What NOT to Flush Down the Toilet or Put Through Your Garbage Disposal
You’ve seen it before on TV. The adorable little kid playing with their toys in the bathroom when all of a sudden…plunk. It’s funny until it happens to you!
Yes, everyone knows toys don’t belong in the toilet. But what about baby wipes? Medication? Or how about your poor pet fish that went belly-up?
And who knew you weren’t supposed to put coffee grounds or eggshells in the garbage disposal, anyway? We’re here to help you understand what shouldn’t go down your drains and why!
Things You Shouldn’t Flush Down the Toilet
Toiletries
When the toilet is so accessible in the bathroom, it can be hard not to think of it like a trash can that just flushes your worries away. Unfortunately, there are a lot of bathroom materials, like toiletries, that don’t belong in your pipes.
Wipes
Wait a minute… don’t most wipes say “flushable?”
This is the tricky thing. Technically, a lot of things can be labeled “flushable.” Just because they go down the toilet doesn’t mean they should—or that they won’t get stuck in your pipes.
Let’s get one thing straight. Flushable wipes don’t dissolve. Toilet paper does. If you were to put a baby wipe and some TP in a bowl of water (which is essentially what you’re doing when you throw it in your toilet), the baby wipe would keep its shape, and the toilet paper would turn into a gloopy mess. That’s because toilet paper is meant to flush. It’s specifically designed to be safe for your drain system. The next time you think about flushing a wipe, stop! All it takes is one unfortunate wipe and your pipes could get clogged.
“Flushable” wipes can be flushed, but that doesn’t mean they won’t get stuck further down in your pipes. Don’t flush them down the toilet!
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Tampons
This has always been a heavily debated subject. As convenient as it can be to flush tampons down the toilet, it’s not a good idea. They don’t break down like toilet paper, and they’re meant to absorb a lot of liquid. That means they swell up and get caught in your pipes. This can back up your toilet! Professional plumbers all recommend wrapping up tampons and throwing them in the trash can instead.
Cotton Swabs
Cotton swabs, commonly known as Q-Tips, are great to keep around. They’re good for cleaning out small spaces (except your ears—did you know you’re not supposed to do that?). It might seem like no big deal to flush a cotton swab every now and again. After all, they’re little. What harm can they do, right?
If you flush Q-Tips down the toilet, these pesky buggers can get caught in the twists and turns of your plumbing. They create a sort of beaver dam in your pipes, collecting other materials and hindering the flow of water. Next thing you know, your pipes are backed up. Gross.
Cotton Balls
If cotton balls were to fall apart when they get wet, they wouldn’t be very useful! Because of this, they hold their shape really well (not to mention, cotton is absorbent!). When you send one down your pipes, it can get lodged in place. Considering it won’t change shape like toilet paper does, once it’s stuck, it likely won’t come out without a plumber’s help.
Cotton balls and cotton swabs can jam up your pipes. Throw them away when you’re done with them to avoid tough clogs.
Diapers
We’re not sure why people think diapers can even fit down toilets, but some people still try. Don’t be like those people. Diapers are way too big to go in the toilet, and they’re meant to absorb water, causing them to expand. So even if you get that diaper down the drain somehow, it’ll suck up water, expand, and get caught in your pipes.
Medication
When you have old pills you need to get rid of, don’t flush them down the toilet or put them down the sink! Water doesn’t break down medicines right, so the drugs can impact the water itself and get into the environment. Most meds also aren’t filtered out by wastewater treatment plants. Your medications can contaminate groundwater and harm wildlife. It can even get into our drinking supply! Searching for a medication disposal site near me is highly recommended instead.
Dental Floss
This is for the people who are telling the truth when the dentist asks, “Have you been flossing?”All that dental floss you use should go in the trash when you’re done. Never the toilet. Floss can create a net in your pipes when it’s flushed, and that net can catch and hold other substances.
Hair
Remember how we said floss can form a net in your pipes? Your hair can do the same thing! This causes other materials to get caught. The trouble with hair, though, is that you may never intentionally flush it down the toilet or throw it down the sink. But just like it can cause standing water in your shower, hair can slowly collect in your drains over time and lead to stubborn clogs. Using a drain stopper or cover in your sinks and tubs can help catch it before it becomes a problem.
Things You Shouldn’t Throw Down the Sink
Lots of homeowners think they can throw anything down the sink drain as long as they have a garbage disposal but… nope! Just like your toilet, your kitchen sink has limits. Some things might seem harmless going down, but they can cause serious clogs or damage over time. Here are some things you should never throw down the kitchen sink (even if you have a garbage disposal):
Gum
Chewing gum doesn’t break down in water. That’s why you’re able to chew the same piece for so long! Unfortunately, that means it won’t dissolve in your home’s plumbing either. As you know, gum is sticky. You don’t need us to paint a picture of what that’ll do when it gets in your pipes.
Paper Towels
Just like with baby wipes, paper towels aren’t meant to dissolve. These can easily get caught in your pipes, preventing things from flowing the right way.
Grease, Oils, & Fat
Grease, oils, and fats are notorious for clogging plumbing! These substances can be liquid when warm, but as they cool, they solidify. This is horrible for your pipes and can cause stubborn clogs.
Instead of pouring grease and oil down the drain, pour it into an empty jar or aluminum foil and throw it away instead.
