Having trouble remembering what items you shouldn’t be flushing down the toilet? Usually, it’s best to avoid flushing anything besides waste and toilet paper. Flushing anything else could cause major damage to your plumbing system, resulting in the need for expensive repairs.
Below, you’ll find common things you shouldn’t flush down the toilet that many people flush anyway:
- Paper towels: They’re made of paper. You should be able to flush them like you would toilet paper, right? Unlike toilet paper, paper towels were designed to absorb water, so they don’t break down as easily. Even one paper towel can affect your drains, so be sure to dispose of them in the trash instead.
- Wipes marketed as flushable: Don’t let the advertising fool you. Flushable wipes usually don’t disintegrate easily, often resulting in clogs and other plumbing problems. As with paper towels, you should dispose of flushable wipes in a nearby trash receptacle.
- Q-tips: Most people use Q-tips to clean their ears while in the bathroom. If there’s not a trash can nearby, it might be tempting to throw your used Q-tips in the toilet; however, Q-tips can clump together in your drain or septic tank.
- Dental floss: One of the things you should especially avoid flushing down the toilet is dental floss. Dental floss can catch and hold on to debris, eventually forming clogs in your drains. Not only that, but flushing dental floss is also terrible for the environment.
- Pills: Pills may properly dissolve in saliva but not in toilet water. Like floss, medication can also cause environmental damage if it ends up in the water supply. Instead, take your leftover pills to a drug take-back site in your area. These are easy to find with a quick online search.
- Feminine products: These products absorb liquid, so flushing them down the toilet often results in disastrous consequences. Common problems associated with flushing feminine products include clogs and toilet overflows.
- Cigarettes: One of the most commonly-flushed items you shouldn’t be flushing down the toilet are cigarette butts. These products are not only bad for the environment, but they often don’t go down after a single flush. That means you’ll have to keep flushing, which can result in higher water bills.
- Hair: Always avoid tossing your excess hair into the toilet. Like dental floss, hair will stick to the inside of pipes and catch debris.
Having trouble with your sewer system?
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the items you shouldn’t be flushing down the toilet. If you experience clogs or any other sewer system problems, be sure to contact an expert right away. Putting off sewer system repairs will only result in bigger problems down the line.
Those in need of top-quality sewer system repairs and maintenance at fair prices should get in touch with the experts at Gullett Sanitation Services, Inc. One of our technicians will be at your home in no time to fix all your sewer system problems. Contact us today for a consultation.