How to Paint a Toilet Seat

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Things You'll Need

  • Trisodium phosphate cleanser

  • Coarse plastic brush

  • Rags

  • Heavy-duty fabric drop cloth

  • 120-grit sandpaper

  • Acrylic latex spray primer

  • Appliance epoxy spray paint

Do not paint the seat while it is still affixed to the toilet.

While many homeowners opt to discard their old, worn-looking toilet seats, frugal do-it-yourselfers choose instead to refinish their seats with a fresh coat of paint. Because toilet seats are not suited for adhesion, they require special treatment, prior to application. In addition, because toilet seats are exposed to a consistent amount of duress, they require a special type of paint, capable of withstanding weight, friction and moisture. Improper painting and preparation will lead to certain paint failure.

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Step 1

Remove the toilet seat and take it to a ventilated area.

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Step 2

Scrub the toilet seat with a trisodium phosphate cleanser, using a coarse plastic brush. Rinse the toilet seat with wet rags. Wait 1 to 2 hours for the toilet seat to dry.

Step 3

Place the clean toilet seat on a fabric drop cloth.

Step 4

Abrade the toilet seat to promote adhesion by sanding it with 120-grit sandpaper. Scour the toilet seat until it feels gritty.

Step 5

Coat the toilet seat with an acrylic latex spray primer. Hold the can 8 inches from the seat as you apply. Wait 2 hours and flip the seat over, and prime the other side. Wait 2 hours for the primed toilet seat to dry.

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Step 6

Coat the primed toilet seat with an appliance epoxy spray paint. Apply the epoxy paint to the toilet seat just as you did the primer. Wait 6 hours before reinstalling the seat.

Warning

Don't prime over an unabraded toilet seat, or the primer will fail.

Don't paint over unprimed toilet seat, or the paint will peel.

Don't use an ordinary acrylic latex paint to coat a toilet seat, or the finish will eventually chip and peel.

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