What did you just flush?

With many families staying home, household items are being used a lot more frequently, this includes the toilet.  In our January newsletter, we wrote about a great loss prevention tip which discussed what should NOT be flushed down the toilet.  Now is the time to do your part in reducing claims and toilet back up which are very common, especially with increased usage. 

Toilets are not meant to dispose anything other than human waste and toilet paper.  Many think that even products that state they are “flushable”, in fact really are not.  These products do not degrade properly and tend to build up in the sewer pipes to create clogs.  

Everyone has likely made the mistake of flushing something down the toilet that shouldn’t have however we can all change our daily habits to do our part to reduce claims and help contribute to a more sustainable Earth. 

Here is a list of the 15 items that should not be going down the toilet:

1. Paper Towels- They don’t disintegrate easily and are not made the same as toilet paper.
2. Baby and Cosmetic wipes- both are not biodegradable and are some of the leading industry issues with our sanitary system. 
3. Tampon and Pads- Any feminine product should not go down the toilet because they become obstructions within the pipes and often cause major backups. 
4. Dental Floss- It seems minor however these long strings can clump and mix with other products flushed down the toilet and create issues on the sewer system. 
5. Condoms- These are not biodegradable and typically made from latex which causes major issues in the sewer systems.   Throw them in the garbage. 
6. Medication- This is a really easy way to contaminate the wastewater and making it much harder to get clean drinking water. 
7. Cigarette butts- Cigarettes are not good for you in general and they are certainly not good for our water system with all the toxins. 
8. Chewing Gum- Gum is just like glue and sticks to pipes and blocks the flow of water. 
9. Grease- Grease should never go down any drain, let alone the toilet.   When grease solidifies, it is hard and creates blockages in pipes. 
10. Bleach- Another toxic product that should not go down the toilet as it causes serious corrosion to pipes. 
11. Paint- paint has come along way however still toxic and does not belong in our water system. 
12. Diapers- people still flush this item down the toilet unfortunately.  They belong in the garbage. 
13. Cotton swabs and Tissues- even though both are soft, they do not disintegrate like toilet paper and can clog pipes easily. 
14. Contact Lenses- They seem small however that is the issue.  They are hard to take out of the water system and create a major environmental concern.
15. Kitty Litter- most products are made of sand and clay which are horrible for the sewer system.  Just because its considered “waste” doesn’t mean that it should go down the toilet.  Cat’s waste is full of parasites and dangerous toxins. 

This list has a few items that don’t always come to mind as being something that can’t go down the toilet or drain.   No one wants a toilet back up, especially in our current State’s situation.  Communities that have common shared pipes are even more at risk with back up occurrences because even though one owner can do their part, it really takes the entire community.  With so many people working from home and social distancing, it is important to take a moment to think about ways we can help prevent a claim or future environmental issues.