7 Household Items That Should Never Be Flushed Down the Toilet

Posted by Sydney Blocked Drains Plumbing on 16 Sep 2024

The toilet is a standard home appliance that we utilize every day. The temptation is to consider the convenience of it as something we take for granted, but it’s essential to keep in mind that it’s not a trash can. Certain things should never be flushed down the toilet as they can cause blockage from the pipes or damage in sewer lines.

Key Takeaways

  • Do not flush certain things in the bathroom because they could block the drain, or cause harm to pipes in the sewer.
  • Seven household items you shouldn’t flush down the drain are:
    • Baby wipes
    • Condoms
    • Oil and cooking grease
    • Female hygiene products (tampons and sanitary pads)
    • Medicines
    • Dental floss
    • Paper towels
  • Cleaning any of these items can lead to blockages in drains or damaged pipelines inside your home’s plumbing system, which will result in unimaginable expense to you.
  • Sydney Blocked Drains Plumbing offers unblocking blocked drains Drain clearing, CCTV drain inspection, and pipe relining services.

Seven household objects that should not be flushed down the toilet.

1. Baby wipes

Baby wipes might seem useful, but they do not dissolve like toilet paper. They can also clog the plumbing in your home. Put them in the trash instead.

2. Condoms

Toilet paper that contains condoms can result in blockages of both the plumbing in your home and wastewater treatment plants.

3. cooking grease and oil

Grease and oil should be removed from a container before throwing it away in the trash, as they can harden and cause blockages in your drains or pipes.

4. Produits for female hygiene

Tampons and sanitary pad are usually advertised by their name as "flushable, " but flushing them could cause issues later on when they join with other products to create a nasty obstruction.

5. Medications

Medicines should not be flushed down the toilet because they could pollute our water sources.

6. Dental floss

Dental floss is crafted to be strong that means it will not fall apart in water, leading to the possibility of blockages to your pipes.

7. Paper towels

Unlike with toilet paper, papers have a stronger weave which makes them less likely to degrade quickly after being wet, meaning they can quickly cause blockages.

In the end, flushing any of the seven items could result in blocked drains or damaged sewer pipes within your plumbing system that will result in a significant expense to you. Stay mindful of what you send down the toilet.

Item Reason for not Flushing
Baby wipes Do not break down like toilet paper and can clog your plumbing system. Dispose of them in the trash instead.
Condoms Leads to blockages both at home’s plumbing and treatment plants.
Cooking grease and oil Will harden and cause blockages in your drains or pipes.
Feminine hygiene products Combining with other items creates a nasty clog despite being marketed as "flushable".
Medications Can contaminate our water sources.
Dental floss Designed to be strong, leading to potential blockages in pipes.
Paper towels Less likely to deteriorate quickly once wet, easily causing blockages unlike with toilet paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are feminine hygiene products flushed in the bathroom causing damage? actually harm my pipes?

Yes. Products for feminine hygiene do not break down in water and could cause blockages in the sewer or your pipes.

Can flushable wipes be truly flushable?

Many "flushable" wipes don’t disintegrate easily and can lead to clogs in your pipes.

Can I flush baby wipes down the toilet?

No. Baby wipes should never be flushed into the toilet since they are not able to dissolve quickly and could cause blockages.

Are paper towels suitable to flush?

No. Paper towels are thicker than toilet paper, and they will not break down with the same ease, resulting in the possibility of clogging the plumbing system.

What about medication? Do I have to flush them through the toilet?

No. Medicines can be harmful to our waterways, which is why it’s important to dispose of the drugs in a proper manner, by bringing your medications to the designated place for drop-off.

If you’re faced with blockage of your drain do not hesitate to contact our professional plumbing solutions at Sydney Blocked Drains Plumbing . We offer unblocking blocked drains as well as drain clearing CCTV drain inspection and pipe relining services to ensure your home remains free from plumbing issues. Call us now to make an appointment.

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