There are a number of items which should not be flushed down the toilet, and though some go without saying, others are less obvious. Here, we run through a collection of items which many people across the UK may mistakenly think can be safely flushed down the toilet.
Bathroom wipes
Wipes, unlike toilet paper, will not simply disintegrate when flushed down the toilet, making it unsuitable for putting down your loo.
Cotton balls and paper towels
Once again, though both similar materials to loo roll, cotton wool and paper towels cannot be flushed down the toilet under any circumstance as they will not break down and disintegrate.
Cigarette butts
Cigarettes butts cannot be broken down in your toilet’s system, making them an unsafe and incorrect object to attempt to flush.
Band-aids
Band aids will not only not flush, but they will not disintegrate, instead floating at the top of your toilet’s water.
Dental floss
Dental floss is another prime example of a small object which simply will not flush away, despite its size and substance; instead, it clogs up sewer pipes after some time has passed.
Cat litter
Cat litter grains cannot dissolve in water, hence why they are used to absorb your cat’s waste. Instead, they should be tipped into a plastic bag and thrown away.
Fats, oil and grease
Tipping cooking fats, oil and grease down your toilet and flushing them away is not just irresponsible, but it is in fact illegal. Should the substances build up in the sewers, they can create problematic pollution and blockages at sewerage pumping stations and waterways. As well as this, a lot of domestic flooding comes from the build-up of fat, oil and grease.
Condoms
These cannot be flushed, and will even block your drains, so instead dispose of them in the bin wrapped discretely in tissue.
Tampons, pads and nappies
These objects cannot break down, and will block systems, so need to be disposed off correctly in a bin instead.
Here at Wildon, we help our customers with their drainage and wastewater systems everyday to ensure they run smoothly and efficiently at all times. If you’re experiencing difficulties with your property’s drainage or wastewater system, contact us today. Our highly trained engineers are on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, thanks to our emergency call out service, meaning you never have to worry about a blocked drain getting in the way of your premises’ function. Get in touch with our friendly team today to find out more.
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