Plastic guards are decent, but I've had mixed results myself:
- Installed one in our guest bathroom—held up great, zero rust, easy to clean.
- Tried another in the main bath, cracked after a year (maybe just bad luck?).
- Ended up switching back to stainless steel with a marine-grade coating. Bit pricier, but it's been solid so far.
Guess it depends on usage and humidity levels...but yeah, sprays alone never lasted long for me either.
Had similar issues myself. Plastic guards are okay if you're on a tight budget, but durability can be hit or miss. Had one crack after just 8 months in our main bathroom—probably due to heavier daily usage and higher moisture levels from hot showers. Ended up trying aluminum guards with a rust-proof coating. Surprisingly affordable and they've held up well so far...been nearly two years now, no signs of corrosion or cracks yet.
Also agree sprays alone don't cut it. Tried a bunch, but the moisture still seeps through eventually. Better off investing in something sturdier upfront, saves the headache (and extra spending) down the road.
"Better off investing in something sturdier upfront, saves the headache (and extra spending) down the road."
Yeah, totally agree with this. Plastic guards never lasted long for me either, and honestly, they're just more plastic waste in the end. I switched to stainless steel guards—bit pricier upfront but zero rust issues and way more durable long-term. Plus, less plastic junk ending up in landfills. Worth considering if you're looking for a lasting fix and want to cut back on waste...
"I switched to stainless steel guards—bit pricier upfront but zero rust issues and way more durable long-term."
Stainless steel definitely sounds appealing durability-wise, but I'd be careful about jumping straight to metal guards for toilets. Had a friend who went that route... ended up with some nasty scratches on the porcelain bowl after a few months. Turns out, even stainless steel can cause damage if it's not installed perfectly or shifts slightly over time. He regretted it big time, since fixing porcelain scratches isn't exactly fun or cheap.
Personally, I've had decent luck with higher-quality silicone guards instead. They're flexible enough to fit snugly without scratching, and they're surprisingly durable compared to the cheap plastic ones. Plus, silicone doesn't degrade as quickly or become brittle like regular plastic does. It's also easier to remove and clean thoroughly, which helps with hygiene and odor control.
Not knocking the eco-friendly angle though—plastic waste reduction is definitely important. Silicone's not perfect environmentally either, but at least it lasts longer and doesn't need frequent replacing. Just figured I'd share a cautionary tale about metal guards, since the last thing anyone wants is another toilet disaster down the line...
Stainless steel definitely sounds appealing durability-wise, but I'd be careful about jumping straight to metal guards for toilets.
Yeah, silicone guards have been a lifesaver for me too. Learned the hard way after tenants damaged porcelain with metal hardware... not fun. Silicone's easier to manage, and like you said, doesn't get brittle or gross as quickly. Worth the slight extra cost imo.
