Can you put a towel bar over the toilet? The short answer to this question is yes. However, a few things need to be considered before this happens.
Some people view hanging the towel over the toilet as unsanitary because the aerosolized waste from the toilet tends to collect on them. But hanging your towel over the toilet can be stylish and also makes use of the space above the toilet, which means there’s more space in the bathroom for other things.
What’s more, there are no significant sanitary issues when you have your towel bar above the toilet. You need to keep your toilet clean and always have the lid down when flushing, and you’ll be good to go.
Where Should a Towel Bar Be Placed in a Bathroom?
Determining where you’ll place your towel bar is very important as it will determine how available and accessible your towels will be when needed.
As a rule, towel bars should be conveniently placed near each bath and sink fixture. They are better off being on the longest wall of the bathroom.
The towel bar should be near the shower or bathtub and opposite the vanity for the bath towels. This way, your towels will be at arm’s reach and easily accessible while in the shower. Also, you will not get your bathroom floor too wet as you get the towel somewhere else.
On the other hand, hand towel bars should be mounted near the sink for easy access whenever needed.
You can also install your towel bars in other locations in the bathroom, depending on the bathroom’s size and shape. For instance, if your bathroom is smaller, consider putting your towel bar above the toilet, vanity, or bathroom sink. This works well with both hand and bath towels.
Generally, bath towel bars should be placed on the largest wall to cater to the size of the long bar.
Is It Ok to Put a Towel Bar Over the Toilet?
This has already been discussed at the beginning of the article, but just to emphasize, you can put a towel bar over the toilet. While it is considered unhygienic, placing your towel bar above the toilet is ideal, especially if you have a small bathroom.
People with small bathrooms have limited wall space, and their bathroom fixtures are installed closer together. That means there is not much choice but to put your towel bar above the toilet.
However, the situation isn’t that bad. As mentioned above, you must always keep your bathroom clean and ensure the lid is down before flushing the toilet. That way, the toilet plume from flushing remains down and doesn’t accumulate on towels and other things around the bathroom.
How Far Should a Towel Bar Be Above the Toilet?
There are a few considerations to make when hanging your towel bar above the toilet. One of the most important considerations is height.
Generally, towel bars above the toilet are between 42-60 inches from the bathroom floor and 26-30 inches above the toilet. However, 48-54 inches above the floor is the most commonly used towel bar above toilet height.
Ideally, the height you choose will depend on the amount of space available and the size of your towels. Always ensure you go with a height that allows easier access and also one that doesn’t allow the towels to touch the toilet tank.
How to Install a Bathroom Towel Bar
Installing a bathroom towel bar isn’t rocket science. This is an easy DIY procedure that you can do yourself without the need to call in a professional.
Note that most towel bar manufacturers include all the hardware you’ll need for the installation. However, there are incidences where you’ll not find drywall anchors in the box, in which case you’ll have to buy those yourself.
Here’s how to hang a bathroom towel bar.
1. Determine the Desired Height
As stated above, most people place their towel bars above the toilet between 42-60 inches from the floor. However, you should choose your own height depending on who is going to be using the bathroom, your towel size, and other bathroom fixtures.
2. Check for the Studs
The next step is to check if there are wall studs behind the spot where you want to place the towel bar. Do this using an electronic stud finder. If you find studs, then you can go ahead and use pan-head screws. But if not, then you’ll have to make wall anchors. Also, it’s good to secure the towel bar with a wall anchor, even if you use studs.
3. Mark the Spot
Measure your desired height and determine the perfect length of the bar, then go ahead and mark the center of one bar holder using a pencil.
4. Drill the Mounting Holes
Detach the mounting brackets from its bar and hold and align one against the marked spot on the wall. Make sure you have considered and picked the right towel bar height. You might want to use a level just to ensure the mounting marks you made are even.
Drill two holes into the drywall at the marked areas and insert the drywall anchors.
5. Secure the Mounting Plates
Using a screwdriver, push the screws into the pre-made holes or use a drill to attach the mounting plate in place.
In case you’re using an anchor, then a hammer will come in handy to push in the anchor. You’ll then use screws to secure the bracket.
6. Hang Your Towel Bar
Affix the bar holders to the mounting brackets, one after the other, using the given set screw and wrench. You can then put the bar on the bar holders, then apply some pressure to test if it’s stable. Your towel bar is now ready for use.
How to Remove Bathroom Towel Bar
Now it may reach a time when you want to remove your towel bar because you want to replace it with a different design or want to use something else instead of the bar. After all, bathroom trends are ever-changing, and you want to avoid being stuck with an old, boring bar.
The good news is that towel bars can be easily removed without damaging the wall. Also, towel bars are relatively affordable, and changing them from time to time will not break the bank.
Before Removal
If you plan to replace the bar with a different color or design, make sure the replacement is the same length as the current one. The new towel bar will likely cover the damaged wall underneath the old bar.
Note that if the towel bar is attached to a tile wall using screws, hiding or repairing the holes left behind will be hard. That means if you cannot stand the ugly marks on the wall, you’ll have to stick with the one you already have.
What is Needed
Tools
- Paintbrush
- Dust mask
- Screwdriver
- Drywall taping knife
- Pry bar or hammer
- Eye protection
- Mini screwdriver or Allen wrench
- Oscillating multitool
Materials
- Paint
- Drywall joint compound
Procedure
In this guide, we will look at how to remove a bathroom towel bar that features a set of screws because that’s how most of them are mounted. Note that most manufacturers make the screws invisible, so the fact that you can’t spot a set screw doesn’t automatically mean it’s not there. Just look more keenly!
- Locate the Set Screw
Look for the tiny set screw on the bottom of the post near where the bar connects to the wall. Once found, you’ll use either a Philips head screwdriver for bars that use standard screws or an Allen wrench for those with a hew screw.
- Loosen the Set Screw
Using the appropriate tool, loosen each set screws by turning them counter-clockwise. Make sure the towel bar easily wobbles on the brackets.
- Remove the Towel Bar
After loosening the set screws, the bar should quickly come off. Lift it off the wall brackets together with the posts. You can support the weight of the bar by holding onto the posts. Gently lift the bar up and away from the wall.
- Unscrew the Brackets
After removing the towel bar, you’ll still have brackets attached to the wall with anchors and screws. Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws and remove the brackets completely from the wall.
Note that some brackets are attached directly to the wall while others may be screwed into the wall anchor of drywall. You can use needle-nose pliers to detach the drywall anchors.
Final Words On ‘Can You Put Towel Bar Over Toilet’
Whether or not it’s a good idea to put a towel bar over a toilet boils down to individual preferences. While some people think it’s gross to put your towels above the toilet because they will be exposed to the germs that come from continuous flushing, other people only have this as an option.
This guide will help anyone with a tiny bathroom who wants to hang their towel bar above the toilet. Give your thoughts in the comments down below.
