Your bathroom should be a safe space you can comfortably sit without feeling disgusted. Achieving that means taking care of its floors, ensuring they are always clean and in good condition to avoid regular replacement.

Floors, especially in areas like washrooms, are susceptible to water damage which is not only a nuisance to deal with but also costly. Moreover, urine splashback produces a nasty odor, stains the bathroom floors, and makes the whole area unsanitary and dirty.

If you are wondering how to avoid costly and sometimes irreversible damage to your toilet by protecting its floor, keep reading to find out.

How Do You Protect The Floor Under A Toilet

Here are some excellent ways to keep your toilet floors in good condition at all times. These methods provide solutions to problems like urine splashback, foul odors, and wet floors.

Waterproof The Bathroom Floor

Contrary to the belief, washroom floor materials aren’t always already waterproof. For instance, linoleum and tile can suffer water damages.

Flooring materials like vinyl are waterproof, so you shouldn’t worry about water damages if your toilet has vinyl floors. However, ensure you waterproof your bathroom floor if it isn’t water-resistant.

You can waterproof your bathroom floors using ceramic, porcelain, vinyl, stone, or waterproof hardwood. Your choice of material will boil down to your budget, preferred appearance, maintenance, and preference.

If you lead a busy life with little time for regular toilet clean-up, go for ceramic tile or porcelain as they are easy to clean.

Invest in Disposable Toilet Floor Mats

Disposable mats come in handy, particularly if you have kids or an older person with incontinence issues. These mats are highly absorbent, making them excellent at soaking up urine; hence you won’t have to get rid of urine puddles regularly.

Moreover, disposable mats will protect your toilet floor from smells and urine stains. This will ensure your bathroom flooring serves for long before you have to replace it.

While there are numerous types of mats for your toilet floors, go for those that have a rubber backing to prevent slipping. In addition, mats with deodorizing agents absorb the smell of ammonia from the urine effectively.

These mats are also easy to dispose of, and you can buy them in bulk for convenience.

Pee Splash Deflectors Or Guards

This is an excellent way to keep urine away from your toilet floor. The plastic-made device sits inside the toilet serving as a urine shield or deflector.

They come in various sizes and shapes but fulfill a common function, which is channeling urine back into the toilet bowl if you miss it. Furthermore, pee splash guards also ensure the urine does not come out via the gap between the toilet seat and bowl, protecting the floor.

Consider this device if you live with an older adult, potty training children, or a person living with a disability. It will help keep your toilet hygienic and eliminate the need to clean the floor after a mess because it prevents splashbacks rather than absorbing them.

Washable Toilet Floor Protectors

They serve the same purpose as disposable toilet floor mats but are more cost-effective since you can wash and reuse them. They are designed with a U-shape to allow the mat to go around the toilet bowl’s base and a unique form with numerous advantages.

Since they contour around the bowl, they ensure urine and water don’t go into the floor. Additionally, these highly-absorbent mats deter urine stains.

In addition, they aid the bathroom’s décor. However, they must be cleaned frequently, and some people view them as unhygienic.

Caulk The Toilet Bowl Base

Caulking the toilet floor setting the toilet creates the best seal. While it does not prevent splashback, it protects the toilet floor from splashback damages by preventing the urine from seeping into the bathroom floor.

Caulking keeps the toilet securely in place, ensuring its sits firmly on the bathroom floor without wobbling back and forth. A loose toilet can cause dire damages to the floor.

Moreover, caulking around your toilet floor prevents liquid accumulation under the toilet rim. Once water or any other fluid collects in this area, it’s tough to remove them and cause foul-smelling odors and mold.

The gap under your toilet creates an excellent breeding ground for bugs like water bugs and ants. Caulking seals off this space, taking away these creatures’ potential shelter.

Make sure the caulk you pick is 100% silicone because it functions as a moisture and water repellant. It will not disintegrate or dissolve when it comes in contact with water, so mopping your toilet won’t ruin the seal.

The caulk color you pick will depend on your preference. You may want to match your bathroom floor, use a color close to it, or even a clear color.

How To Caulk Around Your Toilet

Here’s what you need to do to caulk around the toilet bottom.

Preparation

Before caulking, get rid of any existing old caulk using dedicated removal tools found at home improvement shops. Alternatively, you can use a razor or utility knife to scrape it off.

After removing old caulk, clean the toilet base, ensuring you scoop out debris like rust, dirt, and paint chips. Clean using a rag and bathroom cleaner, then disinfect it using rubbing alcohol.

Put masking tape on the floor around the toilet for a smoother, straighter seal and protect the rest of the floor from the caulk.

Apply Caulk

You will first need to put the tube of caulk into a caulking gun. Pull the gun’s trigger, hold it at a 45-degree angle, moving slowly and consistently around the joint.

Clean And Tool The Sealant

Scoop off the excess caulk by running your finger along with the sealant. Doing so will also push the caulk further into the joint, sealing it fully.

Remove the masking tape and clean up the area with a sponge or damp rag, making sure you leave the space clean. After that, let the caulk cure for approximately 24 hours.

FAQ On How To Protect Floor Around Toilet

How Do You Protect A Wood Floor Under A Toilet?

You can protect a wooden floor under your toilet floor using a waterproof seal like a polyurethane-based sealer to prevent water and urine from seeping into the floor. Moreover, you can lay down toilet floor mats or rugs to help absorb any fluids.

Should You Seal Around The Base Of A Toilet?

You should seal around your toilet base because it secures the toilet to the floor, prevents odors and molds, and prevents bugs. In addition, sealing the joints connecting with a floor is an International Plumbing Code requirement.

These joints must also be water-proofed according to the Uniform Plumbing Code. Therefore, you should seal around your toilet base even without considering the benefits.

Conclusion

Protecting the floor around your toilet eases your bathroom cleaning responsibility by keeping your floor free of pee. It also helps to maintain your washroom floor in good condition saving you money for frequent floor repair and replacement.

It is essential to keep the floor around your toilet dry to prevent water damages and generally make the bathroom pleasant. Therefore, strive to maintain a clean and hygienic bathroom regardless of your flooring material.