When trash cans are full, you might be tempted to flush various items down the toilet. However, the fixtures are only designed to discard of biodegradable waste, which means anything else could clog up your commercial or residential plumbing system. To prevent backups in your home or office, don’t use toilets as substitute trash cans for the following items.

4 Items That Cause Major Toilet Blockages

1. Grease & Oil

Cooking grease hardens as it cools, which means the oily residue poured down the toilet will stick to pipes and drain lines. When the liquid solidifies, it will narrow the passages. With nowhere to go, wastewater will flow back up through toilets when you flush. To keep the channels clear, pour hot grease and oil into disposable jars and put them in the trash. You can also pour the liquid into glass jars to reuse later.

2. Paper Towels

Just because you flush tissue paper down the toilet doesn’t mean it’s okay to toss paper towels in the fixtures, too. Paper towels are often thicker than toilet paper and will get stuck in pipes and sewer lines. They don’t break down like toilet paper either, which means you’ll have to call a plumber to snake blockages out of your commercial or residential plumbing system. To prevent these costly headaches, switch to reusable, cloth hand towels, or throw paper products in the trash. 

3. Medication

Although pills are small enough to pass through drain lines, the medication often dissolves inside the channels. The paste-like residue sticks to pipes and causes clogs. The chemicals in medication can also pass through the sewage system and end up in the environment. That’s why you should put all medication in sealed plastic bags before placing it in the trash can. You should also remove prescription labels with your personal information from bottles. 

4. Dental Floss

Nonbiodegradable, dental floss can stick together inside pipes and drain lines. It can also wrap around other debris in pipes, causing large blockages to form. In the septic system, the strings can wrap around valves and additional components and cause damage. Keep a trash can next to the sink to throw out dental floss. 

Whether you need drain cleaning to clear clogs, faucet repairs to stop annoying drips, or additional residential plumbing solutions, reach out to Zins Plumbing for help. Based in Cincinnati, OH, the licensed master plumber has over 40 years of experience, which makes him capable of solving both simple and complex problems. To schedule residential plumbing services in the Hamilton County area, call (513) 681-2501. Visit the plumbing contractor online for special offers.