7 Deadly Toilet Sins

Don't Flush This!

The universe gave us both toilets and trash cans, and each are to be used responsibly! When you flush things down the toilet, they simply don’t just disappear. By doing so, you are allowing it to enter into the waterways which will cause damage to your home, sewer system, and the environment. Below are the 7 deadly toilet sins, don't do em’!

1. Moist Towelettes: Whether they are “adult baby wipes” or makeup remover wipes, they are both becoming an increasingly popular bathroom accessory. Despite the fact that they’re marketed to be flushed like toilet paper, these wipes are actually creating backups and clogs in sewer systems that's costing the nation millions of dollars in damage.

2. Condoms: Although small and similar to toilet paper, condoms still end up in the water system. Latex is not biodegradable, and although some manufacturers claim they are biodegradable and “flushable”, it is still very discouraged to do so. Condoms don’t break down and end up staying in the water system, eventually making their way to public sewers causing a need for costly pump repair service!

3. Cotton Balls & Swabs: Cotton seems so tiny and soft that when thrown out, it might seem like it just gets soggy and eventually breaks down in the waterline...but it doesn’t. Cotton balls eventually gather together throughout the pipe, which can cause severe clogging and blockages.  

4. Paper Towels: Paper towels are not designed to break down in water like toilet paper. Paper towels are much thicker and composed of non-degradable materials that can cause your toilet to clog quicker than anything else.

5. Hair: Just because hair is a part of our body doesn’t mean it can be flushed. Hair can clog any shower, sink, and toilet very easily. Hair forms giant balls that trap odors and create massive blocks in a sewer system and pipes, and is arguably one of the most common causes for clogged drains.

6. Tampons & Pads: Tampons and pads are inherently designed to absorb as much moisture and expands while doing so. Just like cotton balls, they cannot breakdown in a waterline and the expansion actually makes it even harder to pass through water pipes and sewers.

7. Floss: Although very thin, floss is not biodegradable and once flushed, it wraps itself around other objects in the pipeline, causing tiny clogs to become even bigger in an instant. So when you’re done flossing, just throw it in the trash!

Aside from the top 7 most commonly flushed things down the toilet, there’s still so much more you should avoid. Other common items include:

• Band-aids

• Food

• Facial cleaning pads

• Dirt

• Dryer Sheets

• Grease & Fat

• Pesticides

• Disposable diapers

• Cat litter

• Cigarette Butts

• Chewing gum

• Prescription medicines

• Nail polish & remover

• Dead pet goldfish

• Chewing gum

• Cosmetics

• Toilet scrubbers

• Drug paraphernalia

• Paint & building waste

So what can you flush? Human waste. That’s it. Flushing anything not created by your body’s digestive system shouldn’t ever be flushed. One flush on a regular flow wastes 3 gallons of water, so keep home, sewers, and the environment safe and clean. If you are victim of one of these 7 deadly sins and are looking for an emergency pump repair service, call our experts at JETT Pump & Valve LLC at 248-673-2530!

Happy flushing!