If your bathroom is looking a little tired but your toilets are still in great shape, don’t rush to replace the whole unit. A simple and inexpensive upgrade can bring them back to looking brand new: replacing the toilet seat!
After eight years of use, my Kohler toilets were still in perfect condition—except for the seats. The plastic had discolored over time, and the slow-close mechanisms weren’t working as smoothly as they used to. While the porcelain looked fantastic, the worn-out seats made the whole toilet look old and dingy. The fix? Installing new Kohler Glenbury ReadyLatch Quiet-Close Elongated Toilet Seats (4733-RL-0). At around $40 per toilet, this upgrade was one of the easiest and most budget-friendly ways to refresh the look of my bathroom. Here’s how I did it.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Replacement Seat
When replacing a toilet seat, it’s important to match the shape and size of your existing toilet. My toilets are elongated, so I went with the Kohler Glenbury ReadyLatch Quiet-Close Elongated Toilet Seat. This model offers a soft-close feature, preventing slamming, and ReadyLatch quick-release hinges, making it easy to remove and clean.
Step 2: Removing the Old Seat
This part was super simple. Most toilet seats are attached with two bolts at the back. Using a screwdriver, I loosened and removed the bolts, lifting off the old seat. If you haven’t replaced your seat in a long time, you might encounter some grime or stuck bolts—nothing a little elbow grease or penetrating oil can’t handle!
Step 3: Cleaning Before Installation
Before installing the new seat, I took a few minutes to wipe down the toilet rim with a disinfectant. Since the old seat had been in place for years, there was some hidden buildup that was easy to clean once the seat was off.
Step 4: Installing the New Kohler Glenbury Seat
The ReadyLatch system made this installation incredibly fast. I positioned the new seat over the bolt holes, inserted the new bolts, and clicked the seat into place. A quick tighten with a screwdriver, and it was done! No complicated adjustments, no special tools—just a straightforward swap.
Step 5: Admiring the Fresh Look
In less than 10 minutes per toilet, my bathroom had a refreshed, like-new look. The new seat perfectly matched the porcelain, and the quiet-close feature worked smoothly. It felt like I had brand-new toilets without the cost or hassle of replacing them.
Final Thoughts
This upgrade was one of the easiest, most affordable home improvements I’ve done. For about $40 per toilet and just a few minutes of effort, I completely transformed the look of my bathrooms. If your toilets are in good shape but look outdated due to discolored or worn-out seats, this is a no-brainer DIY project that delivers instant results.
Have you upgraded your toilet seats? Let me know in the comments!
.jpg)
