At Drain Titan we have cleaned out clogged pipes for all kinds of reasons, especially for things that did not belong in a drainpipe. You might think because an item will flow down a drain – think car keys – it doesn’t mean it will flow all the way through to the end of the line. 

 In this article we provide a short list of what not to flush and why. To start a good rule of thumb is to keep in mind is if it is not toilet paper or water, don’t flush it down the toilet. Here is a short list of items that are guaranteed to create an eventual blockage in your drainpipe when flushed down the toilet.

 Paper Towels

Paper towels are made out of finely divided fibers of cellulose, the principal structural chemical in cotton, wood, and most other plants. Cellulose is what gives paper towels its water absorbent ability. This structure is great for picking up spills, but not for back-up toilet paper. When paper towels are flushed down the toilet they swell and expand leading to a potential blockage in your drainpipe.

 3-Ply Toilet Paper 

Not all toilet paper is created equally. The Family Handyman website did a test of different ply toilet papers to see how each type broke down in the drainpipe, and it is no surprise that 3-ply toilet paper did the worst. 3-ply toilet paper, also known as “ultra-plush”, doesn’t disintegrate into tiny pieces once it is flushed down the toilet and instead remains intact. 

 Dental Floss

According to Boulden Brothers plumbing, floss is not biodegradable and can cause serious clogs and environmental damage.  

 Feminine Hygiene Products 

Feminine hygiene products will clog your drainpipe because these products are non-biodegradable and do not break down when flushed. You should never flush these products down your toilet.  

 Flushable Wipes

Flushable wipes are a misleading product. According to the NACWA these wipes are legally labeled flushable because the wipes are made with biodegradable materials and that will decompose over time; however, these wipes do not break down in your drainpipe when flushed. Consumer Reports performed a test to see if flushable wipes are safe for sewer systems and the test concluded, that no flushable wipes are not safe for sewer systems.

 Diapers

Disposable diapers are too large to flush down the toilet. Diapers like most of the items on this list do not break down when flushed leading to a clog. You should never flush disposable diapers down the drain and instead dispose of them in your trash. 

 Here is a list of additional items you should not flush or put down your garbage disposal. 

 Got a clog? Give us a call because we’ve seen it all and we’ve unclogged it all. We are available 24 hours a day seven days a week to get your water flowing again. A clogged drain is a pain but fixing it shouldn’t be.

 Got questions on how to keep your drain clean? Leave a comment below.