Do You Know What You Should NOT Be Flushing?

There are some things you just shouldn’t be flushing down the toilet. Even if you have the world’s most powerful toilet, the plumbing system was only made to handle a few select things. You know what two of those things are… and the list doesn’t extend very far beyond that. Toilet paper is on there too, but that’s about it. If you’re looking for tips to not break your toilet, read on.

Sometimes it can seem like the easier way to get rid of something gross, or sometimes a toiletry product may even suggest that it’s flushable when it’s actually not. There are plenty of things you may not have considered as being what not to flush in a toilet, but here’s a list of some things not to flush down a toilet that might surprise you.

The unflushables

There’s a simple rule that will help you remember what not to flush in a toilet: When in doubt, throw it out. If you’re unsure about whether something may be flushable, don’t take the risk of clogging up your toilet—or worse, the entire plumbing system—and just throw it in the trash instead. Here’s a list of things that should not be flushed:

  • Condoms: No matter what your preferred brand is made of, it isn’t designed to break down in water. Flushing them can and will cause clogs in toilets and septic tanks. Just throw them in the trash.
  • “Flushable” wipes: They’re not just for babies anymore—there has been a proliferation of personal sanitary wipes in the past few years, and many of them claim to be flushable. However, they are not. Every type of wipe can cause a clog, because they just do not break down the way toilet paper does.
  • Q-tips and cotton pads: You may thing that cotton will dissolve in water, so cotton pads and Q-tips should be flushable. Sadly, this isn’t the case. Again, toilet paper is the only type of product specifically made to break down properly in your plumbing system. Other cotton products will clump together and cause problems in your plumbing system.
  • Menstrual products: These products are meant to absorb water, and therefore will not break down if flushed down the toilet. In fact, they will only expand in water, and that can lead to major clogs down the line.
  • Diapers: It might be tempting to flush that dirty diaper down the toilet, but consider the size of the diaper versus the size of the toilet and the pipes it leads to. Diapers also do not break down in water and will almost certainly end up clogging up your plumbing system right away.
  • Paper towels and tissues: They may seem similar enough to toilet paper, but tissues and paper towels are designed to be absorbent, and therefore won’t break down like toilet paper in your plumbing system.

Need more tips to help you avoid breaking your toilet? Whether you need plumbing service for a residential or commercial property, contact the experienced professionals at Barr Plumbing Service, Inc. today. We’re proud to provide prompt service within your budget!

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