What Not to Flush: The Top 10 Things You Shouldn't Put Down the Toilet

Only flush toilet paper and human waste. Everything else, including "flushable" wipes, paper towels, feminine products, cotton swabs, dental floss, grease, medications, cat litter, and household chemicals, belongs in the trash or at a proper disposal site. These items don't break down the way toilet paper does, and they're a common cause of clogs and sewer backups.

What are the top 10 things you shouldn't flush?

1. Kitchen grease and fats

One of the most common items people pour down the toilet is kitchen grease and fat. But just like any other type of trash, it doesn't belong down the drain.

Grease and fats harden as they cool and can easily block your plumbing. That can cause serious damage, not to mention a nasty mess. If you're ever in doubt about what to do with kitchen grease, let it cool, then scrape it into the trash.

2. Feminine hygiene products

Don't flush tampons. They're made of cotton and other materials that can easily get tangled in sewer lines and pumps, and they create a big mess for sanitation workers when they have to clean up a blockage. Toss them in the trash can instead.

3. Cotton swabs

Cotton swabs are near the top of our list of things you should never flush.

Why? For one, they can easily get stuck in your pipes. They can also cause problems for septic systems. Dispose of them in the trash.

4. Cigarette butts

Cigarette butts don't dissolve in water, and they'll clog up your drainage system. However convenient it may seem, don't be tempted by this "quick fix." Disposing of them in a proper container is easier in the long run.

5. Tissues, paper towels, wet wipes, and diapers

Tissues and paper towels might feel soft and look like regular toilet paper, but they don't break down in water the way toilet paper does, and they can cause major blockages in your plumbing. The same goes for wet wipes (even ones labeled "flushable") and diapers. All of them can get stuck in your pipes and cause a clog that requires costly repairs.

No matter how tempting it is to flush these items, throw them in the trash instead.

6. Medications and needles

Unless a medication's label or your pharmacist specifically tells you to flush it, don't. Take unused or expired medications to a drug take-back location instead; many pharmacies have drop-off options.

Needles, syringes, and other sharps should go in a sharps container, never the toilet. If you're unsure how to dispose of them, your pharmacy or local health department can tell you. It's better to be safe than sorry!

7. Pads and other absorbent products

Sanitary pads and other absorbent products should never be flushed. They're made to absorb liquid and swell, and they don't break down quickly enough to move through the plumbing system without causing problems. Flushing them can clog your pipes and cause a backup that damages your plumbing and the sewer or septic system. When in doubt, throw it out.

8. Hair and dental floss

You may be surprised to learn that flushing hair isn't a great idea. Even though it looks like it disappears, it can get stuck in the pipes and eventually cause blockages. The same goes for dental floss. It's best to throw both in the trash.

Hair is also behind some really nasty clogs. Over time, it can collect with soap scum, grease, and other debris into a clump that's very difficult to clear once it has built up. If you want to avoid clogged drains, keep hair out of them and clean your drain screens regularly.

9. Cat litter and pet waste

Cat litter, even the kind labeled "flushable," can clog your pipes. And pet waste can carry bacteria and parasites that you don't want in the water system. Bag it and put it in the trash.

10. Paint, pesticides, and household chemicals

Number 10 on our list is paint, pesticides, and other household chemicals. These products contain hazardous materials, and flushing them can harm rivers and lakes, as well as your septic or sewer system.

The best way to dispose of these items is to take them to a local household hazardous waste collection site, where they'll be handled safely.

What happens if you flush the wrong thing?

Sometimes nothing, at first. But these items tend to catch on each other and build up until a toilet or drain backs up. Just because something says it's flushable doesn't mean your pipes agree. If your toilet is already clogged, see our guide to clearing a clogged drain, or call our toilet repair or drain cleaning team.