Never Flush These Items Down the Toilet in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, or New York

According to a recent survey from Cinch Home Services, cleaning the bathroom is the most hated chore in the home.  Over 40% of respondents said they had no love for cleaning the bathroom.

READ MORE: Do you know how this iconic Maine whiskey got its name?

Because of this, it comes as no surprise that most people will do all they can to streamline the process of cleaning the bathroom.  In some cases, people have gone as far as tossing certain items in the toilet in order to avoid changing the bathroom trash as often.

It should come as no surprise that this is not a good idea.  Toilets, and the attached plumbing, were never intended to carry non-biodegradable items.

These items can get stuck in the piping, causing a backup in your toilet.  Unless you are able to plunge your way out of the problem, it is likely going to cost you a few hundred dollars for a plumber to fix it.  Not to mention that it may take you a day or two to get a plumber to your home.

A clogged toilet is a crappy problem that no one has time for.   See what we did there?

Reliance Home Comfort recently put out their list of items that you should never flush down the toilet.

1. Chewing Gum – Because gum is sticky, it can cause other items to stick together, creating plugs in piping
2. Cotton Swabs – Because cotton does not break down, it can easily get stuck in pipes
3. Bandaids – These bandages have a sticky side that can easily get stuck in your pipes or, even worse, stick to other items creating larger clogs
4. Feminine Hygiene Products – Tampons, liners, and applicators are never suitable for flushing
5. Baby Wipes – Unlike toilet paper, these do not break down in water
6. Paper Towels – Yes, they are like toilet paper, but they are also much tougher than TP. Because of this, they do not break down in water the way toilet paper does
7. Floss – Because they are like string, it is easy for them to get caught in pipes
8. Hair – At this point, most of us know that hair can clog drains. Instead, toss it in the wastebasket
9. Large Wads of Toilet Paper – Even though toilet paper is meant to be flushed, large wads of it can still cause backups
10. Food Products – This one comes from personal experience. The grease from sous/broths can create buildups inside pipes.  Additionally, solid items like spaghetti (don’t ask) can REALLY stop up your toilet.

Do you know of any other items that should be on this list?  Let us know by sending us a message inside our app.