Drains & Sewers
What Not to Flush (and Why 'Flushable' Isn't)
A short list that prevents a large share of avoidable drain and sewer blockages.
The short list
Toilet paper is designed to break apart in water within seconds. Almost nothing else is.
- Wipes of any kind, including those labelled flushable
- Paper towels, tissues, and cotton products
- Dental floss and hair — both catch on anything and form nets
- Feminine hygiene products
- Cat litter, even the clumping varieties sold as flushable
- Medication, which belongs at a pharmacy take-back program
- Grease and cooking fat, poured anywhere in the house
Why wipes cause so much trouble
A 'flushable' wipe clears the toilet, which is the only claim being made. It does not disperse the way toilet paper does. Downstream it snags on a joint, a root, or a rough patch of older pipe, and each subsequent wipe adds to it. The result is a mass that blocks a branch or main line — and clearing a main line is a much bigger job than clearing a toilet.
The kitchen side of the same problem
Grease is the drain equivalent of wipes. It goes down warm and liquid, cools inside the pipe, and hardens into a coating that catches coffee grounds, starches, and food particles. Let fats cool and put them in the trash instead, and scrape plates before rinsing.
General educational information. Plumbing codes and licensing requirements vary by state and locality.