, of wood toilet seats makes them a good alternative to plastic. Once you have such a wood seat on your commode, you want to protect your investment, especially since they are expensive. Here's how to properly clean it, as well as how to avoid staining or damaging it with the wrong cleaning solution.

Before you clean your wood toilet seat for the first time, check the manufacturer's website or owner's manual for any directions. You should avoid using any items containing bleach and harsh disinfectant wipes, abrasive chemicals, or scouring powders such as Ajax. In addition, avoid anything in an aerosol can, or that contains acid or rubbing alcohol. These options can damage the wooden seat's surface, causing discoloration or eating through any protective coating that may be present. Bleach, in particular, is harmful to wood, as it breaks down the wood's cellular structure. The result can be a significant lightening and weakening of the wood, especially if the bleach removes a finish meant to guard it against cracks or splits. As for vinegar, its acidic qualities can also damage wood surfaces, so pass on this cleaning hack for your wood seat.

The correct way to clean your wood toilet seat and keep it in good condition is to use antibacterial or dish soap to sanitize the lid top to bottom, as well as the accompanying ring. Use only a soft cloth or sponge to apply the soap, being careful not to oversaturate the wood. Then, leave the lid open, and carefully dry with a paper towel or microfiber towel. You may already use shaving cream to clean your bathroom, and though it's gentle for the wood, it can't offer the same antibacterial clean that the soap can.