What NOT to Flush Down Your Toilet


The toilet is only meant for bodily waste and toilet paper; not any other types of waste or towels should be flushed. Three gallons (about 12 liters) of water is used each time the toilet is flushed. So can you imagine how many gallons or liters of water are wasted if you flush tissue, paper towels, hair, etc. down your toilet? Apart from water wastage- toilet drain blockage can lead to clogged pump stations and sewage backup in neighborhoods and businesses.

Items that Should Not Be Flushed Down the Toilet

Bathroom Wipes. Bathroom wipes or moist towelettes have become a popular accessory in the bathroom. They cause clogs and sewer backups even if they were marked “flushable”. Cleaning wipes and baby wipes should also not be flushed down the toilet.

Paper Towels. Unlike toilet paper, paper towels are thicker and larger. They do not disintegrate quickly like toilet paper so they can clog your toilet requiring the service of an expert plumbing provider.

Cotton Swabs & Cotton Balls. These tiny items can get moist and soggy, but they do not break into pieces causing clogs when they accumulate together, blocking your pipes.

Condoms. Most condoms are made of latex so dispose of these properly instead of flushing them down the toilet. Wrap the condom and wrapper carefully and throw them in the bin.

Pads & Tampons. Although most people know not to flush feminine pads down the toilet, it’s a common misconception that it’s ok to flush tampons. Do not flush them! Because they expand when they get wet, they can quickly clog your sewage pipes. Wrap them instead in toilet paper or the packaging and throw them in the trash can.

Band-aids. Because they’re made from non-biodegradable plastic, throw band-aids in the trash bin to prevent clogging of your pipes and sewage system and to protect the environment.

Dental Floss. Like band-aids, dental floss is non-biodegradable. When dental floss groups together or wraps itself around other items in the pipeline, it can create havoc in your pipes. So remember, toss it in the trash.

Prescription Drugs or Medicines. Do not flush drugs or medicines. These drugs contain certain chemicals that can contaminate the water as well as the source of water.

Hair. Hair is a common thing to see in the bathroom. It clogs the shower, sink, and the toilet plumbing. Hair groups together and produces huge blockages in your plumbing, pipes, and sewer. Remove any hair that you can see in your drains before it washes into the pipes. Throw the hair into the trash bin when cleaning combs, hairbrushes and when combing wet hair.


The toilet is not a trash bin. So make sure that every member of your family understands this. Let them understand the damage that can happen if the above items are flushed down your toilet. Insisting on flushing anything down your toilet will soon result in blocked pipes, clogging a pump station and causing a sewage backup for your neighbors, other houses and businesses.

Call American Air to resolve any blockage problems in your sewer lines.