Seized-Part Job · House
How to Remove Rusted Toilet Seat Bolts
A sensitive area. Approach with care and penetrant.
Toilet seat bolts thread into nuts under the bowl. Metal ones rust; plastic ones spin. Hold the nut, turn the bolt, and if it will not go, cut it carefully.
Step by Step
- 1
Pop the bolt covers
Flip up the plastic caps at the back of the seat to expose the bolt heads.
- 2
Soak under the bowl
Spray penetrant on the nuts under the rim and the exposed bolt threads.
- 3
Hold the nut
Hold the nut with a deep socket or wrench under the bowl while turning the bolt from above.
- 4
Cut it if it spins
Use a hacksaw blade or oscillating tool between the seat hinge and the bowl. Tape the porcelain to protect it.
Heat call: No heat
No heat. Porcelain cracks from uneven heating.
Safety
- Ventilate the bathroom when using aerosol penetrants.
Which Penetrant, and Why
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Common Mistakes
Prying against the porcelain with a screwdriver.