What Can and Cannot Be Flushed Down the Toilet?

Only human waste and toilet paper should normally be flushed down the toilet. Wipes, paper towels, hygiene products, cotton products, food, grease, medications, and diapers can lead to clogged pipes, sewer backups, damaged plumbing, and expensive repairs.

Although some products may be labeled as “flushable,” they may not break down as quickly as toilet paper. Over time, these items can collect inside your pipes and create stubborn blockages.

Here are some specific items you should never flush down the toilet:

• Wipes, including those labeled “flushable”
• Paper towels and facial tissues
• Cotton swabs and cotton balls
• Feminine hygiene products
• Dental floss
• Hair Food, cooking oil, and grease
• Most medications
• Diapers

These items may not necessarily cause problems with the toilet itself, but with the plumbing system later down the line.

Wipes

Cleaning wipes, baby wipes, and even wipes labeled “flushable” should be placed in the trash.

Toilet paper is designed to break down quickly after it is flushed, while wipes are designed to remain strong when wet. Although wipes may initially go down the toilet, they can become trapped farther inside your plumbing or sewer system.

Tissues & Paper Towels

Although they may look similar to toilet paper, tissues and paper towels do not break down quickly. They are thicker and more absorbent than toilet paper, making them more likely to become stuck inside pipes.

Always place used tissues and paper towels in the trash.

Cotton Swabs & Cotton Balls

Cotton swabs and Cotton balls do not break apart easily in water. Their texture and shape allow them to catch inside pipes and collect other debris. Over time, this buildup can restrict water flow and cause a clog.

Feminine Hygiene Products

Tampons, pads, and other feminine hygiene products should never be flushed down the toilet.

These products are designed to absorb liquid and expand, which can easily cause a blockage within your plumbing system. Instead of flushing them, wrap the used products and dispose of them in the trash

Dental Floss

Dental floss may seem harmless, but it can cause serious problems inside your plumbing.

Because it does not dissolve in water, dental floss can wrap around other materials inside your pipes and create a net-like blockage. Dental floss should always be placed in the trash.

Hair

Similar to dental floss, hair should not be flushed down a toilet or washing it down a drain whenever it can be avoided.

Hair can become tangled and combine with grease, soap, and other debris, creating plumbing problems over time. Use drain covers in showers and sinks, and dispose of collected hair in the trash.

Food, Cooking Oil, & Grease

Your toilet is not a garbage disposal.

Food can become lodged inside your plumbing, while cooking oil and grease can cool and harden within the pipes. This buildup can narrow the pipes, leading to slow drains and serious blockages.

Medications

Over-the-counter and prescription medications should not be flushed unless the medication’s packaging or FDA guidance specifically instructs you to do so.

Flushed medications can enter wastewater systems and potentially affect the environment. Many pharmacies and local organizations offer medication take back programs for safe disposal.

Diapers

Diapers should never be flushed under any circumstances.

They are large and designed to absorb significant amounts of liquid. Flushing a diaper could cause a severe blockage your toilet or sewer line.

Keep It Simple

A good rule to remember: only human waste and toilet paper should go down the toilet. Keeping a small trash can in the bathroom makes it easier to properly dispose of wipes, cotton swabs, hygiene products, and other household materials.

What Should You Do if Your Toilet is Clogged?

Do not flush the toilet again. Repeated flushing could cause the toilet to overflow, creating an even bigger problem.

You may be able to clear a minor clog with a toilet plunger.

However, if the toilet continues to clog, drains slowly, or affects other fixtures in your home, the blockage may be deeper within the plumbing system.

Our plumbers commonly find that wipes, hygiene products, and accumulated household debris are responsible for stubborn toilet and drain-line blockages. Call Bailey Brothers to schedule an inspection today!