7 Things You Shouldn't Flush Down Your Toilet

While toddlers flushing cell phones and cameras down the toilet is a big concern for many parents, those aren't the only things you should worry about ending up in your toilet. To keep your service calls from a plumber to a minimum, make sure you avoid flushing these things down the toilet.

1. Medication

Many people think flushing expired OTC and prescription drugs is a safe way to dispose of medication but all it's doing is dumping chemicals into the water system. Water treatment plants can't remove these chemicals from the water and the EPA advises that you get rid of medication by sealing it in a bag and throwing it in your trash.

2. Cat Litter

Kitty litter is a major cause of clogged pipes and even the flushable kind can cause problems. Toxoplasmosis, a parasite that's found in cat waste, can also hurt marine life and should stay out of the water system.

3. Tissues and Paper Towels

While tissues may seem just like toilet paper, they will not disolve like toilet paper does. The same goes with paper towels: every time to flush a paper towel down the drain, you're taking a risk that you'll end up with a clogged pipe and need to call a Corona plumber to come out to your house.

4. Cigarette Butts

While cigarette butts won't necessarily clog your pipes, they do introduce dangerous chemicals into the water system. Since sewage is treated and then recycled, it's important to keep public water as free of chemicals as possible.

5. Dental Floss

Dental floss is not biodegradable and it can easily wrap itself around toilet paper, which can then cause a serious clog in your pipes.

6. Food

If you don't want raw sewage to overflow into your home or onto the street, avoid flushing any food down the toilet, particularly food that's high in fat, grease or oils.

7. Hair

Hair is one of the most effective drain clogging agents and attracts oil and grease, eventually causing a major blockage.

Tips for Keeping Your Toilet Clog-Free

Do you store extra toilet paper, matchbooks or other odds and ends above your toilet bowl? If so, think about moving them to avoid anything from accidently getting flushed down the toilet. Here are some more things to keep in mind from a professional plumber in Corona:

• Keep your toilet lid down! This is the best way to make sure unwanted items don't end up in the toilet.
• While flushable wipes are designed to be fllushed, they can still clog toilets and they're made from thicker material than toilet paper.
• In-tank toilet cleaners are made with a substance that may degrade the mechanisms in your toilet so consider using a natural product or just old-fashioned scrubbing.