Unless you long to make an appointment with your plumber on a regular basis, there are certain things that you should never flush down your toilet—even if they claim to be “flushable.” The only things that should go in your toilet are toilet paper and human waste. Otherwise, you’re inviting clogs, blockage and hefty repair bills. If you have children, make sure to teach them this golden rule as soon as possible—kids are notorious for flushing random objects. However, if the worst happens, a dependable drain cleaning service in San Antonio, TX can take care of the problem.
Here are the things you should not flush down the toilet:
- Cotton products: Q-tips, cotton pads and cotton balls don’t break down in water, which means they pose a serious clog risk. Toss these in the bathroom trash.
- Baby and makeup wipes: Baby and other wipes often say they’re “flushable,” but they don’t break down the same way toilet paper does.
- Paper towels and tissues: Similarly, paper towels and tissues should not go down the toilet—they won’t break down fast enough.
- Dental floss or hair: Dental floss and hair can catch other waste in your pipes, creating a “net” that eventually forms a stubborn clog.
- Condoms: Condoms are made of latex and therefore should never be sent down the drain.
- Menstrual products: Although menstrual products seem like they should be flushable, they’re not. Pads and tampons are meant to absorb fluid, not break down.
- Food items and cooking grease: Undigested food is not the same as human waste—it’s often more solid. Cooking grease, on the other hand, solidifies when it cools. Don’t put it down your sink, either.
- Diapers: You’d think people would realize that diapers—which are often made with plastic outer coatings—can barely even fit down the toilet, let alone through the pipes, but people try to flush them anyway.
- Cigarette butts: Cigarette butts can leach harmful chemicals into the water supply, as well as cause clogs.
- Bleach: Bleach is too harsh for septic systems and municipal wastewater plants. Clean your toilet with natural products like vinegar.
- Medication: Like cigarettes, flushing medication will pollute the groundwater supply.
- Fish: When your beloved pet fish finally goes to the big ocean in the sky, you might be tempted to flush them, but don’t do this. Although it seems natural to send them out in a watery salute, their bodies don’t break down in water. That can create a clog.
- Cat litter: “Flushable” litter is appealing—it’s an easy way to clean out the litter box, rather than filling your trash can. However, “flushable” just means that it’s biodegradable, not that it won’t cause clogs. Empty your litter boxes the traditional way.
When you need a dependable drain cleaning service in San Antonio, TX, Big City Plumbing, LLC has seen it all. Call us today to book an appointment and get a quote. We look forward to helping you get your plumbing back into functional shape, and can provide all the tips you need to keep it that way.