Did you know that flushing objects down the toilet can cause significant problems?
Not only can objects clog your pipes, but they can cause other damage too.
Many people don't realize that there are certain things you should never flush down the toilet, as they can contribute to blockages.
The toilet is a modern convenience that we all take for granted, but not all the things you put down your toilet are supposed to go down there.
To help you avoid any costly problems in the bathroom, we’ve compiled a list of what you should never flush down the toilet drain.
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Soap scum
To keep your toilet at its best all year round, remember not to stick a cleaning tablet, bar soap, or another chemical detergent in the bowl or toilet cistern to clean up your soiled toilet.
Just because soap is liquid doesn't mean it wouldn't bring you a plumbing headache with your drainage system.
Soap is made for a good purpose, giving your toilet a fresh smell.
But wax, grease, talc, and other pipe stuff can tangle together and form tumbleweeds in the drain or leaves a grimy residue on pipes.
You only need a homemade solution of baking soda and vinegar to make your toilet sparkling clean and fully operational.
Falling hair
Your hair falls down the drain, no matter how hard you try to avoid it. It’s one of the most common objects people flush without realizing it can cause significant problems.
Most people are unaware of that fact. Hair can quickly build up and form a clog, leading to costly repairs.
You can do a few things to prevent hair from going down the drain in the first place.
- Invest in a drain guard or hair catcher. Any hair that falls down the drain will be caught by this gadget.
- Clean your drains regularly with a plunger or plumber's snake. This will help remove any build-up of hair before it can cause a problem.
- Make sure the drain is cleaned once a month with boiling water. This can help break up any signs of clogging.
So, there you have it – falling hair can be one of the main culprits of a blocked toilet drain.
Be sure to take action to prevent hair from going down the drain in the first place, and act quickly if you do find yourself with a clog.
Tiny objects
There's a chance you might've heard the rumour that tiny objects like fruit pits, coffee grounds, dental floss, and tampon strings are not harmful to your toilet.
Not true!
Just because your toilet drain can collect anything doesn't mean you have to treat it like a trash can.
All these small objects – shampoo caps, food waste, razor blades, kid toys and stickers, hair clips, and so on may seem harmless enough, but they can spell a mountain of troubles to the entire plumbing system.
So next time you're tempted to flush one of these things down the drain, remember: it's not worth the risk! Avoid potential toilet overflows when you put a small trash can near your toilet bowl.
Chemical detergent
Chemical detergents are the worst enemies of every toilet.
While they offer a fast solution to remove stubborn stains from your shower fixture, toilet bowl, or cubicle, this is not the hassle-free way to act.
Harsh chemical solutions promise quick results for cleaning drains.
In your endeavor to prevent clogs with harsh detergents, things can get even worse – shallow blockages can go deeper into the plumbing system.
When it comes to fixing a problem, the manual repair is undoubtedly the best option.
Not only does it provide reliable results, but it also helps minimize potential danger from toxic liquids.
As these substances adversely affect people and animals alike, keeping them away from any potential contact is essential.
If dirt and debris, along with waste food, often cause blockages. Invest in a plunger to remove these obstructions.
Opt for a drain snake when clogs lay in-depth in the plumbing system.
Oily products
Oily products can be challenging to break down and properly dispose of, so avoiding flushing them down the toilet is best.
This includes cooking oil, grease, and any other type of oil. If you must dispose of it, pour the liquid into a container and throw it in the trash.
Never pour oil down the drain; it can solidify and cause a clog. When these products are flushed down the drain, they solidify and cling to the sides of pipes.
Over time, this build-up can cause serious clogs that are difficult (and expensive) to remove.
In addition to clogging up your pipes, grease can lead to sewer line backups and overflows.
If you have already flushed oil down the drain and caused a clog, do not try to remove it yourself. Call a licensed plumber to remove the clog and avoid damaging your pipes safely.
Cigarette butts
Even though cigarette buts are small in size and it's easy for them to pass through the drain, they can block your toilet pipes.
Unlike thin toilet paper, cigarettes are made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that does not break down easily, meaning that they don't dissolve in water.
They leave an unpleasant smell, too. Not to mention that cigarettes pollute the environment when they enter the waste system or septic tank.
Conclusion
In general, it's best to err on caution when deciding what to flush down the toilet drain and what not to flush.
While it may be tempting to flush such objects down the toilet to avoid dealing with them, it's important to remember that doing so can create serious problems.
If you're unsure whether something is safe to flush, the best bet is to throw it in the bin instead.
This may seem like a hassle at the time, but it's far better than having to cope with a plumbing problem later on. Furthermore, you won’t end up polluting waterways with harmful materials or harming wildlife.