It can be tempting to treat your toilet like a bin that you don’t need to take out. Simply drop, flush, and away you go. While the average toilet is designed to handle natural waste and toilet paper, it won’t be able to handle much else. Any items flushed other than toilet paper can create costly clogs in your home’s pipes, impact the community sewerage, or even cause issues at water reclamation facilities, making it important to know what not to flush down your toilet.
When you choose the team here at Akins Plumbing, you can have the best Brisbane plumber at your house ASAP by calling us on (07) 3891 7480 for emergency plumbing services. Otherwise, you can get in touch online or e-mail admin@akinsplumbing.com.au for plumbing quotes, sustainable plumbing requests, or general enquiries.
What Not to Flush Down Your Toilet
Tissues and Paper Towels
You can’t flush tissues or paper towels down the toilet. Unlike toilet paper, which is designed to breakdown in water, tissues and paper towels are designed to be strong and absorbent. This means they won’t break down when wet. When flushed, tissues and paper towels will clump together and fill with water, creating a blockage in your pipes. This buildup can create serious issues that require a plumber to fix.
Wet Wipes
Wet wipes are commonly used in the bathroom and are often marketed as “flushable”. Despite this they can still cause some major issues when flushed. They are designed to hold their shape more so than toilet paper and can create blockages in your home or the wider sewerage system. For fast-dissolving wipes that can be flushed, they will need to be made from cellulose plant fibres that dissolve within hours.
Tampons and Sanitary Items
Tampons and other sanitary products like pads and liners are designed to be absorbent and hold the absorbed liquid. If flushed down the toilet, they will absorb even more liquid and risk blocking pipes. Disposable menstrual products also aren’t biodegradable and can be an environmental concern when flushed. These products should be disposed of in a rubbish bin, with designated bins often available in public or office bathrooms.
Cotton Swabs and Cotton Pads
Continuing with the theme of products that won’t break down when flushed, we have cotton swabs and cotton pads. Both are commonly used in the bathroom, but they should be disposed of in a bin and not down your toilet. These products can accumulate in your pipes, and overtime, create a blockage.
Dental Floss
Looking after your dental health is important, and we are sure that your dentist will be happy to hear that you are flossing regularly. Although if you are flushing it down the toilet when done, you may leave your plumber disappointed. Floss can form into a net in your pipes when flushed and capture other debris, leading to a blockage.
Hair
When it comes to what not to flush down your toilet, hair is a big no-no. Just like dental floss, hair can create a net in your pipes and catch debris, causing a blockage. Hair will also never dissolve in water, meaning it can stay in your pipes for years, slowly causing damage. Any hair that you may shed in the shower should be placed in the bin and kept out of the toilet or drains.
Food Waste and Grease
While some may argue that food is biodegradable, it should never be flushed down your toilet. It can gather and block your pipes while decomposing. Similarly, grease that may be on the foods you flush will solidify and gather on the inside of the pipes as it cools. This creates one of the most stubborn clogs you can have and will certainly require a plumber to fix.
Avoid A Flush of Anger with Akins Plumbing
Having a clogged toilet is frustrating, especially when it could’ve been avoided. If you are having issues in the home, we’ll send a residential plumber to deal with any blocked drains. If the issue is slightly bigger, we will send a qualified commercial plumbing contractor.
Whether it’s an emergency or you simply want to know what not to flush down your toilet, we are the go-to experts in Brisbane. Reach out today on (07) 3891 7480, get in touch online, or e-mail admin@akinsplumbing.com.au for plumbing quotes, sustainable plumbing requests, or general enquiries.