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We all know it’s important to have proper waste disposal methods in our homes. Not only does this help ensure that waste isn’t accumulating and posing a health risk, but it also helps prevent damage to pipes, septic tanks, and other plumbing equipment. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of what can and cannot be flushed down the toilet.
If you have an issue with your toilet or pipework, don’t hesitate to contact a local plumber like PlumbTech to assist you with your plumbing.
To help keep your home safe and your plumbing working properly, here is our list of the top 8 things you should never flush down the toilet:
1. Sanitary products
Sanitary products such as tampons, liners, applicators and pads shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. These items can block or clog plumbing systems and create an unsightly mess. It is best to throw them away in a lined trash can or a designated bin for feminine hygiene products.
2. Heavy paper products
Tissues, paper towels and even toilet paper can cause plumbing problems if flushed down your toilet drain. Toilet paper is specifically designed to decompose quickly when exposed to water, hence it will not clog the drain pipes. However, heavy-duty paper products will not break down easily enough in the system causing blockages further down the line.
3. Condoms
Condoms contain materials that do not easily break down in the water which makes them difficult to flush properly. Flushing condoms can lead to blockages deep in the sewer lines which will require costly repairs by professionals.
It’s best practice to dispose of condoms safely by wrapping them up properly before disposing them in the trash can.
4. Cotton swabs and buds
Used cotton swabs/buds often don’t make their way through septic tanks successfully as they become tangled together leading to blocked drains and toilets throughout your home or building’s sewer line network.
Avoid flushing these items at all costs by throwing them away properly into an appropriate trash can with a lid on it instead!
5. Wet wipes
Wet wipes are convenient yet they too can cause major problems when flushed down the toilet especially those advertised as “flushable” they are anything but flushable!
They are often much thicker than regular toilet tissue which means they won’t break apart like regular tissue does meaning they may get stuck further along in the pipe system eventually leading to complete blockage inside your sewage pipes!
It’s best practice to always put wet wipes into a separate compartment of your bathroom garbage bin instead of flushing them away!
6. Diapers
No explanation needed here – diapers simply don’t belong anywhere near a toilet bowl! Anything absorbent like cloth diapers or disposable ones needs thrown into a covered trash receptacle instead so it doesn’t end up clogging up sewers elsewhere- both for commercial properties as well as residential ones!
7. Medications
Many people mistakenly assume that it is safe to flush prescription and over-the-counter medications down their toilets without any issue; however, this is far from true!
These drugs contain chemicals that could be harmful if released into waterways whether through ground runoff or sewage systems so please don’t do it – always take unused medication back to your pharmacy for safe disposal.
8. Food waste
Food waste causes more than just blocked toilets – food waste can release methane gas into the atmosphere when broken down through sewage systems which has serious environmental consequences on our planet Earth!
Whether you compost food scraps or send them directly into landfill bins, get sent off site somewhere else no matter what to make sure they stay out of your own personal black hole (aka – your home’s drainage system).
What is okay to flush down the toilet?
Proper disposal of waste is essential for the safety and well-being of our environment. When it comes to flushing things down the toilet, there is a common misconception that everything is permissible.
But, it is crucial to be mindful of what we flush to prevent blockages, overflows, and pollution. Only toilet paper and human waste should be disposed of in the toilet. Wet wipes, feminine products, cotton balls, and other non-degradable items should be disposed of in the trash can.
If in doubt, err on the side of caution and throw it away instead of flushing it. Proper disposal is a simple step that we can all take to protect and preserve our environment.
Conclusion – 8 Things to never flush down your toilet
With this list top of mind it’s a valuable reminder that some things simply don’t belong near our water systems – both for maintenance hygiene purposes as well as for our planet’s sustainable future. Avoid flushing any of these items down your toilet.
If you aren’t sure if an item can be flushed or you think you have a blockage in your plumbing, call a plumber! Plumbing professionals are licensed and trained to assist you and help your pipes work as they should.
