

So, what exactly is it, you ask? We’re talking about a full-sized bathroom located between two bedrooms that’s accessible by both – meaning the bathroom has at least two doors. For families with kids who want a larger, shared (yet private) space when busy schedules demand it, a Jack and Jill bathroom layout could be a great solution. If you’ve ever seen reruns of The Brady Bunch, you were probably envious of the great big Jack and Jill bathroom the six kids shared (sans toilet, which was something the network was uneasy about showing on camera – fun fact). Rather than focusing on cleaning stains with bleach, you may want to consider using vinegar instead.What's a “Jack and Jill” bathroom? LIVE brighter | Bleach is actually way too harsh of a chemical for your toilet and septic system. This may be the most surprising item as all, as you’re probably used to cleaning with bleach. While it's biodegradable and will break down eventually, it can cause clogs until that happens. This might surprise you because human waste is basically just broken-down food anyway, but flushing food that hasn't been digested can cause problems for your plumbing, too. Rather than flushing your deceased fish, consider a proper burial. Fish don’t break down in water, which leads to increased risk of creating a clog. When grease cools, it congeals which makes it thicker and leads to risk in clogging your pipes.Īlthough you’ve probably heard of people flushing their pet fish, this actually isn’t a good idea. Just like you shouldn’t put cooking grease down the drain, you should never flush grease. Since it’s insoluble, gum will never disintegrate causing major risk for potential issues to your system down the line. Being sticky, this leads to increased risk of clogging your pipes.

Additionally, hair never dissolves so it creates more risk for clogging your system.įlushing gum down the toilet is a big mistake, as it’s sticky and insoluble. Similar to dental floss, hair forms a sort of net when you flush it down the drain and gets caught in your pipes. Cat waste from the litter box should also not be flushed, because the litter dehydrates the waste and toilets are meant to flush water-soluble waste. All it does is add more things to the water that make it harder to purify. Even if the brand claims it’s flushable, don’t flush cat litter down the toilet. Some brands of cat litter claim to be flushable, however, most toilets don't use enough water to move the litter along properly in your pipes. In addition to causing clogs, cigarette butts are made of toxic chemicals, and that's exactly what flushing cigarettes down the drain adds to the water. If you have old pills that you need to get rid of, don't flush the pills - toilet water doesn't break them down properly, meaning the medication gets into the water and can cause toxic environmental effects. In the event that you need to use paper towels or tissues in place of toilet paper, dispose of them in a waste basket.

You might think paper towels and tissues aren't all that different from toilet paper, but they're simply not designed to break down the way toilet paper does. When floss is flushed, floss basically turns into a net, catching and holding onto other debris - it can even wrap around parts of your septic system and burn out the motor. In addition to clogging your pipes, flushing dental floss can actually cause environmental damage. Diapers don’t break down in water and can lead to costly damages to your system. Just like menstrual products, diapers are meant to absorb water. Why? These products are meant to absorb water, not break down in it, meaning they'll only expand when you flush them - and that's definitely not good for your plumbing.Ĭondoms are also not designed to break down in the water, so flushing them can cause clogs in toilets and septic tanks. This one might shock you, but menstrual products (tampons, pads, etc.) should also never be flushed down the toilet. Q-Tips, Cotton Pads or Other Cotton ProductsĬotton balls, cotton pads, and Q-Tips are definitely not safe to flush - they don't break down the way toilet paper does, and all they really do is clump together in your pipes and cause problems down the line. Even "flushable" wipes don't disintegrate the way toilet paper does, which can eventually cause plumbing issues.Ģ. These are frequently the cause of clogs and should always be thrown out in a wastebasket instead. Even if they say they are flushable, never flush baby wipes. To ensure that your pipes stay clog-free, here are the 16 items you should truly avoid flushing down the toilet. There are certain items you should never flush down the toilet to keep your system running smoothly.
