Eight Things You Should Never Flush

You’ve seen the signs that read: ‘please don’t flush’.  Every day, in every household in Toledo, the toilet is used multiple times. However, it is often used as a trash disposal. The things that we’ve cleared from toilets ranges from children’s toys, to cell phones, credit cards, and simply crumpled pieces of paper.

As tempting as it may be to think that it’s just a black hole – toss in, flush and it’s gone – out of sight, out of mind, that’s simply not the case. Doing so risks damaging septic tanks and city water treatment centers, as well as causing toxic environmental pollution, not to mention the embarrassment when we discover that it was a plastic Army man causing all the damage. This is certainly not something you think about until the day when you experience a major back up or septic tank problem, and you need to call us in an emergency.

Here’s a list of eight things you should never flush:

Baby or other types of flushable wipes –Even when they’re advertised as “flushable,” most moist towelettes should never go down the toilet. The wipes don’t disintegrate in water, leading to clogs and backed-up sewer lines.

Q-Tips & Cotton Pads –Cotton balls, cotton pads, and Q-Tips are definitely not safe to flush — they don’t break down the way toilet paper (even cotton toilet paper) does. All they really do is clump together in your pipes and cause major problems.

Dental Floss –Not only can dental floss clog your pipes, it can also cause environmental damage. Floss basically turns into a net when flushed, catching and holding onto other debris — it can even wrap around parts of your septic system and burn out the motor. That is not a good scenario.

Medication –If you have old pills that you need to get rid of, don’t flush them — toilet water doesn’t break them down properly, meaning the medication gets into the water and can cause toxic environmental effects.

Cigarette Butts –Speaking of toxic chemicals, that’s exactly what flushing cigarettes down the drain adds to the water. Not to mention, it’s a huge waste of water when you can simply throw them out properly. And, cigarette butts can also cause clogs.

Kitty Litter –Some brands of kitty litter claim to be flushable, however, most toilets don’t use enough water to move the litter along properly in your pipes — and all it does is add more things to the water that make it harder to purify. Cat waste from the litter box should also not be flushed, because the litter dehydrates the waste and toilets are meant to flush water-soluble waste.

Fish –Not the kind you eat, the kind that is kept in a bowl on the buffet.  It seems pretty standard that people flush pet fish when they die, but this is actually not a good idea — they don’t break down in water, so flushing a fish or anything like it down the toilet can absolutely cause a clog. Stick to a proper burial instead.

Bleach –Perhaps the most surprising thing you shouldn’t flush is bleach. It might be a part of your regular toilet cleaning routine, but bleach is actually too harsh a chemical for your toilet and septic system. Using vinegar is a much more effective way to clean the stains in the toilet bowl.

However, these things do happen. It’s inevitable that items not made for flushing, might end up in your system. If you find yourself in a situation where your drains are clogged, or you have an issue with your septic system, give us a call. E&K Contractors available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.