When it comes to the toilet, many of us have an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to flushing things away: so long as it’ll flush down, we don’t have to worry about what we’ve put in the toilet. Unfortunately, when it comes to our plumbing systems, what we can’t see can hurt us. Clogs in the pipes can cause, at minimum an awful smell, and at worst, burst pipes, overflowing drains, and a backup of waste that you likely won’t want to be returning to your toilet. To keep bathroom plumbing moving, what shouldn’t we be flushing?

Baby Products

Nappies and baby wipes are not flushable and can cause clogs in pipes and drains that may be costly to fix and aromatically unpleasant to deal with. Nappies and baby wipes should always be disposed of in the bin – even flushable wipes should go in the bin. The reason that it’s ok to flush toilet paper is that it disintegrates after flushing, which many flushable wipes can’t do, and this will eventually lead to blockages. It is also terrible for the environment to flush such products, so think before you flush.

Condoms and Menstrual Products

Sanitary pads and tampons are designed to absorb liquids, so flushing them might cause them to expand in your pipes and clog them up. With this in mind, it’s always better to dispose of them in the bin. The same goes for condoms – the material they’re made of won’t break down in water, so they will collect in the pipes and clog them – it’s best to put them in the bin, too!

Disposable Personal Hygiene Products

Items like dental floss, cotton pads and cotton buds can all cause blockages because they’re not designed to break down in water. Much like sanitary pads, cotton pads that can be used for applying cosmetics or removing nail polish will absorb liquids, and they can bunch together and cause blockages in the pipes.

Food and Grease

Cooking grease and oil can be extremely harmful to your pipes. When cooking grease cools down, it solidifies, and this can cause blockages in your pipes, be it your kitchen sink or toilet. You might also be tempted to put waste food down the toilet, but that can also cause blockages as it takes the food so long to break down in the pipes. To dispose of grease, it’s best to wait until it cools and pop it in your waste food bin, alongside any food you might have thought to put down the toilet!

If you’re a tenant having issues with your toilet, don’t hesitate to call us. You can reach us on 01463 251133 during office hours.