Does the toilet seat in your house wiggle around so much it qualifies for a thrill ride?
Not only is this a safety issue, especially for elderly or overweight guests, it removes any semblance of comfort from the "comfort station." The reason a toilet seat comes loose in the first place is because it's used so much. But, don't worry, says Jamie Smith of Mr. Rooter of Baltimore. Securing a toilet seat is not nearly as hard as it seems.
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The first order of business is to locate the two plastic bolts that hold the toilet seat to the bowl, says Smith. They're in the back of the seat and are usually covered with plastic lids. Using a small screwdriver, lift the covers to expose the heads of the bolts.
Position the toilet seat in the center of the toilet before tightening the bolts. Using your fingers or a broad tip screwdriver, turn the bolts clockwise to tighten. If the bolts spin and don't tighten, you'll need to use pliers to grip the nut on the underside of the toilet while turning the top of the bolt with a screwdriver. Tighten until the seat stops wiggling.
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Fortunately, there's something you can do to keep the toilet seat from coming loose so often. Simply buy one of the seat tightening kits that are available at hardware or home improvement stores. These kits contain a few sets of washers which you place on the nut between bolt and the underside of the toilet. Using the tightening tool that comes with the kit, tighten the bolt till it's snug.
Voila! You've not only solved one problem, you've prevented another!