Monthly Archives: January 2026

You bought a new toilet seat, spent twenty minutes wrestling with the old one, and then realized… you can’t tighten the new bolts. Why? Because you can’t reach underneath the toilet.

This is the classic "Top Fix vs. Bottom Fix" nightmare. If you don't know the difference before you click 'buy', you are going to end up with a bag of parts you can't use. This is especially tricky with big brands. For example, finding the right Ideal Standard Toilet Seat Hinges requires knowing exactly how your toilet pan is built.

Here is the simple guide to figuring out which type you need so you don't waste your money.

The "Bottom Fix" (The Old School Way)

This is the standard hinge type for most traditional toilets.

• How to check: Stick your hand behind the toilet bowl and feel underneath the hinge holes. Can you feel a bolt coming through? Can you touch the wingnut?
• The Mechanism: A long bolt goes through the ceramic, and you tighten a plastic or metal nut from underneath.
• The Trap: If your toilet is fully

Stop me if this sounds familiar. You bought a "universal" seat from the local shop, tried to fit it to your bathroom suite, and realized it overhangs by an inch. You aren't alone. While a Cooke and Lewis Toilet is a solid choice for a modern bathroom, they are notorious for ignoring "standard" dimensions.

Models like the Santoro, Clarence, and Helena use specific shapes that generic seats simply can't match. If you are staring at a broken hinge, don't guess. Here is how to measure your pan accurately to ensure the replacement actually fits.

The "Universal" Trap

Most cheap seats are oval. But Cooke & Lewis pans are often D-Shaped (straight back, curved front) or completely Square. If you put an oval seat on a D-shape pan, the "ceramic shelf" at the back gets exposed. It looks messy and the seat will likely slide around because the hinges don't line up right.

Measure the Pan, Not the Seat

Don't measure your old seat—it might have been the wrong size to begin with. Grab a tape measure and

It’s 2 AM. The house is dead quiet. Suddenly, from the bathroom, you hear a hiss of water. Nobody is in there. Did someone pull the handle? Is your house haunted?

Before you call an exorcist, relax. You are likely experiencing the "Ghost Flush." It is one of the most common complaints with modern toilets, including Vitra models. While it sounds spooky, it’s actually just simple physics—and a sign that your cistern needs a little TLC.

What is Actually Happening?

Your toilet isn't flushing itself. It is refilling itself.

Here is the breakdown: Water is slowly leaking out of your cistern and into the toilet bowl. It’s usually so quiet you can't hear it. Over an hour or two, the water level in the tank drops just enough to lower the float. This triggers the fill valve to kick in for a few seconds to top it back up. That is the "hiss" or "whoosh" you hear in the middle of the night.

The Usual Suspect: The Flush Valve Seal

In 90% of cases, the problem is the rubber washer at the bottom of the

Replacing a toilet seat or fixing a cistern issue can feel overwhelming, but knowing where to begin makes all the difference. Whether it's a wobbly seat, a leaky flush, or outdated fixtures, the right spares turn frustration into a quick win. Homeowners and landlords often delay these fixes, leading to bigger problems like water waste or hygiene issues. This guide breaks it down step by step, focusing on durable, compatible parts that restore your bathroom's functionality without hassle.

Shocking Truth: Your Toilet Seat Might Be the Culprit!

Ever sat on a toilet seat that shifts or cracks under weight? That's not just annoying—it's a safety hazard waiting to happen. A high-quality Twyford Toilet Seat stands out for its robust build and perfect fit on popular Twyford models like the Avanta or Elegance. These seats feature soft-close hinges to prevent slamming, antimicrobial surfaces for better hygiene, and easy-release mechanisms for cleaning.

Why prioritize the seat first? It handles