wwyd? toilets for dummies

[uh-oh-oh1]

our home is about 37yo. i'm pretty sure the bathrooms are original. we have noticed the toilets a'rockin'. We've also noticed water seeping out from the floor on occassion. I don't think this is from the water supply.

the bowls/tanks and internals are in good condition.

is it time to replace the wax ring? is this a normal maintenance thing? does this ring wear down, dry out, wash away over time? i am the person in our household more willing to attempt home repair. is this something a diy'r can attempt or do I need a plumber? it looks easy on the home shows, but they have the pros standing by in case of emergency. how stinky is the job? rubber gloves and clothes pin or haz mat suit. I see you need to plug up the sewer with something to control odor while working.

any other pitfalls or parts that I would need? will this correct both problems?

[majakdragon]

Wax seals will occasionally fail. Especially if the toilet is rocking. You may have a flange that is not attached to the floor or you may need to put in some toilet shims to stop the rocking.
The trap that stops sewer gas from coming into the house is built into the toilet bowl. That is why you should plug off the pipe opening while you are cleaning the flange for a new wax seal. Remember to remove whatever you plug it with BEFORE setting the toilet. This is a DIY job. If you need help, reply back. Good luck.