You can never have too many reminders of what you shouldn’t flush down your toilet if your home or business uses a septic tank. The only thing that should go into the septic tank is human waste. Anything else, especially non-biodegradable items, will clog the tank and cause sewage backup into your home or business. Express Septic Services lists the things that you should avoid flushing down the toilet.
Cat Litter
It doesn’t matter if the cat litter container says it is septic safe; it isn’t. Even natural cat litters can clump and cause clogs instead of biodegrading in the septic tank. Empty your cat litter into bags and throw them away in the trash. Don’t flush litter down the toilet.
Cigarette Butts
It’s tempting to toss your cigarette butt in the toilet once you finish smoking it, but cigarette butts will clog your septic system. Use ashtrays and empty the dirty ashtrays into the trash once the cigarettes and ashes are no longer smoldering.
Coffee Grounds
Some people flush coffee grounds down the toilet and this wreaks havoc in your septic system. Not only do the coffee grounds clog the system but they also don’t biodegrade. You shouldn’t rinse coffee grounds down the sink, either. Throw them in the trash.
Dental Floss
Don’t get in the habit of flossing your teeth while you are doing your business and then flushing the dental floss down the toilet. This is not a biodegradable item and it will get wrapped up in your septic system filters and pipes.
Disposable Diapers
Disposable diapers should be disposed of in the trash. Flushing diapers and/or baby wipes down the toilet will clog your septic system. As with cat litter, it doesn’t matter if the baby wipes say they are flushable; they aren’t.
Fat/Grease/Oil
Flushing fat, grease, or oil down the toilet or rinsing it down the drains will clog your drainpipes and septic system. It’s important to dispose of these items properly, especially if the grease or oil is considered hazardous waste.
Hazardous Waste
Speaking of hazardous waste, you shouldn’t flush chemicals, car fluids, paint, paint thinner, pesticides, or anything else it is considered a hazardous waste down your toilet. These need to be disposed of properly according to city regulations.
Plastics
Teach your children not to flush their plastic toys down the toilet. This can create a plumbing nightmare not only because your toilet will back up but it may take removing the pipes to get the toy out. Don’t flush anything plastic down the toilet.
Sanitary Napkins/Tampons
Finally, we know that some of these feminine products say that they are flushable but they aren’t. Dispose of sanitary napkins and tampons in the trash rather than flushing them down the toilet. You can wrap them with toilet paper to be discreet.
Express Septic Services in Greenville, SC, would be happy to inspect your septic tank if you suspect any of the items above have been flushed down the toilet. Contact us today.
