7 Things You Should Never, Ever Flush Down the Toilet, According to Plumbers

They make the case for never tossing anything other than toilet paper in there.

The mechanisms that allow your toilet to flush are probably high on the list of things you don’t think about very often. It’s easy to take modern plumbing for granted—and maybe even easier to make absent-minded mistakes when it comes to flushing things down the toilet.

In fact, plumbers make a strong case for never tossing in anything other than toilet paper . (If they could, they would shout this from the rooftops.) Ahead, find the six items experts say you should never flush or pour down the toilet.

Meet Our Expert

• Nate Hudelson , plumber at Schlueter Plumbing
• Bethany Uribe , mitigation division supervisor at ASAP Restoration

Related: 9 Things You Should Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal, According to Plumbers

Wipes

The label on your container of wipes might say they’re flushable, but Bethany Uribe, mitigation division supervisor at ASAP Restoration, says you should still avoid them.

“Even if it claims to be biodegradable, earth-friendly, or disposable, those wipes are not flushable, and they will absolutely clog your system or worse,” Uribe says. “When these wipes collect in a snag along the pipe, or when they encounter a bend, curve or joint, they create an impenetrable barrier." What does this mean? If enough of them accumulate and create a total blockage, this can destroy your pipes and cause a backup or leak all at the same time, she explains.

Paper Towels

Paper towels are thicker, more durable, and more absorbent than toilet paper, say the experts, meaning they don’t break down as easily.

“Even though the toilet may flush them down or appear to have flushed them down, it can still get lodged in the piping and that is where issues can arise,” explains Nate Hudelson, AKA the “No Nonsense Plumber” with Schlueter Plumbing.

Feminine Products

Similarly, tampons, pads, and other feminine products are designed for maximum absorbency, which doesn’t bode well if they’re stuck in your plumbing.

“The same reason that makes these products good at their intended purpose also makes them terrible for your plumbing system,” Uribe says. “This is because these absorbent materials expand significantly when they are introduced to water, and when this happens they can completely clog an entire plumbing system so thoroughly that you need a professional for assistance.”

Drain Cleaner Chemicals

If you’ve ever noticed your toilet flushing slower or your sink basin taking longer to empty, maybe you’ve been tempted to pick up some chemical drain cleaners to clear them out. That’s what they’re made for, right? Not so fast, says Uribe.

“Many chemicals that claim to be able to clean out a clogged drain can actually cause failures in portions of your plumbing system. If the chemicals corrode your pipes, then this can cause leaks or flooding,” she says. “While these pour-it-and-forget-it drain cleaning products are appealing due to their simplicity, they can ultimately cause more trouble than good.”

Dental Floss

Floss is quite thin, but the stuff that works great at cleaning your teeth spells danger for your plumbing. It easily can get lodged in your pipes permanently.

“If this happens, it can be just enough to catch other things behind it and ultimately create a dam of sorts that then becomes a future clog,” Uribe says. “Think of it like a beaver dam—small twigs, sticks, and plant fibers make up the strength of the structure, and synthetic versions of these things will do the same in your pipes.”

Related: If You Hate Flossing, a Water Flosser Could Be the Answer—and It’s More Affordable Than You Think

Toys (and Other Sneaky Additions From Kids)

You’d never tell your kids to put toys in the toilet, but it happens more often than you think, says Hudelson. Try to teach children about the dangers of flushing objects down the toilet early.

“Folks sometimes don’t realize that children love to throw things in the toilet and watch them go down. From toy soldiers to Buzz Lightyear and even a doorstop or two, kids love to throw things in, not realizing how expensive it can be for mom and dad to call the plumber,” he says.

"“There was a two-year-old who flushed bars of soap down the toilet, and we had to physically remove the toilet and cut the soap out. We thought we'd have to throw out the toilet, but we managed to save it," Hudelson says."

Really, Anything That Doesn't Break Down

Plumbers also warn against flushing medications , cooking grease or oils, cat litter, cigarette butts, household chemicals, paint, cotton balls, cotton swabs, and more. The bottom line? Anything that goes beyond human waste and your average roll of toilet paper should not be disposed of in your toilet.

“These other items don’t break down,” Hudelson says. “Next thing you know, you have a bad clog in your plumbing system.”

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