To keep your toilet running smoothly and avoid otherwise unnecessary repairs, there are many things you should never flush. Here are 15 common household items that can clog your sewer lines.
1. Wet wipes Even when they’re advertised as flushable, baby wipes and other wet wipes don’t disintegrate as fast as toilet paper. This makes them likely to clog pipes and municipal sewer systems. 2. Paper towels Paper towels and napkins aren’t designed to break down in water. Flushing these products, which are a lot thicker than toilet paper, can result in blockages. 3. Tampons Tampons and sanitary napkins expand when they absorb liquid, which makes them particularly prone to causing blockages if flushed. 4. Cotton balls In addition to tampons and sanitary napkins, other insoluble cotton products that can easily snag in your pipes and cause clogs include cotton balls, cotton pads and cotton swabs. 5. Diapers Diapers are designed to absorb liquid and won’t break down in water. Flushing a diaper is almost sure to cause a clog. 6. Dental floss Floss, thread and other stringy materials can get tangled in the sewer lines, trap other debris and cause blockages. 7. Hair Hair doesn’t just clog sinks and shower drains. Similar to dental floss, it can also create serious blockages in sewer lines. 8. Contact lenses Since disposable contact lenses aren’t biodegradable, they can end up polluting waterways in addition to blocking pipes. 9. Cigarette butts They may be small, but cigarette butts don’t dissolve in water and can get caught up in pipes. 10. Condoms Condoms and other plastic products don’t break down in water, but they can certainly get tangled up with other debris. 11. Bandages Whether they’re made of plastic or fabric, bandages aren’t biodegradable and can lead to clogs. Plus, it doesn’t help that they’re sticky. 12. Gum Even a small piece of gum won’t dissolve in water and, being sticky, is prone to getting stuck in pipes. 13. Cooking oil and grease Just as you shouldn’t pour grease down the sink, you also shouldn’t flush it down the toilet. Cooking oil and grease congeal when they cool, which clogs pipes. 14. Cat litter Cat litter is designed to clump when it absorbs liquid. If it ends up in your plumbing, large blockages can occur. 15. Medications While they may not clog up your toilet, pharmaceuticals can enter rivers, streams and lakes when flushed. This poses a threat to the water supply. In short, the only things you should flush down the toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Do you have a clogged toilet? The plumbers at Black Forest Plumbing can help. We offer comprehensive plumbing services in the GTA, including toilet repairs and drain cleaning. We also provide 24-hour emergency plumbing services to help you deal with urgent issues. Contact us today to schedule a service call. Book A Service Appointment