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Toilets are probably the greatest modern convenience for us. There has been a lot of innovation in toilets and while they are great at taking care of human waste, they are not so great at disposing of other items. This is not always the fault of the toilet but the plumbing and piping work of your house. Flushing certain household products rather than disposing of them in the trash can lead to clogged drain pipes and even contaminate the water system which can cause environmental damage.
A public utility company known as American Water released a report stating that most pipeline infrastructure was installed in the 1900s with the design of the pipes being four inches in diameter at their widest. This length shows how even small, seemingly harmless items that we don't think twice about throwing away can cause major plumbing problems. The most preferable solution when it comes to plumbing issues tends to be hiring a contactor plumber.
Professionals are well-versed in their field and can handle your problems but this can also be very expensive depending on the severity. So why not prevent having to contact a plumber by taking better care of your toilet. We have come up with a great guide to help you understand how to take care of the toilet and determine what is safe to dispose of in it.
1. Flushable Wipes
Most packages on flushable wipes say that they are disposable. However, the truth is not that simple. Whether the package says “non-flushable,” “flushable” or “septic safe”, flushable wipes do not break down quickly and are prone to get stuck in drains and can potentially lead to a massive and expensive clog. Keep a lined trash can in your bathroom and dispose of wipes there instead.
2. Paper Towels and Tissues
It is important to realize that not all forms of tissue paper behave the same way. Paper towels and facial tissues are very different from toilet paper. Toilet paper is designed to be dissolved in water while paper towels and facial tissues are designed to absorb water. While they may seem a great solution when you run out of toilet paper, they are unsuitable for your drain. Remember to dispose of paper towels and tissues in the garbage, not the toilet.
3. Too Much Toilet Paper
Toilet paper as the name suggests is designed to be able to be suitable for toilets and pipes. However, this does not mean that it is okay to throw away as much toilet paper as you want in one go. Not only is it wasteful in itself, using too much toilet paper can lead to major plumbing issues. Large wads of toilet paper are difficult to flush and even harder to disintegrate. They can easily cause a clog in small pipes.
For houses that have old plumbing, this is even more dangerous and it is recommended to avoid flushing toilet paper if your pipeline dates to 1960 or before it. To avoid toilet troubles, avoid overusing toilet paper and if you must, take care to dispose of it at intervals as opposed to all at once.
4. Cotton Products
Cotton is extremely dangerous to flush. All types of products such as cotton balls, rounds, and swabs should not be disposed of in the toilet. Despite their size seeming small enough to flush, they can cause big problems inside your pipes. Cotton does not break easily and tends to absorb and hold water. Thus when flushed, these cotton products tend to gather together and build up inside pipelines. This can result in blockages and even bent or broken pipes.
5. Dental Floss
Dental floss is usually made of nylon or Teflon which tends to be durable not break down easily in water. What's worse is that floss can very easily stick and build up over a long time. The floss can wrap around other items flushed after it, creating even larger clumps that can clog sewers and pipes. It can even wrap around parts of your septic system and burn out the motor. The damage may not be apparent immediately but rather tends to build up secretly over time, leaving you panicked. Floss may be a great dental hygiene practice but a terrible toilet practice.
6. Hair
Hair is quite similar to dental floss in its nature, just like floss, flushing hair down the drain may not cause any visible problems immediately but tends to create larger problems later on. Hair tends to stick to the inside of pipes and capture anything that is flushed afterward, leading to build-up and clogs over time. Apart from this, hair will also never dissolve, making it even more dangerous than floss. Never flush large clumps of hair down the toilet, and use drain covers to protect your shower and sink drains. It's always good to deal with problems before they go out of control.
7. Bandages
The plastic on bandages tends to be non-biodegradable unless stated otherwise. The sticky adhesive can also cause other items to stick to it, resulting in a larger clog. Non-biodegradable items are very dangerous to pipelines as they don't tend to wear away easily. This is bad not only for pipelines but also for the environment as it can lead to the pollution of water systems. Always make sure to dispose of first aid items in a garbage can.
