5 Things You Shouldn’t Flush in Your Toilet

You may be flushing out many things in your toilet. But did you know that by putting other waste in your toilet can lead to serious issues? Our plumbers in Edmonton suggest not to use the toilet as a trash can for dumping our personal care products, hygiene products, or any other things.

We think of the toilet as a black hole; once it’s gone, it’s gone. But that is not the case, flushing such things in the toilet can harm your septic tanks or the city’s wastewater treatment center. This can also lead to clogs in the pipes. So here are some tips on what not to flush in the toilet.

1) Paper Towels

You may think that paper towels can be flushed down the toilet the way toilet paper does. Yes, both of them look similar, but they are made of different materials. Paper towels don’t have the same characteristics as toilet papers. So, it is not easy for paper towels to disintegrate in the sewer line.

2) Baby or Personal Wipes

Wipes are soft and smooth like toilet tissue, but they don’t disintegrate in the sewer line like toilet tissue. Baby and Personal wipes are not harmful to babies, but they surely cause damage to the environment. Wipes can’t be decomposed, so flushing them is not a good idea. Even wipes labeled "flushable" don’t disintegrate well in the sewer line.

3) Diapers

Some people try to flush diapers down their toilet. Well, this is not a good idea because diapers are made of a material that expands when it comes in contact with water. If you are flushing diapers, then be ready to call plumbing service, because your sewer lines will be clogged in no time.

4) Cigarette Butts

Just because cigarette butts are small, doesn't mean they will flush down the toilet easily. When they are flushed, they do not break. Additionally, cigarette butts have many chemicals and toxins in them that can get into the water supply. Always dispose of cigarette butts in the trash can.

5) Dental Floss

Dental floss is nonbiodegradable and doesn’t disintegrate as it is made of Teflon or nylon. When flushed, the floss is turned into a net-catching-like mechanism and then holds onto other debris. Floss can get mixed up with things like hair, paper towels, and other things that can create balls in the sewer line. This can create a clog in the sewer line.

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