15 things you shouldn't throw down the toilet if you don't want trouble

Items labeled "flush down the toilet"

Most items that say they can be flushed down the toilet should not be thrown down the drain. Often, this is a primitive marketing ploy of the manufacturer. Even toilet paper tubes don't dissolve as fast as they do in the commercial. This process takes several hours, during which a cork from other waste may well accumulate and a blockage may form.

The manufacturer's claims are easy to verify.To do this, put pieces of paper in cold water and see how long it takes for them to dissolve. If fragments are still visible after 2-3 hours, then such packaging cannot be washed off. If only individual flakes remain, the advertisement can be trusted. In general, before throwing something into the water, think about what harm you can bring to the world around you.

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Can you throw this down the toilet?

8. Dental floss

From the outside it seems that this is just a thin thread, but it does not decompose. In addition, she also has one bad property.

When you wash it off, it wraps around other items that have fallen into the sewer, and as a result, you will have to call a plumber because of the lump formed.

9. Fats

Almost every one of us flushed the fat left after cooking down the toilet, but this is a very bad habit. When fat is hot, it looks like a liquid, but as soon as the fatty product enters the sewer, it cools and solidifies, turning into a fatty lump that clogs the pipes.

Over time, the hole in the pipe will become narrower and narrower until there is nothing to pass at all.

10. Cat litter

Although you think that the filler is just the place in the toilet, it should not be flushed down the toilet.

First, cat litter is made up of clay and sand, and these things should not go down the drain. Secondly, cat feces often contain toxins and parasites that end up in the plumbing.

11. Disposable diapers

Just because a baby has defecated in a diaper doesn't mean you can throw it down the toilet. Diapers contain toxic plastic that swells on contact with water.

It is very unlikely that it will slip through the sewer pipe, and as a result, you will have to contact a specialist to remove the blockage.

12. Tampons and pads

There is a good reason why you often see warnings against throwing feminine hygiene products down the toilet.

These hygiene items have absorbent properties and they are able to grow in size, making it difficult to pass through the pipe. In addition, the material from which they are made, does not decompose.

13. Hair

Oddly enough, but hair, although it seems natural to us, can play a cruel joke with your pipes.

Not only do they clog drains, but they also trap other items, resulting in bad odors and slow drains.

It seems that a few hairs that have fallen into the toilet should not cause serious problems, but they have the property of accumulating.

Prohibition Seven: Cat Litter

The contents of the litter box often end up in the toilet. Many people think that nothing bad will happen if one scoop of spent litter goes down the drain.

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However, the contents of the cat's tray, even in small quantities flushed into the toilet, it is rather difficult to pass through the pipeline. In the event that the remnants of the filler end up in a section of the pipe narrowed due to something, they will get stuck and create a blockage. In addition, the filler washed down the drain harms the environment, unless, of course, it is wood.

What should not be forgotten

As a rule, things like used diapers, feminine hygiene products and wet wipes do not end up in your own toilets in home restrooms, but in public bathrooms. Not all people deliberately do not consider it necessary to worry about the condition of sewer pipes in public latrines.

Some simply mistakenly believe that the pipes in large toilets are much wider, and the toilets themselves often have a different shape, and flushing occurs with a stronger water pressure than at home. And such features lead to the fact that there are misconceptions about what can and cannot be thrown into the toilet.

Of course, there are no special differences in the technical arrangement of sewer pipes for private and public toilets. Therefore, any item thrown into the toilet can cause a blockage. Moreover, it is not at all necessary that a plumber will be needed in the place where the diaper or something else was flushed into the toilet. An object that does not belong in the sewer can make a fairly long journey through the pipeline.

But in the sewers of the metropolis every day there is more than one diaper, tampon or scoop with cat excrement mixed with the tray filler. Hundreds of people every day flush down the toilets an incredible amount of things that should be thrown in the trash. And this leads to serious, global problems in urban sewer networks and, as a result, to a sudden emergency shutdown of water supply and other similar troubles.

Prohibition six: cotton swabs, disks, tampons

Often people use these items in the bathroom, and in the event that it is combined with a restroom, they throw the used items into the toilet without hesitation.

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Cotton swabs cannot sink, just like condoms. If they slip into the pipe, they do not reach the collector. Discs and tampons soak and increase in size. As soon as these items accumulate enough to form a blockage, you have to call a plumber.

Do not flush into the toilet and the hair remaining on the comb. Do not cut your nails over it. Of course, they will not create the same problems as diapers or used feminine hygiene products, but if they get into a narrowed section of the pipe, they will contribute to the blockage.

