Buying guide for Best heated toilet seats
If you've ever placed yourself on a frigid toilet seat, you know precisely how unsettling it can be. The shock is so jarring that many people go to extraordinary lengths to make sure that it will never happen again. Instead of sitting on socks or rubbing the seat down with a warm towel, a far better solution is to simply get a heated toilet seat.
A wide variety of heated toilet seats are available. Depending on what you prefer, you can choose one that is simply designed to get rid of that initial chill or one that has been equipped with a number of bells and whistles ranging from lights to music to a gentle cleansing wash.
Key considerations
Shape
The most important criterion for selecting the right heated toilet seat is the shape. There are only two types — round and elongated (oval) — which makes the choice simple. However, the two types are not compatible: a round seat won't fit an elongated toilet bowl, and vice versa, so you need to get it right. You either need a round heated toilet seat or an elongated heated toilet seat. If you can't tell what you have by looking at it (and it can be difficult if you have nothing to compare it to), see our FAQ section for measuring advice.
Did you know?
Smart technology isn't limited to the lights, music, and larger appliances in your home. It’s possible to purchase a smart toilet with a seat that opens up, lights up, warms up, plays music, and automatically flushes for you.
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Features
As long as you purchase the right shape (round or oval), your heated toilet seat will fit. The extra features are what make one model stand apart from the others. The following is a list of available options that can be found on heated toilet seats. If you see something you like, make sure that the model you’re considering includes that feature.
Temperature
Look for a heated toilet seat with more than an on/off temperature setting. High, medium, and low should be sufficient for most individuals.
Smart
Sensors: To conserve energy, some of the more expensive models feature heat that instantly turns on when it detects pressure on the toilet seat.
Remote: A smart toilet seat can be controlled remotely as well as perform a number of automated actions, such as rising when you enter and flushing when you leave, which combine to make your trip to the bathroom a more self-pampering excursion.
Padding
Some individuals prefer a hard seat, while others like a softer experience for comfort. Look for the type of heated toilet seat that you prefer.
Bidet
Many heated toilet seats are available with a bidet option. This can help save toilet paper and offers a nearly hands-free cleaning experience.
Water temperature: If you decide to opt for the bidet feature, you need heated water. Like the temperature control on the seat, look for one that offers you at least high, medium, and low water temperature settings.
Air dryer: If you have a bidet, the next step up in luxury is an air-dry feature.
Light
A lighted toilet seat comes in handy for those middle-of-the-night trips. Having a soft, warm glow that illuminates the bowl is much less harsh than flipping on bright overhead lights, and it might help you have a better night's sleep.
Lid
A soft-closing toilet seat lid gently lowers the lid, even if it slips from your fingertips, ensuring that you’ll never again drop the lid with a loud crash.
Self-cleaning
Sanitizing: Some heated toilet seats feature a self-cleaning mode that can help clean and sanitize your toilet every time you flush.
Deodorizing: Some heated toilet seats feature a deodorizing mist to help keep the bathroom smelling pleasant.
Aesthetics
Last, but definitely not least, you want a heated toilet seat that fits in with the décor of your bathroom and is aesthetically pleasing. If it's an eyesore, no matter how flawlessly it works, you’ll regret your purchase every time you look at it.
Did you know?
Did you know that the toilet seats in public restrooms that are U-shaped instead of O-shaped are designed that way to reduce the area where germs can build up, to make wiping easier for women, and to make it less likely that the toilet seats will be stolen?
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Heated toilet seat prices
Inexpensive: Although it’s technically not a heated toilet seat, if you’re on an extremely tight budget, you can pick up a washable fabric toilet seat cover for between $10 and $20. The downside to using these items is that they can quickly become breeding grounds for germs and bacteria. If all you want is a toilet seat that plugs in and gets warm, you can find a no-frills model for under $100.
Mid-range: In the $200 to $400 price range, you can find a heated toilet seat that also includes a number of other features, such as a bidet and an air dryer. For these models, the controls will most likely be built into the seat.
Expensive: If you’d like all the bells and whistles, along with a remote and smart toilet seat capabilities like an illuminated bowl, automatic opening and closing, self-cleaning, and more, you'll need to look in the $400 to $1,000 price range.
Tips
Most people get a little squeamish when they think about taking care of their heated toilet seat. However, because of the design, the job of cleaning a toilet seat might not be as dirty as you think. The following are a few quick tips to help you maintain a clean toilet seat.
- Clean often. By “often” we mean daily, especially if you have kids.
- Wear gloves. You don't want the germs that you’re trying to eradicate to be spread via your own hands.
- Use a microfiber cloth. A sponge can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Clean the top, underneath, and bolts. Spray the top of the seat with antibacterial cleaner and wipe it down using the microfiber cloth. Lift the seat and clean beneath it with the spray and cloth. Once each week, perform a deeper cleaning by popping the seat covers and scrubbing down the areas around the bolts.
Did you know?
Dyk3 If you've ever argued over which way the toilet paper should hang, according to the drawing that accompanies Patent No. US465588A, filed by S. Wheeler on December 22, 1891, the paper is to be placed in the “over” position.
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FAQ
Q. Is it better to leave the toilet lid up or down?
A. The resounding answer to this (despite the griping of some men) is down. Whenever a toilet is flushed, the turbulent swirling motion creates a mist of germs and fecal matter that rise from the bowl to contaminate anything in the immediate vicinity. This includes any personal hygiene items that may be out or any hand and face towels that may be hanging nearby. Closing the toilet lid helps prevent this from happening.
Q. Are heated toilet seats hard to install?
A. It depends on the type that you purchase. For the most part, a heated toilet seat only requires removing two easily accessed bolts. If you have a bidet that requires a separate water feed, that can usually be quickly accomplished by replacing your toilet supply line with the one that’s included with your new toilet seat. If you’re uncomfortable with swapping out your toilet seat, however, a plumber or local handyperson can do the installation for you.
Q. How do I know what size toilet seat I need?
A. There are only two types of standard toilet seats, so figuring out which one you need is very easy. One seat is round and the other is elongated (oval). If you have any difficulty determining if your opening is round or oval, measure the distance from the center of the mounting holes to the front of the bowl. If it’s roughly 16 inches, you need a round toilet seat; if it’s roughly 18.5 inches, you need an elongated toilet seat. It truly is that easy.
