Ever been in a bathroom where the trash can was already overflowing or there was no place to throw garbage at all so you decided to toss it in the toilet instead? You’re not alone. Instead of emptying the trash or walking to another room of the house to throw out your item, it’s easier to just toss it in the bowl, flush it and watch it disappear, right? While that might sound easier, it can cause a world of trouble.
Trust us when we tell you the following items were not meant to be flushed. It may take a bit more effort to get them into a garbage can, but it’ll be well worth it in the long run:
Food: this includes grease, oil or fat. Even though it might be a liquid at any given time, it will cool down and congeal and clog up your pipes.
Wipes: there are lots of wipes out there that say “flushable” on the container. Well, they don’t break down like toilet paper does and they’re a leading cause of toilet clogs across the country.
Dental Floss: it’s thin and bendy so there shouldn’t be any problems, right? Wrong. Floss is not biodegradable and it can wrap around items causing severe clogs.
Cotton: this includes cotton swabs (Q-tips) and cotton balls.
Pills/Expired Medicine: these items can contaminate the groundwater and have toxic effects. Throw them in the trash or find a community-based “take back your meds” program instead of flushing them.
Diapers: there’s human waste inside so it should go in the toilet, right? Again, wrong. They’re made to expand in water so just think about what they’ll do to your pipes.
Tissues: they may seem like toilet paper, but the materials used to make them do not dissolve as easily. Throw them in the trash.
Gum: water won’t do much to break down your gum, so it will likely stick around. You don’t want gum sticking your pipes.
Band-Aids: there’s a spot for them in the trash. They won’t break down in the toilet.
Toys: kids like to play with toys in the bathtub? We don’t have any problems with that, just don’t let them find their way into the toilet bowl.
Our experienced plumbers have seen all causes of toilet blockages and have the equipment and skill to remove them for you quickly. For expert toilet plumbing installations and repairs in your home in Twin Cities-St Paul, call and speak with the friendly plumbing team at Hero Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today.