Why you can not go to the toilet at night: the opinion of scientists

Interrupting your sleep by going to the toilet at night is not only inconvenient, but also dangerous to health. Scientists came to grips with this issue, and a lot of interesting things turned out.

You can restore your strength only by deep and uninterrupted sleep. It is worth breaking it and in the morning you can expect a state of fatigue, weakness and irritability. Even getting up once can disrupt sleep, and some people get up 2, 3 or more times. In this case, there can be no talk of a full-fledged sleep. If this situation is repeated from night to night, then depression, weight gain, the development of diabetes and heart disease can be the consequences.

Especially often at night, older people get up to the toilet.At the same time, they consider urinary disorders to be quite a common, “age-related” problem. This ignores the fact that endocrine disorders, metabolic, depressive states may be the result of urination disorders.

Is it possible to flush the filler down the toilet

Dye

Why not: Despite the fact that many paints are a liquid product, this is not a reason to pour them into the sewer. And there are several good reasons for this. For example, some paints contain substances that can cause irreparable harm to the environment. And if they get into the sewer pipes, this will undoubtedly happen soon.

In addition, for example, oil paints have a thick and greasy consistency, which, as in the case of oil, can cause clogging. In some countries, there are even a number of prohibitions regarding the ingress of paint into sewer pipes.

How to dispose: If you are an artist or just love to draw, you can use environmentally friendly paints - fortunately, in the modern world such exist, and not in one form. In addition, if you plan not to drain the remaining paint into the sink, but only wash it off the brushes, you will not cause irreparable harm.

If you have a repair, and there is paint left that you can neither use nor sell - do not even think about pouring it down the toilet. Instead, it is better to use it in the next repair, crafts, restoration of old things, or give it to someone who will find proper use for it.

Cat litter

Why not: Cat litter is exactly the invention that all cat lovers appreciate.It absorbs moisture and, depending on the material, almost completely neutralizes unpleasant odors. However, as soon as the animal does its business, each new owner thinks about where to put the used filler.

On the packaging of many fillers there is a warning that they should not be flushed down the toilet, but often the owners neglect it, without thinking about the consequences or about other possible ways of disposal. Before sending the filler into the sewer pipe next time, consider whether it is worth doing this operation with a substance that absorbs moisture in large quantities.

How to dispose: Nowadays, there is also wood filler - it, in small quantities, can be flushed down the toilet. To do this, you need to drain it in parts, with breaks of about half an hour. But you must admit, it is much easier to simply collect the remnants of the filler in a separate bag and take it to the trash can than to wait 30 minutes after each trip of your pet to the toilet to wash off a new portion.

Seeds, seeds and grains

Why not: Despite their small size, seeds and grains are included in the category of solid foods. That is why, when they get into the sewer pipes, they increase the risk of blockages along with the rest of the items on our list. If, for example, you have cooked compote or jam from berries without first removing the seeds from them, and the product has deteriorated, it is better to throw it away with the jar.

Therefore, it is absolutely impossible to flush seeds and grains down the sink or toilet. This applies not only to pumpkin and sunflower seeds, but also to the seeds of fruits - apples, watermelons, apricots and others.They will not dissolve in water and will cause a lot of problems when they get into the pipes, because because of their size they can easily catch on other objects in the sewer.

How to dispose: To begin with, it is worth mentioning that it is not worth eating apple seeds - they are saturated with substances that decompose in the stomach into hydrocyanic acid - hydrogen cyanide. This is the strongest poison. Do not be afraid if you suddenly ate an apple seed - nothing will happen to you. However, systematic use of them will do more harm than good.

Various seeds can be planted, pits from cherries can be used to make compote, jam or liqueur. The bones from the watermelon can be eaten - it's even useful. But apricot, plum and peach are best sent to the bin. Sunflower seeds can be roasted and eaten. The same applies to pumpkin seeds. People up to our time have come up with many disposal methods that will help you avoid blockages in the pipes.

Kinds

All fillers are divided into several types according to the composition of raw materials. There is no perfect kitty litter box: choose the brand that suits your pet.

Clay (mineral)

It is made from different types of clay rocks. The quality and properties of the filler depend on what minerals are included in the composition of the clay used by a particular manufacturer. Absorbent and clumping grades are available.

Bentonite is the best material for making filler.

Popular brands: Pi-Pi-Bent, Clean paws, Fresh Step.

Pros:

• natural structure that attracts a cat;
• harmlessness;
• cheapness.