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Certain Fruits & Vegetables
Peelings from potatoes, onions, and apples can get stuck on your garbage disposal’s blades. When this happens, the blades will be unable to chop things up. These peelings are also prone to getting stuck in your pipes, and the buildup of peelings can cause a clog.
Some vegetables, such as celery or spinach, are extra stringy. These strings get wrapped around the blades, clogging your sink. Try to avoid putting these down the drain!
Pasta & Rice
Pasta and rice can be sticky when cooked. When pasta and rice are put down the sink, your garbage disposal breaks them up into tiny pieces, and these tiny pieces suck up more water, creating a thick paste in your pipes. This paste can cause a nasty clog!
Bones, Seeds & Pits
You can’t chew up bones, seeds, and pits, so it would be hard to imagine your garbage disposal doing it. Putting any of these down your sink almost guarantees your blades are gonna get stuck, and trying to dislodge something like a peach pit from a garbage disposal blade can be dangerous!
Eggshells
This is a popular debate. Some people believe putting eggshells down your garbage disposal will sharpen the blades, but we’ve never seen someone sharpen a knife with an egg before. In fact, the thin membranes inside eggs can get caught around your blades, rendering them useless.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are notorious for collecting in the twists and turns of your pipes, creating a sludgy mess. Over time, this can lead to clogs. This accumulation can be slow, but it’s never too late to stop dumping coffee grounds down your sink!
Other Things You Should Never Put Down the Drain (Or the Toilet, For That Matter)
Sometimes, we put things down the drain because that’s what we grew up doing. Many people grew up using bleach to clean the toilet. A lot of people have childhood memories of flushing their dead pet goldfish. It’s not something you ever thought about—it’s just what you do. But should it be?
Bleach
Bleach is an incredibly harsh chemical. It could damage your toilet and sewer system! If you need to get stains out of your toilet, try a hydrogen peroxide cleaner or a vinegar mix instead.
Pet Fish
It’s never a fun day when Goldie goes belly-up. Your finned friend was part of the family!
When pet fish die, it’s usually common to hold a funeral in the porcelain bowl. Parents tell their little ones to say goodbye to the fishy, and off it goes!
Fish shouldn’t get flushed down the toilet for two main reasons: First, they don’t break down the same way toilet paper and waste do, which means they can contribute to clogs in your plumbing or even further down the sewer line. Second, if the fish was sick, flushing it could introduce harmful bacteria into the water supply. A better option is to wrap it up and place it in the trash or check with your local vet for more respectful disposal options.
Kitty Litter
Some cat litter is advertised as flushable, but most toilets are unable to push the litter through your drains. Litter can collect in elbow joints in your home’s pipes, and this can hinder the flow of water and waste as it builds.
We also advise that you don’t flush cat waste (unless you were awesome enough to train your cat to use the toilet). Litter pulls moisture from your cat’s waste and makes it harder for the toilet to properly flush it.
So… What is Safe to Flush?
It seems like there are a lot of restrictions on what to flush, but these guidelines are meant to protect your plumbing! The safest thing for your pipes is to only flush human waste and toilet paper. These are the only things it’s truly designed for. They’ll break down quickly in water and move through your plumbing like they’re supposed to.
Sometimes, toilet clogs still happen, though. The good news is that the risk is reduced when you don’t flush other household items.
…And What’s Safe to Send Down the Sink?
You can put quite a lot of things down your garbage disposal, and it’ll tear right through them (except super hard items like bones and pits)! Putting some of the items we discussed (coffee grounds, vegetable peelings, pasta, etc.) down the drain doesn’t pose as much of a threat to your disposal itself as it does to your home’s pipes.
A lot of the items you read about are notorious for causing drain clogs. To avoid needing to call out your local plumber, be mindful of what you put in your garbage disposal. Some things you can safely put down the sink include soft foods like cooked vegetables, small bits of fruit, and leftover sauces or soups. Just be sure to run plenty of cold water while the disposal is on to help everything move through the pipes smoothly.
Ditch the DIY Solutions—Call A Plumber!
When a clog develops, it’s tempting to run down to your local hardware store and pick up some chemical cleaners in hopes of a quick fix. Some even try to throw a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain with some boiling water to clear things up.
While these DIY tricks might seem like a good idea, they often don’t work; sometimes, they can even cause more damage to your pipes. Chemical cleaners can be harsh on your plumbing, and homemade mixes usually don’t have the power to clear drain clogs. Even a store-bought drain snake might not be enough to reach deep blockages. When your sink or drain’s backed up, your best bet is to call a plumber who can handle the job.
Morris-Jenkins: Your Plumber in Charlotte!
At Morris-Jenkins, we’ve seen it all, including types of clogs you might not even be able to imagine! Our professional drain cleaning and clearing services in Charlotte are designed to tackle everything from stubborn grease buildup to toys that somehow made their way down the toilet.
We show up with the right tools, friendly faces, and a plan to get things flowing again fast. Whether it’s your kitchen drain, bathroom sink, or main sewer line giving you trouble, we’re ready to help!
Have Clogged Drains? Need Drain Clearing Service in Charlotte? Reach out to Morris-Jenkins!
Maybe you’ve already tried to clear the drain with some chemicals and hot water, and now you’re looking for a more effective solution. Or maybe you’re tired of dealing with the same slow drain over and over again.
Whatever the case, we’re here to help. Our plumbers know how to find the root of the problem and clear it out the right way without damaging your pipes. Give us a call today for drain cleaning services in Charlotte! We’ll help you get rid of stubborn clogs, once and for all!
