Everyday Items You Shouldn’t Flush Down the Toilet

It can be often tempting to flush things other than human waste and toilet paper down the toilet. But be warned; when solid objects are flushed down, they can cause major backups, damage plumbing, and lead to costly repairs. So it’s important to be mindful of the items you’re flushing down the toilet, to protect your water supply and prevent damages to your plumbing. Here are everyday items you shouldn’t flush down the toilet:

1. Sanitary pads, tampons, or wipes

Sanity items such as pads, wipes, and tampons can clog your toilet, and cause the toilet to overflow or back up. These products are made to absorb water, expanding when flushed, so it’s not good for your plumbing.

They’ll also clog sewer pipes, so wastewater overlflows and gets discharged into the environment. Rivers and other waterways will be contaminated with untreated wastewater.

While some sanity items claim to be flush-friendly, they typically take longer than toilet paper to break down, so they still end up clogging your sewer/ septic system.

2. Dental floss

Dental floss can cause environmental damage, and must never be flushed down the toilet.

Made of Teflon or nylon, dental floss is non-biodegradable, turning into a net and catching debris when flushed down the toilet. The results? It causes clogs and hurts the environment at the same time.

3. Large clumps of hair

The problem with hair is that it tends to stick to the inside of your pipes. It also contains proteins that can’t be broken down by the bacteria in the septic tank.

So when you flush hair down the toilet, this leads to build-up over time, even if the toilet itself doesn’t get obstructed by hair.

Long hair balls up more quickly, producing a web that catches anything that passes through. Your pipes get clogged and later on, your septic tank may require expensive repairs.

4. Pills/ medication

Unless the label specifically instructs you to, it’s not a great idea to flush pills or expired medication down the toilet. The water doesn’t properly break them down. Pharmaceutical products can also negatively impact the environment and compromise public health.

5. Cigarette butts

Full of harmful chemicals that can contaminate water sources, cigarettes shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. They also have parts that won’t break down, causing clogs and damage to the pipes in your home.

Dealing with a clogged toilet? Let us help!

Nothing induces panic like a clogged toilet. At Good Guys, we understand your need for a quick solution so you can get back to living your life again.

Should you need help regarding a clogged toilet, CONTACT US and we’ll be on it ASAP. We’ve made it simple and easy to schedule an appointment online or through our app.

Aside from issues with your toilet, you may also reach out to us for any plumbing installation, repair, and maintenance job. For years we’ve helped homeowners like you get one step ahead of costly plumbing repairs and the stress they bring. From clogged toilets to dripping faucet and low water pressure, we’re here to help.