Minuses:

• fine granules are suitable for kittens, but there is a lot of dust from them;
• large fraction granules do not generate dust, but can injure the delicate paws of babies;
• can stick to the paws;
• do not hold moisture well if an unscrupulous manufacturer uses unsuitable raw materials.

Woody

It is made from small sawdust of different types of wood, pressed into granules. There are brands that are 100% sawdust, and sometimes they are one of the components of the filler. Small sawdust will not damage the sewer pipes - the contents of the tray can be flushed down the toilet.

Popular brands: PrettyCat, Homecat, Happy paws.

Pros:

• natural raw materials;
• you can purchase a brand with granules of a suitable size;
• absorbs liquid well and retains odor;
• low price.

Minuses:

• a pet digger will scatter pellets throughout the bathroom;
• sticks to paws;
• the contents of the tray need to be changed frequently.

silica gel

This type is made from silica (silicon dioxide) - a natural substance, which is the main component of almost all rocks, processed using a special technology. The finished product has almost zero moisture, and due to the high porosity of the internal structure of the granules, it is able to absorb a large volume of liquid.

The high price is not a big disadvantage: it is very economical.

Popular brands: Smart Cat, Cat Step, N1 Crystals.

Pros:

• perfectly retains discharge and odor;
• you need to clean the contents once every two weeks;
• aesthetics: beautiful appearance and pleasant aroma.

Minuses:

• not every cat will use such a filler - it is very different from the structure of the earth or sand;
• the crunch of granules scares away some animals;
• its unusual appearance arouses gastronomic interest in kittens, which, if swallowed, can lead to obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract.

Corn

Corn on the cob has only recently been used to make cat litter. Such products are convenient for owners and animals like them. It can be flushed down the toilet or used as fertilizer.

Popular brands: Nature's Miracle, Golden Cat.

Pros:

• well absorbs moisture and smell;
• great even for small kittens;
• environmentally friendly: made from natural raw materials without additives.

Minuses:

• a diligent digger can easily scatter light granules around the bathroom and beyond;
• not all stores offer such a product;
• high price.

Paper

Produced by recycling and pressing paper waste. A good option for filling the tray, but slightly inferior in performance to clay or silica gel. The used contents of the cat litter should be thrown into the toilet in small portions.

Popular brands: A'Mur, NeoSuna.

Pros:

• quickly absorbs liquid and odor;
• does not stick to paws;
• even large granules cannot damage the delicate skin of a kitten.

Minuses:

• requires frequent replacement;
• high price;
• rustles when the cat enthusiastically fumbles in the filler.

Carbonic

It is a mixture of clay and activated charcoal. It has excellent characteristics and is convenient for cats. Charcoal particles effectively absorb unpleasant odors.

Popular brands: Molly Goddle, Fresh Step.

Pros:

• instantly absorbs moisture and odor;
• economical;
• has antimicrobial activity.

Minuses:

too hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air) - it is undesirable to place the tray in a bathroom or combined bathroom.

Yeast in the toilet: what consequences to expect

The results depend on many factors.The key point is the type of toilet. A toilet standing on the street will behave very differently than one installed in a train or an apartment building.

City toilet

For a toilet in a comfortable apartment, yeast is not terrible. There is no temperature required for the reaction. If you contrive, ask and maintain it, and also do not wash off the excrement, you will be able to witness the swelling of fetid masses. But they would rather go down the drain than end up on the floor of the room.

village toilet

The results of the experiment depend on:

• time of year;
• the amount of yeast;
• terms of cleaning the latrine.

If the faeces have been pumped out for a long time, it is a hot summer outside, and the experimenter has a large supply of baker's yeast in his hands, then in theory a fountain of sewage can turn out. In practice, it is necessary to take into account the volume of the cesspool. To “wake up” a very deep and roomy one, you have to spend money. One pack is not enough.

If you throw only 1 package, then microorganisms, although they will begin to multiply actively due to hit yeast, but to the top the fetid mass will not reach - it will fall off earlier. In this case, the air will be filled with a strong repulsive smell. The stink of 3-4 days will last, then the outhouse will stop smelling for a while, and its contents will overheat and become closer to humus in consistency.

Toilet on the train

From the now obsolete model, consisting of an exhaust manifold, a stainless steel toilet, a pedal and a damper, the yeast will simply fall out onto the sleepers. In the case of a dry closet, the situation is not so clear. If we are talking about a Biolan-type structure - a waste collection tank is connected to a regular toilet for a train - then most likely an emergency will occur.They will call him: the limited capacity of the container and the fact that the toilet itself was not originally equipped with a waste collector.

