discolored seal around toilet base

[groverf19]

The seal around the base of this toilet has become discolored and cracked. The toilet does not leak at all, however. Can the old material at the base be removed and replaced without removing the toilet? If so, what's best to reseal it with - putty, caulk, grout? Thanks.

 

[havasu]

If it's not leaking, I'd just go over what you have with a layer of color matched grout. It would look way better.

 

[breplum]

Scrape away (w/o removing WC). We use "clear" (it is more like translucent) silicone caulk most of the time, and rarely white.
Grout is cool but so much more difficult and time consuming.
Always leave an opening at the back for any leaks to exit if they start.

 

[MicEd69]

Just to provide a little knowledge since you said, "The toilet does not leak at all, however." even though the "seal" around the base is cracked. The seal of a toilet is a wax or rubber/plastic ring 4"/6" in diameter that seals the toilet discharge to the toilet flange. You can't see it without lifting the toilet off the floor. Don't do that! The "seal" around the base of the toilet is there only to keep water, and urine from little boys, that ends up on the floor from going under the toilet base. But as breplum said, don't seal the base all the way around as that would then become an actual "seal" and hide an actual wax seal leak, for a time, causing a real mess and possible floor damage.