Which Is Stronger: a Plastic or Wood Toilet Seat?

Wood Seat Construction

• Wood toilet seats were originally made of one solid piece of wood or several pieces of wood glued together and cut to fit the shape of the toilet bowl. Today’s wood seats are typically made of several thin layers of wood that are bonded together or of pressed wood fiber that is molded into shape and then coated with enamel.

Plastic Seat Construction

• A plastic toilet seat is typically manufactured using an injection molding process, which begins with heating polystyrene until it melts and then injecting it into a mold where it cools and hardens. This process makes a smooth, non-porous surface that is durable and easy to clean.

Strength and Durability

• Wood toilet seats can withstand the same amount of weight and use initially as plastic seats can, but over time the enamel protecting the wood chips or becomes scratched. A well-made wood toilet seat can last several years, but if the lid is slammed frequently, scratches, dents and chips are more likely to occur. When that happens, the wood is vulnerable to moisture, which causes the layers of wood to expand and eventually crack or rot. Plastic seats, although they can scratch on the surface, will not usually chip or crack under normal use. If they do, the material is not vulnerable to rot as wood is, so a chipped plastic seat can still be used for a long period. Because they tend to wear faster, wood toilet seats might not be as affordable in the long run as plastic if you factor in the cost of replacement.

Additional Points to Consider

• Some people might find a wood toilet seat more comfortable than plastic because it is not as rigid. Plastic seats are available in a limited range of colors, while wood seats can be painted to match most decors. Both plastic and wood are easily cleaned but wood requires that you use only a mild soap and water solution and then wipe dry with a towel. On a plastic seat, any non-abrasive cleaner is usually safe to use. If a wood toilet seat chips or cracks, moisture can become an issue and bacteria might be absorbed into the wood, which can make cleaning difficult.