Can you flush tampons down the toilet? What about food? What exactly can you or can’t flush down the toilet? Few things can be as frustrating as a faulty toilet. This is one of the most essential fixtures in your home and you want it in tiptop condition at all times. Flushing the wrong things is one way to kick start toilet problems. You will require the services of an Drain Rescue plumber to make things right again. Here are some things you should never flush down your toilet.
1. Dental Floss
This is a non-biodegradable product that should be disposed of with the trash and not thrown down the toilet. If you flush enough dental floss down your toilet, it will gradually intertwine with other items in the sewer pipes and cause clogging.
2. Sanitary Items
Tampons, disposable wipes, and sanitary napkins are a no-go zone for your toilet. These items are made with cotton and can cause untold damage in your sewer. They can snag on the sides of your pipes and cause major clogging. The cotton won’t break down easily in water and you’ll have to call in a plumber to get it out.
3. Food Fat
You probably know that you shouldn’t pour grease down the kitchen sink. The same applies to the toilet. Fats, grease, and oil harden once they get into your plumbing. This causes them to stick to the sides of the pipes. Over time they will cause blockage and even damage the piping.
4. Diapers
Never flush diapers down your toilet. They may have poop in them, but this is not where it goes. You should dispose of them with the rest of the trash. It’s probably the worst thing you can throw down the toilet. Diapers expand when they come into contact with water. They behave exactly like a sponge. This is not something you want stuck in your sewer lines.
5. Bandages
Bandages are made using plastic that is non-biodegradable. This is not only detrimental to the environment but also to your toilet. Should you flush a bandage down your toilet, you can expect it to cause untold damage to your sewer lines.
6. Hair
Just like floss, hair can get stuck in the cracks and crevices of your piping. This is why it is a bad idea to throw hair into the toilet. With time, it tangles up with other items and causes clogging.
7. Thinners, Paints, And Solvents
Disposing of hazardous material such as paint, thinners, and solvents can be a problem. This is why it’s very tempting to pour them down the toilet and hope nothing untoward happens. Do not do this. It will cause more damage to your sewer pipes that you could possibly imagine. Solvents and thinners contain harsh chemicals that can corrode your sewer pipes. This could cost you a fortune since you might have to redo the piping. Paint, on the other hand, is viscous and won’t flow down the sewer the way water does. It will stick to the sides and slowly form a clog.
