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Slow closing toilet seats have specially designed hinges that will prevent the lid and seat from falling down to quickly. Older styles don't have this advantage, which mean they are at greater risk of breaking as they slam shut , or even chipping the bowls rim.
The good news is they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, meaning most of you will find something that fits your bathroom requirements. Even bidets with more advanced functionality have these hinges in the majority of cases.
In this buying guide, we look at how they can benefit you, and see which manufacturers stand out from the rest through detailed comparisons.
The SS114 is available in a variety of different color themes, namely several shades of white including colonial, cotton, and bone. There is also a beige and ebony for more unique tastes.
It has quiet close hinges and is designed to fit an elongated shape bowl. One of its best features is that it can be used on a number of Toto products, you're not limited to any particular range as it can be attached to many. Drake II and Clayton are two such examples.
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| TOTO | KOHLER Cachet | BEMIS | ||
| Model number | SS114#11 | K-4636-0 | 1500EC 000 | |
| Elongated | . | |||
| Round | ||||
| Square | ||||
| Dimensions | 19 x 14.5 x 3.2" | 18.1 x 14.2 x 1.1" | 14.1 x 2 x 18.9" | |
| Weight | 4.85 lbs | N/A | 7 lbs | |
| Colors | Colonial, Cotton, Ebony, Bone | White, Almond, Biscuit | White, Bone, Linen | |
| Bidet | ||||
| Rating | 85% | 84% | 82% |
The great thing about the SS114 is that it's versatile. It will fit some of Toto's most popular toilet ranges. Some examples of this include the Carlyle II, Clayton, Drake II, Connelly, Maris, and Ultramax II. You won't need to worry about it not fitting the bowl on each of these.
It's designed specifically for elongated shaped bowls. But they do offer a round version, simply search for the SS113.
It doesn't matter what your theme is either. They produce this in a number of different colors to help you match the theme of the other sanitary ware and plumbing fixtures. This particular color being reviewed may be colonial white, but you'll also be able to find it in bone, cotton white, sedona beige, and even ebony.
All the parts needed for mounting it onto your bowl will be included and it's designed for simple installation that anyone can do. What's more, bumpers are attached underneath to ensure you feel stable when seated.
It's constructed in a easy to clean, highly glossed polypropylene, that is resistant to chemical cleaning solutions and will ensure washing it down is easier thanks to its smooth surface.
Overall dimensions are 18-1/2 inches in length by 14 inches in width by 3-1/8 inches in height. It's not particularly heavy when lifting into place either, weighing 4.85 pounds.
Similar to the SS114, the K-4636 is one of those seats which can be attached to numerous models from Kohler.
It has a quick release feature that enables consumers to quickly remove and attach it again for cleaning and maintenance purposes. The great thing about this is you won't need to get your tool box out every time you need to clean the bowls rim.
It has what's known as grip tight bumbers that help prevent it slipping around and adds extra stability whilst seated. If you've ever sat on one without any such bumpers, the way it shifts around can be uncomfortable to say the least.
As is expected, it's made in plastic, which simplifies cleaning as the surface is smooth and less porous for bacteria to build up.
If you've got a unique color theme in your bathroom, you'll appreciate the color selection available. White, almond, black, cashmere, dune, ice gray, biscuit, sandbar, and thunder gray are all available. In fact, searching around, we've not seen many with as much choice as this.
Its dimensions are as follows: 18.1 by 14.2 by 1.1 inches.
The 1500EC 000 is made from enameled wood and although it's finished in white, you'll also be able to find it in several other colors like almond, linen, bone, fawn beige, dresden blue, silver, and pink. The enameled wood material is scratch and chip resistant, improving its overall durability. It also has a layer of gloss coated above which smoothes over the surface making it easier to wash down.
The brand is not as instantly recognizable as some of the big names in the industry, but they have a good reputation from what we've seen. Often they are a lower budget alternative which include many similar specifications as the main brands, they even describe it as being able to fit all Kohler, American Standard, and Toto elongated bowls.
It measures 14.1 by 2 by 18.9 inches and it weighs 7 pounds.
Brand - It's sensible to stick with the same brand seat as your toilet. The majority of the time, they are specifically designed for specific products in their catalogue. That way there is less chance of it not fitting your bowl and will reduce the chances of you needing to send it back for a refund.
However, we admit this isn't always possible. That's why there are some great seats designed for a number of different brands and sizes. All rounders if you like. Bemis, Mayfair, Bath Royale, Church, Villeroy & Boch, and several others are solid examples of this.
Standard or luxury? - If you've got a higher budget, you should consider getting a washlet over a standard seat. They offer smart functionality that improves hygiene and comfort in the washroom. Heated seating, night lights, and advanced washing are all typical tech inclusions.
Consumer feedback - Take a look at what the common customer complaints are on the big online shops such as Home Depot, Lowes, and Wayfair. You can get an understanding of how happy your average buyer is with their purchase through these comments. They provide a valuable insight into how durable the product is, how stable it feels while sitting on it, and how easy it is to install.
Toilet seats with soft close hinges are generally seen as the standard option these days. If you buy a new toilet, you'll find that the majority of them have them included with quick release features too. They are easy to clean, protect the bowls surface, and get rid of the dreaded slamming sounds in the middle of the night. All three things make them a worthwhile investment in our opinion.