One of the biggest causes of blocked drains is non-flushable items going down our toilets. We should only ever flush the 3 Ps – pee, poo and toilet paper. Anything else going down our drains will eventually cause blockages.
Are you still unsure of what can be flushed down the toilet? If you are then you don't need to worry. Below we'll explore 5 items that must go in the bin and not down the toilet.
The most common non-flushable found down our drains is wet wipes. Often labelled as ‘flushable’ on the packaging, there’s a lot of confusion around why wet wipes can’t go down the toilet.
Flushable wet wipes will flush with the rest of the waste and water in the toilet. What they won’t do is decompose in the drains the same way that toilet paper will.
Flushable doesn’t mean biodegradable, which is why wet wipes aren’t safe to go down our drains.
It may feel logical to put sanitary products down the toilet but they’re not suitable for flushing.
The materials used to make these products are designed to expand when wet, not breakdown. This means they don’t decompose in our drains and lead to blockages.
Although you may have never thought to put a nappy down the toilet, they’re very commonly found in drains.
Similarly to sanitary products, the materials used to make nappies are designed to expand and stay strong when wet, so they don’t breakdown in our drains. Nappies also commonly block waste pipes before they even reach our drains as they’re too big to be flushed.
Can you flush kitchen roll? Many people think of kitchen roll as a suitable alternative to toilet paper but it isn’t!
As kitchen roll is commonly used for wiping up spillages, it is made with extra-strong materials that are super absorbent, opposed to easily decomposable like toilet paper. This means it doesn’t breakdown in our drains and can cause blockages.
Similarly to kitchen roll, any other toilet paper alternative will need to be binned and not flushed.
Napkins, tissues and industrial blue roll are all thought of as suitable alternatives when toilet paper runs out but they are not constructed in the same way as toilet paper and therefore aren’t considered flushable.
All these materials are designed to be absorbent, meaning it takes them much longer to decompose in our drains and increasing the chance of blockages.
Unsure if you can flush it? If it’s not one of the 3 Ps, then it goes in the bin! Our toilet door poster is free to download and the perfect reminder of what is allowed to go down your toilet!
If you have a blocked toilet, but you can't identify the issue, then there may be a problem further on down the drainage system. Don't worry. You can contact your local Metro Rod engineer today to discuss your needs in more detail.
We are always happy to arrange a free site assessment and no obligation quotations for any work you might need. Alternatively, you can call our emergency hotline number on 0800 66 88 00
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The coronavirus outbreak sparked a spell of panic-buying across the UK earlier this month, and toilet roll was one of the items people struggled to get hold of. But if you run out of toilet roll, it is really important not to flush other items down the toilet.
In recent weeks, shops have seen a significant reduction in the number of some items on the shelves.
Among pasta, eggs and cleaning products, toilet roll has surprisingly become one of the items most in demand during this outbreak.
As the UK is being told to stay at home due to COVID-19, many have stockpiled goods like toilet paper in fear of not being able to get hold of any in the future.
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But the Government has advised people to stop panic-buying, as there are plenty of supplies for everyone during the coronavirus outbreak.
Some supermarkets have now introduced limits on how much toilet roll people can buy, in order to make it fair for everyone.
There is enough toilet roll to go round for the foreseeable future, as there is no issue with supply in this area.
But if for some reason in the coming weeks you find yourself running low on toilet paper, it’s really important not to flush other items down the toilet.
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Toilet roll shortage: Flushing items like kitchen roll can block sewers
You absolutely should NOT flush kitchen roll down the toilet.
Items which are not suitable for flushing can cause major problems for the UK sewage system.
Kitchen roll will not break down in pipes the same way toilet paper does.
Instead, it can combine with fats and grease to cause ‘fatbergs’ - major blockages which are incredibly difficult to get rid of.
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These blockages can cause businesses and homes to be flooded with raw sewage.
Other items, such as sanitary products, wet wipes and nappies, should also never be flushed down the toilet for the same reason.
These items should always be disposed of in the bin.
Earlier this month Thames Water urged people not to flush items such as kitchen roll down the toilet, as many sewerage workers will potentially be off work in the coming weeks.
Toilet roll shortage: There is plenty of toilet roll to go round during the coronavirus outbreak
Matt Rimmer, Thames Water’s head of waste networks, said: “We’re carefully planning how we can continue to provide an essential public service and while we encourage everyone to practice good hygiene to protect against COVID-19, wet wipes and kitchen roll can be hugely damaging to our sewers and our customers can really help us by not flushing them down the toilet.
“This will reduce the number of blockages and the risk of flooding to homes, businesses and the environment during what is likely to be a difficult time for many people.
“Fatbergs grow slowly so it’s hard to say if coronavirus has had an impact on our sewers at this stage but, as always, we’d urge everyone to only flush the 3Ps – pee, poo and paper – to help avoid problems in the future.”
Thames Water spends on average £18 million every year on clearing blockages from its sewers.
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