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The toilet can sometimes seem like an alternative trash can, but this is far from the truth: Your commode is not designed to handle more than human waste. In fact, in many countries, not even toilet paper is permitted to be flushed because of its potential to clog septic systems. Some materials hurt the environment if they don’t harm your plumbing first. Regardless of whether you use a septic tank or a municipal system, here are five items you should never flush.

5 Items That Don’t Belong in Your Septic System

1. Dental Floss

Dental floss can seem inconsequential in small amounts, but if you get in the habit of flushing it, the strands can tangle up with other materials, causing clogs and trapping odors. Instead of flushing your floss, use a trash can.

2. Sanitary Napkins

Maxi pads and tampons (including applicators) do not degrade fast enough to be safely disposed of in toilets. Even if they’re labeled “biodegradable,” all that means is they’ll degrade faster in a landfill—but they will not break quickly enough in your home septic system.

3. Paper Towels

Some people assume anything made from paper can be safely flushed. This is a mistake, though. Toilet paper is designed to dissolve almost immediately in water, which is safer for a septic system than paper towels, which contain more fiber and therefore take more time to degrade.

4. Cat Litter

septic systemNo cat litter is septic-safe, even if it’s labeled as such. Conventional clay litter will clog your system over time, while clumping litter, which contains a chemical similar to cement, will block it even faster. In addition, cat feces should never be flushed down the toilet, as it can potentially contain the toxoplasmosis parasite, which can kill marine life or even contaminate the groundwater.

5. Hair

It’s a good habit to pull your hair out of the drain, but dispose of it in a trash can rather than the toilet. While human hair may seem like a harmless biological material, it has the same effect on septic systems as dental floss in that it can tangle up and cause serious clogs.

 

Proper septic tank care entails avoiding flushing the above materials, plus pumping every few years to remove excess sludge. If your home or business utilizes a private septic system and you’re due for maintenance, get in touch with Cox's Septic Service in Corbin, KY. They’re available for both septic tank and grease trap services and can be reached at (606) 528-4782 or online.

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