10 Things You Should Never Flush Down the Toilet

Toilets and sewer lines handle a heavy volume of waste each day, but homeowners must make sure they only flush the right materials. When people use toilets as extra trash bins, they risk costly damage to their plumbing and municipal sewer lines. Spotted Dog Excavating Sewer and Water Repair has repaired, excavated, and installed sewer lines for years. We often see the damage caused by flushing the wrong items. To help homeowners protect their plumbing and local infrastructure, we answered frequently asked questions from Colorado Springs homeowners about what should not go down their plumbing system.

Resource: zerowastecalifornia.org

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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What Are the Top 10 Things You Should Never Flush Down the Toilet?

The following items should never be flushed:

• Wet wipes
• Feminine care products
• Paper towels
• Dental floss
• Human hair
• Prescription drugs
• Fats, oils, and grease
• Cat litter
• Cotton swabs
• Condoms

These are the top ten items you must never send down your toilet. Most wipes are engineered to absorb fluid and stay strong. Q-tips are another product meant to absorb fluid and stay strong, and condoms are intended to expand when submerged. When these are flushed, they send items into your sewer line that cannot dissolve, creating a buildup until they bind with other household materials and form a block that stops the flow of water, eventually requiring excavation to repair or replace the sewer line.

Why Should You Avoid Flushing “Flushable” Wipes?

A wet wipe may pass through the toilet, but that does not mean it will protect your sewer line. Toilet paper begins to break apart and turn into a soft pulp within seconds of contact with water. Wet wipes use woven fibers that hold together. As these wipes move through the sewer line, small bumps and pipe joints can catch them. Once stuck, they trap fats, grease, oils, solid waste, and debris that wash down the drain. Over time, this buildup can create a dense blockage that cuts your home off from the city sewer system.

What Happens When You Flush the Wrong Items?

Flushing the wrong items can damage your plumbing system. After the materials enter your lateral sewer line, the blockage begins to expand and build upon itself until it is large enough to obstruct the passage of the pipe, causing the water to drain much more slowly than it should. When this is unable to drain properly, raw sewage backs up through the pipes and flows into bathtubs, showers, and floor drains. The resulting pressure can crack older pipes or cause them to split, leading to underground water leaks and damage to the home’s foundation and property, ultimately necessitating the services of Spotted Dog Excavating to dig up and replace your damaged sewer lines.

How Does Improper Flushing Affect Colorado Springs Water Treatment Plants?

Items such as wipes, dental floss, and feminine hygiene products can move through household plumbing and end up at lift stations and treatment plants. Once there, they can wrap around pump parts and clog screening equipment. That can force workers to shut down equipment and remove debris by hand. The result is more maintenance, more labor, and more wear on public infrastructure. Over time, those costs affect the community.

Does Improper Flushing Cause Environmental Problems in Colorado Springs?

Wipes, dental floss, feminine hygiene products, and grease flowing down the sewer can cause a backup in the municipal sewer line and cause it to overflow, damaging our environment. When severe blockages form in the city sewer lines due to a buildup of wipes and grease, excess sewage can back up into manholes, which then overflows directly into the environment. This causes raw sewage to flow through our Pikes Peak watershed, specifically Monument Creek and Fountain Creek, and reduces water quality and harms wildlife.

Resource: epa.gov

How to Dispose of Grease, Medications, and Hygiene Products?

These items should be thrown away or taken to an approved disposal site, depending on the material. Grease should be poured into a disposable container, allowed to cool and harden, and then placed in the trash. Hygiene products, paper towels, and wipes should be wrapped and thrown away in a waste bin. Unused or expired medications should be taken to a secure prescription drop box at a pharmacy or local law enforcement collection site.

What Are the Signs of a Clogged Sewer Line?

A sewer line problem often shows warning signs before a full backup occurs. Common signs include:

• Gurgling sounds from toilets or drains
• Slow drainage in more than one fixture
• Water rising in a shower or tub after flushing
• Sewage odors inside the home or in the yard

These symptoms may point to a blockage forming in the sewer line.

Where Can You Learn More About Proper Waste Disposal in Colorado Springs?

Colorado Springs homeowners can find useful guidance through local resources. Colorado Springs Utilities offers information on what is safe for the sewer system. El Paso County also provides disposal guidance through its Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Following local disposal guidelines helps protect your plumbing, reduces strain on public infrastructure, and supports a cleaner local environment.

Final Thoughts

Knowing what should never be flushed can help you avoid sewer backups, pipe damage, and unnecessary repair costs. Use a toilet only for human waste and toilet paper. Put everything else in the trash or take it to an approved disposal site. Do not ignore slow drains, gurgling sounds, or sewage odors. Contact Spotted Dog Excavating Sewer and Water Repair to inspect your sewer line and recommend the right repair solution.