15 Things You Should Never Flush Down The Toilet

Jan 20, 2025 | Plumbing

To prevent clogs and ensure your plumbing continues to drain smoothly, Jerry’s Plumbing & Heating has some recommendations for you to keep in mind.

Although some products will claim to be flushable, they will still often create clogs. Here are some things to make sure you never flush down the toilet.

Baby Wipes/Wet Wipes
Even though many of them claim to be flushable and they do eventually break down, they still don’t break down fast enough to prevent a clog. It’s always better to put them in a waste basket than put them in a toilet.

Paper Towels
Although they are made of the same things as toilet paper, paper towels still don’t break down fast enough to prevent clogging toilets and lines. Best to put paper towels in the trash can.

Kitty Litter
Like the flushable baby wipes, even flushable kitty litter does not break down enough to prevent clogging toilets and pipes. You especially don’t want to flush kitty litter that is not advertised as flushable, as it will basically turn into concrete when it gets wet in the toilet’s water.

Chewing Gum
Chewing gum doesn’t break down in water. It’s sticky and will just stick to your toilet and pipes. It’s just really not a good thing to put down a toilet.

Feminine Hygiene/Menstrual Products
Pads and tampons will absolutely clog a toilet. They are not designed to be flushed down a toilet and should always go in a trash can. We recommend keeping a small trash can by the toilet for disposing of these products.

Diapers
You’d think we wouldn’t have to mention it, but sometimes people will try and flush diapers. Diapers just won’t go down and will definitely clog a toilet. Diapers also expand when wet and even if it actually does go down the toilet, it will certainly clog the sewer line.

Dental Floss
Although dental floss seems small and harmless, it will stop up a toilet. It doesn’t break down in water. It’s made of teflon or nylon and will eventually catch and clog in the sewer line.

Q-Tips, Cotton Pads, and Other Cotton Products
Cotton balls, cotton pads, and Q-Tips don’t break down in water and expand when wet. This is a bad combination for toilets and sewer lines.

Condoms
These definitely don’t break down in water and will clog toilets, sewer lines, and septic systems.

Cigarette Butts
These will not only clog the toilet and pipes, but also contain toxic chemicals which is bad for our water supply.

Hair
Similar to dental floss, it just wads up and blocks toilets, pipes, and septic systems.

Cooking Grease
Just like you shouldn’t put grease down a drain, you also shouldn’t flush it. When grease cools, it congeals and will block the pipes.

Fish
A lot of people tend to flush their dead fish. But like other things, it doesn’t break down in water. Best to give the fish a proper burial.

Food
Although food is biodegradable, it doesn’t break down fast enough to prevent a clog. This is better left to be put in trash cans and garbage disposals.

Bleach
You may clean with bleach, but it’s not a good idea to run it down a toilet. The chemical is too harsh for toilets and septic systems. If you’re trying to remove stains, vinegar is a better way to go.

For major clogs, and replacing toilets and pipe, contact Jerry’s Plumbing & Heating in the DFW, Texas metroplex for help.

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