Rushing to Flush? Never Let These 10 Common Items Go Down the Toilet!

Spot some dust in a corner of the room? Some tangled strands of hair on the floor? 

Maybe you just finished using a cotton bud or a toothpick inside the restroom of a restaurant, and the dustbin happened to be full.

Regardless, we should never use the toilet as a substitute to dispose of any trash. As simple as it sounds to just have your trash flushed down with the currents, such irresponsible acts out of convenience can lead to troublesome consequences.

To avoid a costly bill from a plumbing emergency, take a look at these 10 common everyday items we consume that should never go down the drain.

Hair Strands

Be it long, smooth locks or short, frizzy curls, who would’ve thought that a few of these luscious strands could clog up the toilet? A lot of them, for sure. 

Flushing clumps of hair or even a few strands of them down the drain leads to build-up and clogs over time, as hair tends to stick to the surface of the pipes. It is advisable to use a drain cover to protect your shower and sink drains, or vacuum them from the floor before disposing them responsibly.

Cigarette Butts

This is double trouble. Not only do cigarette butts leave harmful chemicals that cause contamination endangering aquatic wildlife, cigarette filters that are made of cellulose acetate (a plastic based material) are not easily flushable.

More often than not, they are more solid in material and are more likely to resurface if they don’t end up in the drain. It is best to safely distinguish cigarettes before disposing them in the trash or an ashtray.

Used Cooking Oil

Used cooking oil can accumulate and solidify in pipes and sewer systems over time, leading to clogs and blockages. This disrupts the sewage system, resulting in costly repairs and maintenance.

For a less messy method, drying the used cooking oil with paper towels before disposing them in the trash. For larger amounts, using oil hardening powder before disposal, or collecting them for recycling would be a more environmentally responsible solution.

Cotton Products

Although soft in material and small in size, cotton-based products such as cotton swabs or cotton pads do not dissolve let alone break down when in contact with water.

Once flushed down the toilet, they instead build-up against the walls of the pipes and induce blockage. In severe cases, this may even lead to bent or broken pipes.

Dental Floss

Usually made of nylon, dental floss is already durable by its material. Since it is also long and thin, it does not break down easily and may cause it to tangle up with other items that are flushed down after it. 

This creates larger clumps leading to severe clogging or even an overflowing toilet. Dental hygiene is important, but so is responsibly maintaining bathroom hygiene without paying through your nose. Toss used floss into the trash can for safety.

Paper Towels

Though similarly used to wipe or clean stains, paper towels are made to be more sturdy and do not dissolve in water as easily as toilet paper. 

With a more durable texture, they are more likely to clog up your toilet, especially when disposed of in large amounts. It is still best to toss used paper towels into the trash can.

Sanitary Napkins

One of the oldest enemies of the drain, the sanitary napkin is never foreign within the closed cubicles of a women’s restroom. Usually made of cotton or nylon with an adhesive plastic lining on, the combination of these 3 materials is enough to give any drain a whirlwind of a nightmare. 

On top of its absorbent nature, the size of used sanitary napkins expands after using. If it ends up down the drain, chances are that it may double up in size and cause toilet water to back up and overflow if not a massive clogging commotion. 

Always dispose of used sanitary products in the trash. It is also recommended to wrap them with unwanted paper for a more hygienic disposal.

Baby Wipes

Similar to paper towels, or sometimes known as “flushable” wipes, baby wipes have a resilient texture and do not break down easily. They can easily get stuck in drains and clog up your toilet. 

Whatever you’re using baby wipes for, always make sure they end up in the trash can.

Food Leftovers

Just because we have trouble finishing our food, doesn’t mean we should share the burden (which then leads to costly trouble) with the toilet.

Leftovers of any kind may contain grease, starch or just any acidic substance. Food scraps will end up clumping and clogging the drain or produce unpleasant odours. 

Instead, repurpose those food leftovers into homemade compost, as they are a more sustainable and organic way to maintain your home plants and keep your garden fresh.  That way, not only do we benefit from the waste, we don’t have to get the drains involved too.

To sum it up, misusing the toilet may lead to costly inconveniences like plumbing issues and environmental problems. Therefore, it’s crucial to use the toilet only for its intended purpose, which is disposing of human waste and toilet paper, and to be mindful of the potential consequences of improper use.

Don’t rush, think before you flush.