Well, a bar of yeast simply does not fit in a real dry closet. The toilet bowl is equipped with a very narrow drain, through which even soap will not squeeze through. If you use baker's yeast, then you will need quite a lot of them and the result of the experiment will depend on what kind of dry closet agent and in what quantity is used. Such chemistry in theory should "silence" any reactions, but in practice this is not always the case. Therefore, there is a risk that the yeast will still act as a growth stimulator of microorganisms, which will lead to swelling of the feces and excessive pressure on the walls of the waste container.

At the same time, you need to understand that the contents of the sachet simply poured out may not reach the reservoir with feces. It will dissolve in the drain water, which the toilet will then pump out and redirect to a tank separate from the feces - this is the principle of the restroom on the train. Therefore, a state of emergency is possible only if the yeast is poured directly onto still fresh, uncooled stools and has time to react with them.

The consequences of getting yeast into the toilet in most cases are so serious that it is worth abandoning the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bconducting such an experiment. Even if the excrement does not start to beat with a fountain, the air will still be filled with methane. And this gas is dangerous. One spark or an attempt to smoke near the source - and an explosion may follow.

Fish

Aquarium fish, as well as amphibians and reptiles, are not eternal. Many owners slowly flush dead carcasses down the toilet. Occasionally, live pets are also sent there.In Canada, authorities are asking citizens not to flush fish down the toilet, as they manage to swim to water bodies and can displace local fauna in them.

In Australia, there is concern that exotic aquarium species, when released into the natural environment, spread various diseases. Sometimes bored or sick fish are sent from the aquarium directly to a pond or river. The correct way to rest such living creatures is a trip to the veterinarian or burial in a compost heap.

Contact lenses

Contact lenses serve their intended purpose for a short time, they are small and almost invisible. It would seem that they can do no harm if you just flush the couple down the toilet. However, lenses are made from polymers that take a long time to decompose. For decades, they will harm the environment. Experts estimate that more than 20 tons of contact lenses are washed down the drain every year!

In this regard, some manufacturers have even launched a campaign to recycle used lenses. If you are a responsible person, then take your old lenses to collection points (if they are in your country). Some manufacturers can send them by parcel for proper disposal.

Toilet paper

Surprising as it may sound to many, throw toilet paper down the toilet not worth it. In many parts of the world, even public sewers are too unreliable to throw anything into the water. In multi-storey buildings, the system can withstand such a load. If we are talking about a private house and the use of a septic tank, then it is better to use a wastebasket.

A septic tank is not a pipe that carries waste to drain somewhere far away. This is a closed space of large, but still limited volume. Everything that gets into it stays in place.The bacteria responsible for the processing of organic waste may not be able to cope with other substances and household waste.

Traveler Matt Kipson has created a list of places where you can't flush paper down the toilet. In Greece and Ireland, this is prohibited due to the old sewer system. In the Maldives, Indonesia and Ethiopia, it is not customary to use paper; water procedures are preferred here. The sewer from the paper is clogged, as it is not designed for this.

Why is it wrong to throw toilet paper down the toilet?

Toilet paper is made on the basis of cellulose - a natural material, strong enough, and most importantly - insoluble in water. The ban on throwing toilet paper into sanitary utensils is based precisely on this property, but this ban is not categorical and depends on several factors.

Which houses are banned?

In new high-rise buildings, you can not be afraid of a blockage in the pipes and calmly throw the used paper into the toilet - the pipes have not yet had time to overgrow with lime growths, and the water flows are strong enough to carry the softened paper into the sewer. The paper will not dissolve, but it may shred, and the bits of paper will eventually end up on the grates of the sewer and be removed with other insoluble substances.

Those small pieces that have passed through the grates will be exposed to biologically active substances specially added to the sewage to liquefy. If the house is old, then the pipes in it have a narrowed clearance, which leads to frequent clogging. In old houses, you should not throw toilet paper down the toilet.

In private houses, as a rule, there is no central sewerage, but there is a small isolated network of sewer flow into a septic tank or cesspool. If the outlet is made of pipes, whose diameter is less than 100 mm, and even with steep angles of rotation, it is forbidden to throw paper into toilet for such houses must be tough.

Does it depend on the type of paper?

New types of toilet paper have appeared on the market that dissolve in water. Such paper is many times more expensive than regular paper, but the use of such hygiene products completely eliminates clogging of pipes. Paper made from cellulose is unable to dissolve in water in terms of chemical composition and physical properties.

