Certain household should not get flushed down the toiled or dumped down the drain because they can wreak havoc on plumbing systems (and the environment). Avoid unnecessary (and sometimes costly) visits from the plumber to your home, unit, or community association by properly tossing, flushing, and dumping everyday items.
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Items That Should Not Get Flushed Down the Toilet Or Dumped Down the Drain
These everyday household items should not get flushed down the toilet or dumped down the drain because they can create clogs in your home or community’s plumbing system. Prevent unnecessary calls to a plumber:
- Rubber Gloves
- Used Face Masks
- Feminine Products
- Tissues
- Condoms
- Paper Towels
- Dental Floss
- Q-tips
- Cotton Balls/Cotton Pads
- Hair
- Gum
- Cigarette Butts
Some Cooperatives and Condominiums have non-smoking policies, but to prevent prevent a fire hazard, be sure anything that was once lit is completely extinguished before disposal. - Wipes of Any Kind
Many wipes (e.g.-baby wipes, cleaning wipes, cosmetic wipes, wet wipes, moist towelettes) say they are “flushable” on the label. However, they do not break down easily in plumbing systems. Therefore, it is important not to flush them down the toilet or dump them down any drains in your home or community.
Dump, Flush, and Toss These Items With Caution
These everyday household items should not get flushed or tossed down your drains. However, they do require extra caution when disposal is required.
- Certain expired medications and prescription pills should not be flushed down the toilet or drain. The best practice for tossing expired medications is to drop them off at a location accepting expired pills.
- Excess Cooking Oil can clog pipes, which can cause flooding and sewage backup in your home. Additionally, this can also potentially effect a neighbor’s home if you share a plumbing system.
- Flushing or dumping a fish (Dead or alive) in a drain or toilet may not clog your pipes. However, fish (e.g. – a non-indigenous goldfish) can wreak havoc on our local waterway’s ecosystem. Reconsider flushing or dumping a fish down your drain or toilet if you have a pet fish in your home.
Refuse that is Improperly Disposed is Bad for the Environment.
Improperly disposed trash is not only bad for your plumbing. Trash in the local water supply can also be detrimental to the environment, sewer, wastewater infrastructure, and more. Therefore, it is important that all homeowners, shareholders, and residents do their part in keeping our infrastructures and water systems free of clogs and environmentally harmful materials.
For Your Fridge:
On the Do Not Flush List:
