What Can You Flush Down The Loo?

The toilet paper crisis has led to Sydney’s drains being flooded with a high volume of wet wipes, paper towels and tissues. The limited supply of toilet paper has urged people to panic buy and begin flushing items down the drain that don’t belong there.

We all need toilet paper, every day and with the limited supply due to COVID-19 it is good to know what you can and can’t put down the drains. 

Kelvin, our lead plumber, mentions that Sydney homeowners use the toilet as a rubbish bin, kids toys, printing paper, you name it we have seen it!

While it can be tempting to put the odd items down the toilet, it is not recommended as it can cause damage to the septic tanks, cause environmental pollution and you will be required to call a plumber to unblock your drains with the build up.

What can’t you flush down the toilet ?

Tissues: They are not designed to break down, they are built to wipe noses and be placed in the bin. If this is your last option please make sure the tissue paper goes in the bin and not the toilet.

Wet Wipes: Yes even the wipes that say ‘flushable’ are not recommended to be placed down the toilet. All wet wipes block the plumbing system and after due course it will block the system and you will require a licensed plumber to clear the drain.

Cotton pads & tips: Cotton pads and tips group together and mesh to clog the drains very easily. They are not designed to be placed down the sink or the toilet.

So what can you flush down the toilet?

Toilet paper, pee and poo.  Homeowners of Sydney are urged to follow the rules and make sure nothing other than the 3P’s are flushed down the toilet. The toilet paper crisis has caused homeowners and the plumbing systems over 1.4 million dollars worth of damage over a full year.

Quintessential Plumbing Tips

1. Ensure you have a bin your the bathroom, so that no one is tempted to flush anything other than toilet paper

2. Cotton buds, wipes, nappies, paper towels or even wipes that claim to be flushable can create blockages so don’t flush them.

3. If you are not sure if the item is flushable or not, don’t flush it !

Sydney’s Blocked Drain Specialist

If you have questions regarding blocked drains or would like to seek an estimate for your home, speak to a qualified plumbing expert, book online today.