Last Updated on July 27, 2022 by acechapman
So, it’s time for you to get a new toilet seat, but you have no idea what you should go for. You can choose between wood and plastic toilet seats, but which one of these is best? Today, we are going to do a wood vs plastic toilet seat comparison. Below, you will find out exactly what you are getting with each.
What Are The Difference Between Wood And Plastic Toilet Seats?
1. Warmth
One thing to consider when trying to choose between a wooden and plastic toilet seat is warmth. Have you ever sat down on your toilet and almost froze your butt off? Yeah, it’s something that happens to even the best of us during the colder times of the year. It’s definitely uncomfortable when you come out of a toasty warm bed, and sit down on what amounts to a block of ice. So, what’s the better choice to go with in terms of warmth, when choosing a toilet seat?
If treated right, a wooden toilet seat is going to serve you much better in this regard. A wooden toilet seat, while it won’t be heated, it’s also not going to get super cold as plastic does. Plastic toilet seats can get extremely cold. It can lead to some extreme discomfort even if just for a few minutes. So, if you don’t want to freeze every time you sit on your throne, it’s probably a wise choice to go with wood over plastic.
2. Durability
The next factor is how durable the item in question is. Generally speaking, you might think that wood is much more durable and long-lasting than plastic. After all, when you buy most other products, cheap plastic usually does not really stack up too well against high-quality wood. However, this is really not the case when it comes to toilet seats.
For the most part, a well-made plastic toilet seat is going to be much more durable than its wooden counterpart. Wooden toilet seats have a tendency to crack and warp, especially with extreme heat and moisture. Moreover, if you let a toilet seat really bang shut when it is open, a wooden toilet seat may actually crack from the impact. This is something that will usually never happen with a plastic toilet seat. The plastic toilet seat will always last longer than its wooden counterpart.
3. Moisture and Cleaning
Yet another factor to keep in mind has to do with moisture. Yes, this concerns the moisture or humidity level in the air, but more than that, it has to do with humans. Yes, in the summer, backsides can be pretty sweaty, and that moisture can transfer to the toilet seat.
Also, if you have kids or men in the house who don’t watch what they are doing, they might not aim too well and get the toilet seat wet, if you know what we mean.
Now, sure, a good wooden toilet seat should be treated to stop moisture from absorbing into it, but most treatments only go so far. This might then lead to a permanently damp toilet seat, which is not only uncomfortable to sit on but can also lead to mold and nasty smells. This is not a problem that you will find occurring with a plastic toilet seat. Moisture will simply sit on top of the plastic and is easy to wipe away.
On that same note, a wooden toilet seat is going to be much harder to clean than the plastic variety. The natural wood grain creates a slight texture to which various elements can stick. The bottom line is that plastic toilet seats absorb much less moisture, and other stuff, and are therefore cleaner and more comfortable to sit on, not to mention much easier to clean as well.
4. Soft Closing
One feature which many people look for when selecting a toilet seat is if it is a soft closed toilet seat. Regular toilet seats close really fast, and if you have them open and they just drop, not only can that drop cause damage to it, but it is also very loud. If you have light sleepers in your home, you know how much of an issue the noise caused by a closing toilet seat can be.
Well, there are now many plastic toilet seats out there that come with a soft-close feature, which means that they close softly and quietly, therefore ensuring that you don’t wake up the whole house. On the other hand, wooden toilet seats are much heavier than plastic ones, and therefore they close much more forcefully, which creates noise, and for the most part, they never come with soft-close features.
So, if you are going for something that is going to be very quiet, it’s probably a plastic toilet seat that’s best for you.
5. Look and Style
The final thing to keep in mind is what kind of look and style you are going for; it’s all about matching the look of the toilet seat to the rest of your bathroom. Now, there’s nothing wrong with plastic toilet seats per se, but they are not stylish or beautiful.
Generally speaking, plastic toilet seats come in a white or plain solid color, and that’s about it. They don’t do much to add to the existing décor in your bathroom. However, wooden toilet seats just look a bit sleeker, and a bit more stylish. They look much warmer and friendlier as well.
Conclusion
When stuck between wood vs plastic toilet seat, it more or less comes down to a matter of personal preference. If you want a durable toilet seat that is easy to clean and doesn’t absorb moisture, one that might have a soft-close feature, plastic is the way to go. However, if you want something stylish and warm, wood is probably the better bet.
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