The toilet is an essential plumbing appliance to any home. It is the source of inspiration for many; a place where we all feel safe - sometimes using it to flush away our secrets where they'll never to be seen again. This though is not always the case. Some secrets have no business being sent down the toilet. Your friends at John Moore have decided to put together this helpful guide of what not to flush down the toilet. This list will hopefully help save you the panic of watching the water begin to fill in your bowl instead of going down the drain.

What Not To Flush Down The Toilet?: A Comprehensive List

1. Baby Wipes or Wet Wipes: We know that many of the products you find at your local supermarket say that these wipes are "flushable" but the truth is that most of the time these cause major issues in your home's septic system. It would be wise to keep a trash can nearby to properly dispose of these wipes.
2. Diapers: Babies may gift us with special surprises that do belong down the toilet, however, that does not mean a diaper should be flushed down your toilet. Attempting to flush a diaper down the toilet will most definitely and up causing a major clog. Play it safe, toss it in the trash.
3. Femining Hygiene Products: Pads and tampons are absorbent which means that if they end up in your pipes they will swell and cause a major blockage in your plumbing system. Be sure to keep a trash can nearby and throw them out to avoid having to snake these out of your pipes.
4. Bleach: Bleach might not clog your pipes but it is extremely harsh on your plumbing system. If you are having trouble getting stains out of your toilet, try using vinegar instead. Vinegar will not damage your pipes or a septic system like bleach but it will still have enough power to get rid of stains.
5. Gum: Though a small piece of gum might seem harmless, they have the power to create issues within your pipes as they never dissolve. Aside from never breaking down they are sticky and could latch on to your pipes creating a future blockage. Spit it out in the trash.
6. Cotton balls, Q-tips, or Other Absorbent Bathroom Products: Just like feminine hygiene products any cotton products will also absorb water and swell in your pipes creating a blockage. Cotton does not break down like toilet paper and can easily get caught inside of your pipes. Dispose of it in the trash and out of your toilet.
7. Hair: Hair is a silent killer for your pipes that can over time create a net inside of your pipes, catching waste and causing blockages. Hair also never fully breaks down in water so if it does get caught in your plumbing system it's going to stay there until it is manually removed. Always be sure to throw hair away instead of trying to flush it down the toilet. Screens in your sink and shower drains are a great preventive measure to hair blockages.
8. Cooking grease: Cooking grease might seem like a liquid that will slide right through your pipes while hot but once it does cool down it will congeal inside of your pipes and create a serious blockage. Instead, collect your cooking grease in old jars an throw them away in order to keep the grease from ending up in your pipes.
9. Toys: Toy cars and plastic dinosaurs are great but not when they become stuck in your plumbing pipes. The simple fact that our children are curious and always learning so they might think to flush down their favorite toy an experiment but we suggest keeping an eye out for this because these toys will not have fun stuck in your pipes.
10. Medication: Old medication will not clog your pipes but as they dissolve in water the chemicals could end up in nearby groundwater sources. These chemicals could prove harmful to local wildlife or humans who rely on those water sources. We suggest finding a local medicine take back in your area for safe places to get rid of old medicine.
11. Paper towels: Tough paper towels are made out of paper they are not safe to flush down the toilet because they do not break down in the water like toilet paper. They could get easily stuck in the bends of your pipes causing a blockage. Throw them out in the trash instead.
12. Dental Floss: This thin string might not seem like much of a threat to your plumbing system but just like hair, it could create a net inside of your pipes over time to create future blockages. Be sure to dispose of it the right way in the trash to avoid future blockages.

In Over Your Head? Call The Houston Plumbers From John Moore Services!

You can always try removing these types of things with a plumbing snake, but if you find yourself in over your head don't worry! Our professional plumbers are ready to help. Give us a call at (713) 597-7200 and we'll get our hands dirty so you don't have to!

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