Prevent Clogs: What Not to Flush Down Your Toilet

07-24-2025

Prevent Clogs: What Not to Flush Down Your Toilet

Your toilet is designed for human waste and toilet paper only, yet many homeowners treat it like a trash can—leading to nasty clogs, sewer backups, and expensive plumbing repairs. At Judd's Plumbing, we’ve seen firsthand how flushing the wrong items can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. Here’s our definitive guide on what never to flush and how to prevent toilet clogs before they happen.

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The Only 2 Things You Should Flush

✅ Toilet paper (in reasonable amounts)
✅ Human waste

Everything else belongs in the trash!

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Top Items That Clog Toilets & Damage Plumbing

🚫 "Flushable" Wipes

• Myth: They claim to be "sewer-safe"
• Reality: They don’t break down like toilet paper
• Result: Major sewer line blockages

🚫 Feminine Hygiene Products

• Tampons, pads, and liners expand when wet
• Can hook onto pipe edges, creating stubborn clogs
• Require professional removal in most cases

🚫 Paper Towels & Tissues

• More durable than toilet paper → Doesn’t dissolve
• Binds with grease in pipes, forming fatbergs

🚫 Cotton Balls, Swabs, & Dental Floss

• Cotton expands and sticks to pipe walls
• Floss wraps around pipes, trapping debris

🚫 Hair

• Clumps together into dense masses
• Binds with soap scum, creating tough blockages

🚫 Medications

• Don’t dissolve fully → Contaminates water supply
• Flush only if label specifically instructs

🚫 Cat Litter (Even "Flushable" Kinds)

• Clay & silica litters harden like cement in pipes
• Clumping litters expand, blocking sewer lines

🚫 Cooking Grease & Food Waste

• Grease solidifies, coating pipes
• Food scraps decompose slowly, attracting pests

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What Happens When You Flush the Wrong Things?

🔴 Slow drains → Eventually complete blockages
🔴 Sewer backups into showers/tubs
🔴 Pipe corrosion from chemical reactions
🔴 Septic system failure (if applicable)
🔴 $300+ plumbing bills for emergency unclogging

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How to Prevent Toilet Clogs

✔ Use a trash can for all non-flushable items
✔ Place reminder signs in guest bathrooms
✔ Install drain screens to catch stray items
✔ Educate kids & guests on proper flushing

For stubborn clogs?

• Avoid chemical drain cleaners (they damage pipes)
• Use a plunger first
• Call Judd’s Plumbing for professional drain cleaning

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When to Call a Professional Plumber

🚽 Multiple fixtures backing up (sign of sewer clog)
🚽 Water rising when flushing
🚽 Gurgling sounds from drains
🚽 Frequent plunging needed

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Save Money—Flush Responsibly!

A $5 wastebasket is cheaper than a $500 sewer repair.

Need help with a clogged toilet?
📞 Call Judd’s Plumbing at 623-304-5833
🌐 Visit juddsplumbingaz.com

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Remember: Only toilet paper and waste belong in your toilet. When in doubt, throw it out!

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Judd’s Plumbing—Your Trusted Arizona Plumbers for Clog-Free Living!