It’s amazing what winds up going down the toilet, things you’d never dream of putting down the toilet yourself - or would you? Or are you like millions of people out there who flush anything and everything down their loo in the hope that it’ll go down?
We’ve seen a lot of blocked toilets in our time and we’re never surprised at the number of things we find blocking it. What we’re talking about today then will come as no surprise, and that’s what not to flush to avoid a blocked toilet. This can be an unpleasant and costly experience, that’s without including the health hazard a blocked toilet can create. So what if you have more than one toilet, one blocked toilet can cause more problems than you can imagine, so it pays to be vigilant in the long-term.
So let’s start, shall we?
Nappies
These little nuggets of goodness for your baby’s bum may be all that’s keeping you and your baby sane and one step away from nappy rash, but to your toilet, they are pure evil. Once they’ve gone down the loo and filled with water they’ll expand, and that’s how they block your pipes. If you can’t remove them, you could end up with an overflowing basin, water everywhere and some rather unpleasant smells. Nappies should be disposed of sensibly and not down a toilet, check with your local authority’s environmental/recycling department on what the rules are for disposing of your nappies safely.
Dental Floss
Yes, as amazed as you are floss is a no-no when it comes to flushing down the loo. It can cause damage to the environment as well as blocking your toilet. It can turn into netting like material that will wrap itself around your system and cause all kinds of damage.
Tissues and Kitchen Towels
Tissues for blowing your nose on or using for makeup removal are not designed to be flushed down a toilet and neither are kitchen towels. In the main, they’re thicker and will clog the system, so a wastebasket or bin is the best place for them.
Medication
So you have leftover medication right? Don’t flush them down the loo, they don’t break down in the toilet and once they’re in the water they can cause all kinds of toxic environmental damage. Take any excess medication down to your local pharmacist and they will dispose of them safely for you.
Other Things Not to Flush
Cigarette butts, cat litter, and hair are three things that do not belong down the loo, not if you don’t want a blocked toilet. Hair will act much like dental floss does and cause problems for your system and act as a net and tangle its way around the pipes and cause all kinds of trouble. Cat litter is not good for the environment and of course, neither are leftover cigarettes which will float rather unattractively in the basin for longer than you’d like before causing untold damage to the pipes and your sewers.
East of Scotland Drainage - Experience and Expertise
If you’re struggling with a blocked toilet and you’ve tried everything why not contact us here at East of Scotland Drainage. We have a trained team of drain engineers with the right skill set, qualifications, training and experience. We’re waiting to take your call and help with that blockage!