As homeowners, you always want to make sure that your plumbing system is in good condition, so you will never have to deal with breakdowns.

Toilets are designed to dispose human waste and toilet paper only. Flushing certain things like household products, toys, and even cat litters can clog your drain pipes, contaminate your water system, and can even harm the environment if they find their way into the ecosystem.

To ensure that your pipes stay clog-free, here are few things that you should never flush down your toilet.

“Flushable” Wipes

Even the ones that say they are “flushable“, wipes should never go down to your toilet as it does not break down easily. Baby wipes can get stuck in your drains and later on, will cause clogs. If you use baby wipes in your home, keep a trash can in your bathroom and dispose the wipes there instead.

Paper Towels and Tissues

You might think that tissues and paper towels are the same as toilet paper. But, these paper products are designed to absorb water and not to dissolve in it like what toilet paper does. Always throw your used paper towels and tissues in the garbage can to avoid them from blocking up your pipes.

Condoms

Condoms are also not designed to go down to your toilets as they can’t easily break down causing them to clog in the toilet and even your septic tanks. Wrap them carefully and just dump them in the trash can.

Feminine Products

Feminine products like tampons and sanitary pads should never be flushed down in your toilet. These products are meant to absorb water and then expand—and that’s not good for your plumbing since it can get stuck through your pipes and sewers. Wrap your sanitary pads and tampons well and throw them in the trash can.

Cotton Balls, Q-Tips & Cotton Pads

Although cotton balls, Q-tips, and cotton pads may seem small and flexible, they don’t break down quickly. All they do is clump together, block, and even broken your pipes.

Dental Floss

Dental floss is made of Nylon or Teflon and does not break down easily in water. When flushed in your toilet, it turns into a net, catching and holding onto other debris, creating larger clumps that can clog your pipes and sewers.

Hair

Just like dental floss, hairs form a sort of net when you flush it down your toilet. It forms a giant ball which that creates a blockage in your pipes, plumbing, and sewer. When you’re combing your hair or cleaning your brushes, throw your hair into the garbage can or just compost it.

Bandages

Bandages are made from non-biodegradable plastic, which can contaminate your water system when flushed down in the toilet. Since they’re made in plastic, it can’t dissolve in water and can cause many problems in your pipes.

Gum

The biggest mistake you could ever make is flushing a gum down in your toilet. Chewing gums are sticky and insoluble. It’s like a glue that can easily get stuck inside your pipes and can cause a clog. Throw your gums out in the garbage can to avoid potential issues in your plumbing system.

Medications

If you have expired medicines or used pharmaceuticals products, don’t flush them in your toilet.
Toilet water doesn’t break them down properly, so it will directly go into the lakes, rivers, and oceans, causing toxic environmental effects.
So if you have old pills, antibiotics, sedatives, and other drugs that you want to get rid of, just put them into a bag, seal it properly, and throw it in the garbage.

What to Do If Your Toilet Is Clogged?

When your toilet clogs, you can count on Caccia Plumbing to effectively unclog your toilets and drains. With over a decade of service experience, you can trust that we have the tools, technology, and expertise needed to clear your pipes and keep your plumbing system in the best condition possible.

Call us today at (650) 442-1470, and get the correct experts on the job!