Mature plumber fixing a sink at kitchen
There are a few things you should never flush down the toilet, even if they seem harmless. Some of these items include batteries, oil, paint, and gasoline. Flushing these items can lead to costly repairs or even injury.
Some common objects that people mistakenly flush down the toilet are medications and fecal matter. These items can create hazardous waste if not disposed of properly, which can result in serious health risks for those who unwittingly consume them.
Flushing hazardous substances down the toilet also puts innocent people living in close proximity to potential polluting problems. If your home has a septic tank, flushing harmful materials like paint or gasoline down the toilet could cause sewage contamination. This could ultimately harm your family’s health and damage your home’s infrastructure.
If you have already flushed these items down the toilet, there is not much you can do to fix the problem. However, if you have any doubts about whether or not an item should be flushed down the toilet, it is always best to contact a professional plumber.
5 Things You Should Never Flush Down the Toilet
It is surprising but true that some items you should never flush down the toilet include:
- Fruit
- Chewing gum
- Paint cans and other containers with paint inside
- Cans of aerosols, such as hairspray or cologne
- Fertilizer bags and other large yard waste items
What are the 5 things you should never flush down a toilet?
1. Toilet paper
Toilet paper is a waste product and should not be flushed down the toilet. Flushing it down the toilet just creates more waste and increases your chances of clogging your drain. Instead, use a trash can or compost bin to dispose of your toilet paper.
2. Wet wipes
Wet wipes are also a waste product and should not be flushed down the toilet. They can contain harmful chemicals that can pollute water supplies and cause environmental pollution. Instead, use a trash can or compost bin to dispose of wet wipes.
3. Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are another waste product that should not be flushed down the toilet. They can contain harmful chemicals that can pollute water supplies and cause environmental pollution. Instead, use a garbage bag to dispose of coffee grounds outdoors or in a compost bin inside the home.
4. Fruit peels and core pieces
Fruit peels and core pieces should also not be flushed down the toilet because they contain high levels of bacteria that can contaminate water supplies and cause environmental pollution. Instead, place these items in a garbage bag and throw them away outside the home or in a compost bin inside the home
Why are they bad for the environment?
There is a lot of debate surrounding what can be classified as “flushable” and what should be avoided at all costs when it comes to the environment. Surprisingly, some common items that plumbers often ask their customers to stop using are actually bad for the environment.
Plumbers will tell you that it’s a bad idea and warn their clients about the dangers of flushing items like wipes, feminine hygiene products, and even coffee grounds down the toilet. These materials can cause major damage to both the environment and our sewer systems if not properly disposed of. In fact, experts say that it takes up to 1,500 years for these materials to decompose in a landfill!
Some particularly harmful components of flushable waste include Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) bacteria and heavy metals like lead. When these contaminants escape from wastewater treatment plants into rivers and streams, they can contaminate aquatic ecosystems with serious risks to human health as well as wildlife.
It’s important to keep these facts in mind when talking to your plumber about which items should be flushed and which should be disposed of in another way. By following their advice, you can help protect both your wallet and our planet!
How do they impact our plumbing system?
There are a ton of things you can flush down the toilet that don’t belong there. From hair products to toothpaste to entire pizzas, some things just don’t belong in the sewer and should be disposed of using other methods. Here are six common items plumbers beg you to stop flushing:
- Toilet paper is one of the most common things plumbers beg you to stop flushing. Not only is it a waste of water, but it can also clog up your pipes and cause flooding. Instead, use a plunger or an auger to remove excess toilet paper from the throne.
- Cotton balls and swabs are other things plumbers often ask you to stop flushing. Although they may look like small pieces of trash, these objects can actually contain lotions, oils, and other chemicals that can damage your plumbing system. Instead, dispose of them by throwing them in the trash or using a vacuum cleaner to suck them up.
- Hair products are another item plumbers often ask you to stop flushing. Not only do these items contain chemicals that can damage your pipes, but they also create clogs when they get stuck in the drainage system. Instead of flushing them down the toilet, try using a bucket or sink for washing your hair supplies instead.
- Toilet brushes and sponges are also common items plumbers ask you to stop flushing. Unlike other items on this list, these objects can actually contain metal bristles that can damage your pipes. Instead of flushing them down the toilet, try placing them in the trash or recycling bin.
- Another thing plumbers often ask you to stop flushing is pizza boxes and packaging. Not only are these objects bulky and difficult to dispose of, but they can also contain heavy metals that can damage your plumbing system. Instead of flushing them down the toilet, try using a compost bin or recycling center to dispose of them.
Are there any exceptions to this rule?
There are a few exceptions to the rule against flushing things down the toilet. One is if the thing being flushed is broken and needs to be fixed. Another exception is if you have a clogged drain and need to clear it.
Conclusion:
Plumbers are always warning you about the dangers of flushing certain things down the toilet, but it turns out they may also be right about one other thing: Certain things definitely shouldn’t go down the drain. In fact, here are five common things that plumbers would like you to stop flushing and maybe even think twice before doing so.
