One room that we often use without thinking much about is the bathroom. When duty calls, one must answer, and that usually means not contemplating the inner workings of a toilet bowl or the plumbing connected to it. Additionally, since toilets last several decades, some may not consider the wear and tear the system is constantly undertaking. Drains and plumbing lines can take on a lot, but there are ways that a perfect plan can get interrupted. In some cases, putting certain items down a toilet or even another drain throughout the house is a matter of general public safety. Even as tempting as it can be, here are some surprising items to avoid flushing down the toilet or putting down a sink drain:
Medications
People are often surprised to hear that dumping old or expired pills down the sink could be problematic. In such a circumstance, they may wonder why it is okay to go into our bodies and not into our plumbing. It’s fair to wonder about such a thing. The reason is that medications flushed down a drain often end up in other bodies of water, like streams or lakes. Fish and local wildlife use that water and can be affected by pharmaceutical chemicals. Instead, dispose of unused and expired medications at a local recycling center.
Sanitation and hygiene products
The absorbent material of tampons and pads is notorious for clogging drains. Other items that require drain snakes or professional drain cleaning are paper towels, napkins, cotton balls, diapers, baby wipes, cotton swabs, and cleansing wipes. Unfortunately, many people view these items as similar to toilet paper and think it won’t make a difference flushing it. On the contrary, sanitation and other hygiene products build up in the system and take a long time to break down, so they should be tossed in a trash receptacle.
Food grease and fats
While it may not be a total surprise that food grease backs up the drain, many people still pour hot cooking oil and fat into their sinks. The plumbing industry even came up with a name for these fatty liquids to circumvent them going down the drain. Unfortunately, fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) harden when they cool, creating nasty blockages in the plumbing system. To properly dispose of FOGs, let them cool, then compost or throw them away.
Other inorganic waste
While a child’s or pet’s toy in the toilet often ends up there by mistake, or during an otherwise innocent game, they can clog the toilet bowl. Toys, plastic parts, metals, and other materials that would not break down easily should steer clear of your drains. If these pieces make it further down the plumbing line, it creates stress and may disrupt the wastewater getting to its next destination.
Sustainable waste disposal is key
For any items that have a way to be recycled, it’s good to know where your local recycling center is and what types of things they accept. For example, some recycling centers take batteries, old medications, or electronics, whereas others are designed specifically for hazardous liquids or materials. For recycling locations by county, visit the Nevada Recycles website here. We suggest sending only small amounts of organic matter and throwing the rest out in the general trash.
Preserve your sewer system
Avoid flushing the wrong items and extend the life of your system. We’ve found the simplest way to know what to flush down a toilet is by sticking to these three things: number 1, number 2, and toilet paper. Simple as that!
Royalty Plumbing offers high-quality residential plumbing services in the areas of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Summerlin.