I hope someone can help. This is my first house and I don't know what to do. I just noticed that I have a leak in the base of my toilet. The water appears to be coming from the area where the nut, bolt and washer are. Its is not leaking profusely but it is enough to form a puddle on the floor. Could I stop the leak by putting a sealant around the washer? When I tried to tighten it, it just leaked more rapidly so I left it alone. Please help.

It sounds like you have a ruptured wax seal. Try to tighten the nuts down first. If the bolt turns the hold it from turning until the nut takes up the tension. Donot over tighten. If, after tightening the closetbolts, you still have a leak then the toilet must come up and a new wax seal installed. Good luck, Tom