Leftover food and products

By flushing spoiled food down the toilet, many console themselves with the fact that they are organic. This means that they decompose over time. Yes it is. But it's unlikely to happen very quickly. Especially when a large wad of food clogs the sewer drain.

Never throw the following foods down the drain, rather put them in the trash can.

Flour

It absorbs moisture well and swells. Lumps can stick to the pipe walls, trapping other flushed debris.

As a result - an unpleasant blockage in the sewer.

Fats

When in contact with cold water, fats quickly harden and settle on the surface. Therefore, in no case do not pour the remaining oil after cooking into the sewer.

After cooking, dishes should be washed only in hot water. And do not spare enough detergent, which will break down the fat molecules and make them water soluble.

Egg shells, tea and coffee grounds

Few people know, but eggshells can also cause clogging. And this applies not only to large, but also to small particles from the shells.

You should not tempt fate by flushing tea from a teapot or coffee grounds down the drain.

Can wet wipes be washed off?

This is a very common question. Although they can pass through the pipes, they can negatively affect many things, such as:

• Sewer clogging and even cause sewer flooding;
• Environmental pollution;
• Pollution of the seas and oceans, which causes great harm to marine life.

Flush Zewa's biodegradable wet toilet paper is as safe as just like regular toilet paper, such as Zewa Deluxe, unlike cleaning wipes, which do not biodegrade.

So the next time someone asks you how to use the toilet and whether cleaning wipes can be flushed, you can give them a reasoned answer - no!

How to avoid night trips to the toilet

In order not to interrupt your sleep, it is important to observe the drinking regimen. Drink at least 2 liters of clean water, but not before bed

A couple of hours before going to bed, it is better to refrain from drinking altogether. Also, do not have dinner with liquid first courses, eat juicy fruits and vegetables. Smoked, salty foods are best eaten in the morning, so as not to suffer from constant thirst in the late afternoon.

Moreover, you should not drink liquid at night. For those who are disturbed by night rises very often and are accompanied by urine leakage, the solution may be adult diapers. They keep you comfortable and dry during sleep.

Such a harmless fact as a nightly visit to the toilet can serve as a reason for a visit to the doctor. If your getting up is systematic, preventing you from living actively and working normally, it's time to take care of your health without waiting for more serious problems.

How to determine the causes and degree of blockage

Sewerage may not work for two main reasons:

• the drain system is incorrectly made;
• misuse, misuse.

If the drain pipe is not installed according to technology, for example, with a violation of the angle of inclination, then over time deposits will accumulate in the pipe and blockage will occur.

The lack of sufficient fan ventilation also leads to clogging of the sewer. This is due to a decrease in the rate of water draining if no air enters the riser pipe.

Violation of the conditions for the use of sewerage drains often occurs through the fault of residents.

After all, they do not hesitate to pour leftover food into it, fermented home-made preparations, like pickled tomatoes. And sometimes, after cleaning the apartment, along with the drained dirty water, a rag accidentally “runs away”. After such a “feeding”, the toilet refuses to work, blocking the passage of water into the pipes.

Clogging the toilet with cat litter and large pieces of toilet paper leads to the same consequences. Clay, which forms the basis of the clumping filler, settles in the pipe.

Insoluble materials, objects, toys that accidentally fall into the drain form a plug in the pipe. The same happens with sand, cement, and other building materials.

Without preventive filling with chemicals, your pipes will gradually overgrow with salt sediment and stop letting water through even without additional blockages.

When choosing toilet cleaners, first find out the degree of blockage and, if possible, its cause. Water may flow in a slow trickle or not pass at all. It's easy to find out: you need to pour about a liter of water into the toilet and see if it's gone in half an hour.You should not use a tank to check, because when you press the button, all the available liquid will flow into the toilet bowl (and it is at least three liters!). If the channel is clogged tightly, then the water will begin to overflow out onto the floor of the toilet.

Next, check how local the blockage is. Turn on the faucet in the bathroom and in the kitchen and see how the drain is. If the water leaves both points in the usual way, then the pipe at the outlet of the toilet is clogged. It drains the liquid into a common sewer pipe. If the flow is weak in all places, then the problem is in the common pipes, and more serious measures will have to be taken.

To prevent sewer pipes from becoming overgrown with salt sediment, it should be at least once prophylaxis at three months. For this, any chemical products that are designed for cleaning pipes are suitable. Pour the liquid according to the instructions at night when plumbing fixtures are not in use. And then no sediment will have time to settle on the walls of the pipes and turn into a stone, which is very difficult to deal with.