Toilets may seem like a powerful plumbing fixture, but even the smallest thing that shouldn’t be flushed down it can wreak major havoc if it is! Our toilets are strong fixtures, but this doesn’t mean a toilet should become your second trash can. There are just some things you should never flush down a toilet. Here are a few:
1. Baby Wipes
That flimsy little baby wipe may seem like it will go down your toilet easily, but this is not the case. Baby wipes are constructed from stronger fibers that aren’t easy to break down like the fibers that make up toilet paper. Flushing a baby wipe down the toilet can actually end up causing a clog. Instead, toss that baby wipe into your trash can. (Psst: Even if a baby wipe says ‘flushable’, it is still not recommended to be flushed down your toilet. This is because these baby wipes still contain fibers that don’t break down in water.)
2. Menstrual Products
Flushing a menstrual product down the toilet can cause big trouble! This is because products such as tampons, pads, and others are meant to absorb. So when you flush a menstrual product down the toilet, it actually absorbs water and expands. This is a recipe for disaster when it comes to your plumbing!
3. Dental Floss
Floss is just a thin string, so it should be easy to flush down the toilet with no trouble, right? No! Dental floss can create a net when flushed down a toilet that actually traps debris. Also, dental floss may even end up wrapping itself around your septic system and causing major damage.
4. Gum
Gum should never make its way down your toilet. This is because gum is sticky and insoluble (meaning it never dissolves). Flushing gum down your toilet can cause a major clog to occur.
5. Paper Towels
It may seem like paper towels are a safe thing to flush down the toilet, but this is not true. This is because, much like menstrual products, paper towels absorb liquid. This means paper towels do not break down like toilet paper, and can actually clog and backup your toilet.
6. Cat Litter
Flushing cat litter down the toilet can introduce parasites into the water supply, not to mention, cat litter absorbs water. This means if flushed, cat litter may inevitably clog your toilet. Instead of trying to flush cat litter down the toilet, we recommend bagging it up and tossing it into the trash can.
Flushed Something You Shouldn’t Have?
Though toilet paper is the only thing that should be flushed down your toilet, mistakes happen. If you are dealing with a clogged toilet due to having flushed something that you shouldn’t have, no worries! Call a plumbing professional at John’s Plumbing & Rooter Service in Victorville! Learn more about our professional team Plumber in Long Beach, as well as the services we provide. Keep your toilet happy and enjoy a reliable plumbing fixture for many years to come!