Having to call a plumber to take a look at your toilet or drain because they have been clogged can be embarrassing and quite a hassle. Even though it may seem like common sense what can and can’t be flushed and put down the drain, this is a topic that is often overlooked or taken for granted. With that said, this guide will first discuss what you can and can’t flush down the toilet, followed by what you can and can’t put down the drain.

This is quite simple, actually. The only three things that really should ever be flushed down the toilet is urine, fecal matter, and toilet paper. It definitely isn’t rocket science, but yet people flush plenty of other things that they think they can get away with all the time! Items like Kleenex, paper towels, and tissue paper, for example, should not ever be flushed. They may seem like they’re in the same family as toilet paper, but they take a lot longer to break down in the sewer system, thus, causing sewage blockages.

Some other things that you may be tempted to flush or put down the drain but shouldn’t include:
 

1. Un used drugs or pharmaceuticals
2. Big chunks of waste
3. Tampons and sanitary napkins
4. Disposable diapers
5. Fats, oils and greases
6. Anything radioactive
7. Fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, or herbicides
8. Condoms
9. Flushable wipes
10. Flammable or explosive liquids, solids or gases
11. Automotive chemicals
12. Paper towels

Flushing things down the drain at home can lead to costly repairs. Things like dental floss and flushable wipes that are mistakenly thought to be safe for flushing, can lead to failure in the sewage pump. Replacing the sewage pump can cost around $500 on average. Unclogging pipes within the house can cost up to $200.

The real money drainer would be if the main sewer line were to get blocked, causing sewage to come back up into the house. The cost to fix this issue can be anywhere from $1,000 up to $7,000. Not only is the cost high, but can result in a noxious smell like rotten eggs coming from the drain openings.

Pouring household chemicals down the drain can also lead to corrosion of your pipes. Over a period of time, such chemicals could lead to weakening the main sewage line, which we already showed to be a very nasty, and costly, repair.