Padded toilet seats may provide comfort and safety for an older adult.
As a person ages, the body’s fat and muscle begin breaking down, particularly around the area of the buttocks, which can make a hard toilet seat very uncomfortable.
Seniors are also prone to losing weight, which can add pressure when sitting on a regular toilet seat. Pressure from boney prominences is why products such as padded toilet seats are an excellent option for seniors as they provide comfort and relieve this pressure.
However, before investing in a padded toilet seat, it is crucial to know how to keep it clean and hygienic.
Understanding the features of padded toilet seats and the correct way to use one can mean that a soft toilet seat can be as hygienic or sanitary as any other seat type.
Padded toilet seats provide a lot more comfort when compared to a traditional hard toilet seat.
Are Padded Toilet Seats Unsanitary?
Yes and no. Padded toilet seats can be unsanitary if not cared for and cleaned correctly, just like a standard toilet seat.
However, padded toilet seats can crack and deteriorate over time, and urine or other fluids can become trapped in the cracks, making the toilet seat unsanitary.
So when you start noticing any damage or deterioration, it is time to replace it. It is also essential to consider that cheaper materials are usually less durable, which means one of the better quality toilet seats won’t tear or crack as easily.
Tips On How To Keep A Padded Toilet Seat Clean
The correct way to clean a padded toilet seat involves a step-by-step process. Padded or not, keeping the toilet seat clean is vital since these parts of a toilet are not immune to bacteria.
Cleaning A Padded Toilet Seat
There is no denying how comfortable a padded toilet seat can be for an elderly person. The comfort in these seats comes from the padding, incorporated into these seats in various ways.
These differences in structures can mean that they require different care and cleaning requirements, although each one should be easy to clean when done correctly.
Take Extra Care When It Comes To The Toilet Seat
Wipe the toilet seat down after each use, especially for those that urinate standing up. You should wipe down the seat with sanitary wipes. This way, weekly or monthly cleaning sessions will not be as labor-intensive.
Disinfect
The brand you choose doesn’t really matter; just ensure the disinfectant is suitable for the job.
The better quality disinfectants should kill off the majority of germs and bacteria on the toilet seat and stop them from making you sick when they land up on your hands or skin.
A toilet seat can become extremely unhygienic quickly, so if you are not disinfecting them regularly enough, they can become health hazards. When cleaning the toilet, make sure you spray down the entire seat.
After spraying the disinfectant, allow it to stand for at least 20 minutes to tackle all types of bacteria. Now clean the surfaces with a clean cloth.
Wash After Disinfecting
Once you have finished disinfecting the toilet seat, remove the padded seat and wash it in water.
Washing the padded seat will ensure that the disinfectant doesn’t land on your sensitive skin, which is a good thing since disinfectants are acidic and robust, which could irritate or burn your skin.
Conclusion
Padding can make it much easier for bacteria or germs to latch to the seat, which is why it is crucial to clean padded seats a lot more frequently.
If you don’t have the time for regular cleaning or are no longer able to keep up with these chores due to age or any other health-related condition, make sure your caregiver or housekeeper is keeping up with these critical tasks.
It is also essential to keep an eye on a padded toilet seat and replace it once it shows signs of cracks or general wear and tear.
