7 Items You Should Never Flush Down Your Toilet - A Guide

Toilets can conveniently and safely dispose of human urine and waste, but they are not effective in getting rid of other everyday items. Therefore, flushing things can clog your drain pipes and contaminate your water system. In fact, seemingly harmless household products can cause major plumbing problems that can lead to an overflowing toilet along with a costly bill. To prevent any plumbing issues, here are some items you should never flush down the drain:

- Dental Floss

Dental floss is usually made of nylon. It is non-biodegradable, which means it does not decompose or break down easily in water. It can even accumulate over time when flushed when the floss gets tangled around other items flushed after it, creating bigger clumps. When this happens, you’ll be left with clogged sewers and pipes. Avoid this problem by tossing it in the trash instead of flushing it down the toilet.

- Cigarette Butts

Cigarette butts don’t always go down the drain after flushing. Worse, they can contaminate your water system with harmful chemicals and end up harming the environment. To save yourself the hassle of dealing with a plumbing problem and protect animals and the environment, dispose of your cigarettes in the trash after safely extinguishing them.

- Grease, Oil, and Fat

A general rule of thumb is never flush food down, especially those with oils, grease, and fats. Even in liquid form, you must never dispose of these wastes in your toilet since they can eventually solidify, attach to the interior lining of your pipes, and cause major blockages. To throw them away correctly, let them cool completely before throwing them in the trash can.

- Kitty Litter

Your cat’s waste should never go in the toilet. It may contain potentially harmful parasites that can contaminate your water supply and clog your pipes. Because of this, always dispose of cat litter and waste in the garbage bin or compost pit.

- Bandages

Most bandages are usually made of non-biodegradable plastic, which can cause clogged pipes and pollute your water system when flushed down the toilet. Avoid plumbing problems by throwing used bandages in the trash can.

- Medicine

Unused or expired medicine and potentially hazardous household materials, including cleaning products and paint, must be disposed of in the trash, dropped off at a drug take-back site, or collected in your community. While they don’t cause clogs, don’t flush them down the toilet because they can contaminate your water supply.

- Flushable Wipes

The packaging might state otherwise and claim they are safe for septic systems, but you should never dispose of flushable wipes down the toilet. Remember that wipes don’t break down quickly, so they can get stuck in your drains and clog your pipes.

When you encounter these plumbing problems, seek a reliable plumbing service provider right away. On the other hand, prevent this plumbing issue in the first place by throwing them in the garbage bin.

Conclusion

Disposing of different items and products using your toilet is convenient, but the more you flush these products, the more they can clog your pipes or contaminate your water system. These plumbing problems can lead to costly repairs or emergencies. Fortunately, you can avoid them by never flushing the listed items above down your toilet. On the other hand, you can count on us for emergency plumbing in Edmonton.

Reach out to Soul Mechanical for any residential plumbing problems. Aside from fixing blocked toilets, we can fix frozen pipes, leaking water heaters, and more. Request a quote today!