While toilets might seem like they can flush away anything, some items will only spell trouble for your toilet if you flush them down. Discover a few items to never put down your toilet.
Bar Soap
Since you might use soap to wash yourself in the shower or tub, soap can seem easy to dissolve. And while small flakes or types of soap might easily dissolve, an entire bar of soap usually will not. Instead, it can block your toilet and clog it as well.
The best way to remove a bar of soap is to have a professional take care of it. Otherwise, you might use products that can damage your toilet or push the bar of soap even further down the toilet.
Dental Floss
Plopping your old dental floss in the toilet might seem like a convenient way to get rid of it. However, the string can easily entangle in the pipes and, over time, cause a blockage and clog up your toilet.
To prevent such issues, put your dental floss in a waste bin or use flossing alternatives like floss picks, water flossers, or interdental brushes. However, if you have put dental floss in the toilet and it clogs, then call a professional to remove the problem.
Hair
Since people often brush, shave, trim, and cut hair in the bathroom, some of that hair can end up in the toilet. Like dental floss, hair can easily entangle in the pipes and eventually create a blockage. So to avoid this, you might consider a shower cap, gather up stray hairs, or promptly put loose hairs in the trash bin.
Pills
Did anyone ever advise you to flush unused or expired medication down the toilet? Unfortunately, pills that enter a toilet might not necessarily damage your toilet itself but the water stream they eventually enter. For example, they might impact the fish in the water.
So instead of dumping and flushing pills down your toilet, find a local disposal program that will take care of your unwanted pills for you. Here are a few spots in Ramsey County https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/recycling-waste/collection-sites/unwanted-medicine. Simply google your County for drop-off sites.
Baby Wipes
Any baby wipes, even ones marked flushable, are dangerous for your toilet. Why? They do not easily dissolve in water. Instead, they can eventually clump up and clog your toilet.
So what should you do with used baby wipes? Simply throw them in the trash. That way, you will not have to face unexpected repair bills if a toilet clog occurs.
Cat Litter
Are you unsure what to do with your kitty’s used litter? You might be tempted to dump it down the toilet for an easy, convenient flush. However, as cat litter bunches together in water, it will clog up your toilet. And since you might put in a lot of cat litter, this can quickly translate to a major clogging problem. Instead, dispose of your cat litter in the trash.
Food
Like many things, food does not easily dissolve in the toilet. Instead, it can lodge in your pipes and simply cause problems. So whether you are tempted to dump leftover oatmeal or an apple core, any food can eventually cause your toilet to clog. Simply put all food waste in the garbage can.
Plumbing Experts, You Can Rely On
Have a toilet clog because of something you flushed? If so, Apollo Heating, Air & Plumbing can help. We offer qualified plumbing services for all your plumbing fixtures and systems. Schedule your service online or call us today to discuss your plumbing situation. A plumber can quickly evaluate your toilet clog and recommend effective treatment options. Give us a call we are here for any and all of your plumbing needs.