8. Cigarette Butts
Cigarettes butts are one of the most flushed items down the toilet but the reality is that cigarette butts don't always go down the drain after flushing, and can float right back up, becoming an unpleasant surprise for the next person to use the bathroom. Cigarettes should never be flushed down the toilet. This is due to the cigarette having parts that will not break down over time. The foam filters and plastic mouthpieces that are common in cigarettes are non-biodegradable.
Apart from that, they are a wasteful product that can introduce potentially harmful chemicals into the water system and harm wildlife, leading to contamination and pollution. Studies have shown that significant contamination occurs when cigarette butts soak in water. This contamination can go on to harm wildlife in rivers and the ocean and causes other environmental problems.
9. Fats, Oils, and Grease
Food should not be flushed down the toilet at all, but the ones to avoid at all costs are those that contain fats, oils, and grease. Although these ingredients might start in liquid form, they can solidify and attach to the interior lining of your pipes, becoming waxy and very problematic for drains. This lining can block other items from passing and accumulate garbage, causing a blockage. The proper way to dispose of such foods after cooking is to allow the fats and grease to cool completely and solidify before throwing the remains in the trash bin.
10. Kitty Litter
A common misunderstanding is thinking a toilet is designed to flush all types of excrement. While it may be excellent at getting rid of our waste, it is not the same for cats. Flushing feline waste is hazardous and harmful, not only will the litter absorb water and clog the pipes, but it can also introduce potentially harmful parasites into the water supply. Always bag and dispose of cat litter and waste in the trash.
Do not forget that your toilet is not a replacement for your garbage can. Whenever you find yourself wondering if something is safe to dispose of, always search about it online and when in doubt, throw it in your trash rather than flushing.
11. Feminine Products
Feminine products such as tampons and sanitary pads are designed to absorb liquid and expand to several times larger than their original size. You should already get why they are a bad idea to dispose of in the toilet. These products can swell up with water when flushed and block pipes that lead to the sewer or septic system, causing toilet water to back up and overflow. Tampons in particular do not break and make their way through the pipes to treatment plants, completely intact. Most products of this variety come with instructions on how to dispose of them so always refer to the product's how-to-use section but the trash is always a good bet.
12. Condoms and Diapers
Both these products should not be disposed of in a toilet. You may want to get rid of that condom as fast as possible and you are not alone in that thought. A very large percentage of people tend to dispose of condoms through their toilets and you may be surprised to know that condoms are one of the main culprits for sewer problems and plumbing clogs. Condoms are durable and non-biodegradable. They are a form of plastic that tends to stick around for a long time so it's not the best move to flush it.
Just like menstrual products, diapers are designed to absorb water. Not only can they absorb a lot, but they also hold themselves together very well. Diapers don’t break down in the water and can create a huge clog, leading to costly damages to your system. Dispose of all diapers in a diaper pail or a trash can.
13. Medications and Other Hazardous Substances
A lot of items discussed on this list tend to cause harm to your plumbing but these are can cause a lot of damage to the environment. The disposal of medications and hazardous substances tend to one of the biggest causes of water pollution. To help prevent water pollution, never flush medications. Pills don't break them down properly in toilet paper, meaning the medication gets into the water and can cause toxic environmental effects. This also goes for potentially hazardous household materials such as paint and cleaning products, e.g. cleaners for ovens and windows, down the toilet.
According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the best way to dispose of unused or expired medicine is to drop it off at a drug take-back site. For household hazardous waste, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) suggests locating a collection program in your community that can help you recycle or dispose of the materials safely.
Always rely on professional help
At the end of the day, we are only human and mistakes can occur. Whether it was a lapse of judgment or an accident, if you do find yourself in trouble with your plumbing and drains, you should always call a plumber contractor. A plumber contractor is experienced in this field and knows the best way to deal with the situation. You can look up reviews and ask for recommendations from friends and family if you are wary of which contractor to choose.
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