Replacement toilet seat
Replacement bolts
Penetrating oil
Oil or grease.

Tools you'll need:

Wrench
Socket wrench
Hacksaw

Toilet seats now come in an amazing variety of styles and colours, although most of them are standard fitting design so the principles of changing a seat remain the same. Keep in mind that a key feature of the seat you choose must be its ease of cleaning, for hygiene as well as for appearance.

To replace a toilet seat, first locate the two bolts at the back of the bowl. These are holding the old seat in place.

The two nuts have to be removed and this is not always as simple as it sounds. Dampness in the bathroom frequently corrodes the nuts so they resist turning with a wrench, or they may be recessed and difficult to get at.

It they are corroded, spray or coat with penetrating oil, and give the oil some time to work. Tapping the nuts gently will help the oil to do its work but be careful not to hit the tank or bowl with a heavy tool as you can crack it.

Once the oil has penetrated, gently loosen the nuts with a wrench. If the nuts are recessed, you may need a deep-throated socket wrench. If the nuts still do not yield, you may have to saw them off with a hacksaw as a last resort.

If you cannot loosen the nuts enough to get the blade at the bolt, you will have to saw through both, pressing the hacksaw blade flat against the bottom of the base Be careful not to damage the bowl.

Of course, once you have sawn through the bolts, you will have to replace the fittings as well as the seat.

Once you have removed the old seat, fit the new one by replacing the bolts and tightening the nuts. DO not over tighten them. Giving the bolts a coat of oil or grease before securing them in position will help prevent, or at least slow down, future problems with corrosion.