What shouldn't you flush down the toilet? Here's a list of 24 items you should never flush.
- Band-Aids – Made out of non-biodegradable plastic. Toss them in the trash.
- Condoms – Bad news for septic tanks and sewage treatment plants. Condoms gum up the works.
- Cotton Balls & Q-Tips – Contrary to popular opinion, these don’t magically break down once flushed. They gather together, eventually clogging pipes.
- Food – Compost or trash it. Food can clump together and cause clogs.
- Facial Cleaning Pads – Thicker than toilet paper and thus can cause problems.
- Dental Floss – NOT biodegradable. Will wrap around small clogs to make them even bigger.
- Hair – Clogs pipes in no time. You know how you constantly have to unclog your drain because of the hair in it? Imagine that, but on a much larger scale.
- Dirt – Dump it outside, not in the toilet.
- Dryer Sheets – Made out of synthetic materials, not biodegradable.
- Prescription Medicines – Destroys bacteria and contaminates groundwater. Bring meds back to pharmacies for disposal.
- Grease & Fat – Congeals once it cools down, filling pipes with a solid mass that blocks pipes.
- Pesticides – Destroys the good bacteria used to break down waste at treatment plants.
- Baby Wipes – Too thick, can cause clogs.
- Cleaning Wipes – Ditto.
- Disposable diapers – Other than the fact that they were giant, disposable diapers are made out of plastic. Throw them in the trash if you have to use them.
- Cat Litter – Would you pour sand in your toilet? This is basically the same thing, but filled with potentially toxic cat feces.
- Tampons and Pads – Trash can is best here. These items are too thick for toilet plumbing.
- Cigarette Butts – Full of toxic chemicals that can pollute waterways.
- Chewing Gum – Can literally gum up the works.
- Nail Polish & Remover – Toxic.
- Dead Pet Goldfish – Not necessarily bad, but can cause problems with clogging or could introduce disease into septic system.
- Cosmetics – Potentially toxic and harmful to wastewater treatment plants and septic systems.
- Paper Towels – Do not break down like toilet paper. Too thick for plumbing pipes.
- Toilet Scrubbers – Do I have to say why?
So what’s left to flush? Just toilet paper (made from 100% recycled paper, of course) and human waste – that’s it. What would you add to the list of things you should not flush down the toilet? Are you guilty of using your toilet as a trash can? It’s time to change that behavior. It’s bad for you, the planet, your utility bills, and our water supplies
Source: thegoodhuman.com |
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