10 Things You Shouldn’t Flush Down The Toilet In Michigan

I was recently cleaning up our bathroom when I found some old medicine that was expired.

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I was going to toss them in the toilet and flush them down until my wife told me not to do that.

She explained why it's a bad idea and it got me wondering what other things should you not flush down the toilet.

Ten Things You Shouldn't Flush Down The Toilet In Michigan

Medicine

Flushing medicine down the toilet can contaminate our water and harm aquatic wildlife.

Gum

Gum is sticky and insoluble, which means it doesn't break down in water.

Dental Floss

Dental floss is made of materials like nylon or Teflon, which are not biodegradable and cannot break down over time. If you flush dental floss down the toilet, it will not dissolve or decompose like toilet paper.

Kitty Litter

Kitty litter can swell up and block sewer pipes, even in the pipes in your home. This can lead to costly plumbing repairs and backups

Wipes

Despite some manufacturers marketing their products as "flushable," baby wipes do not break down like toilet paper and can cause serious plumbing issues.

Cigarettes

Cigarettes are full of harmful chemicals that can contaminate water sources and harm fish, other animals, and the environment. Flushing them down the toilet can introduce these chemicals into the water system.

Condoms

Condoms can damage your plumbing, leading to costly repairs, and can also impact the environment if flushed, finding their way into lakes and oceans.

Fish

Goldfish can carry and transmit diseases, including parasites, bacteria, and viruses, which can be spread to waterways and harm native fish populations.

Cooking Grease

When grease is poured down a drain or toilet, it solidifies and hardens within the pipes. Over time, this buildup can cause blockages, leading to expensive plumbing repairs

Tampons

When flushed down the toilet, a tampon expands and could end up clogging your drains, leading to a backed-up toilet or even flooding.

Q-Tips

Q tips are made of cotton and do not break down the way toilet paper does, so they can clump together in your pipes and cause problems down the line.

Pubic Hair

Although pubic hair is shorter than head hair and less likely to clog the toilet, it can still collect in the pipes and drain holes over time, causing major blockages.