7 Household Items That Should Never Be Flushed Down the Toilet

Posted by Blocked Drains Plumbing Sydney on 29 Oct 2025

Toilets are a common home appliance that we utilize every day. We tend to think of the convenience of it for granted, but it’s crucial to remember that it’s not a garbage can. There are certain things that should not be flushed down the drain because they can cause obstruction in the drain or damage for sewer drains.

Key Takeaways

  • Do not flush certain things in the toilet, as they could cause blockages in the drain or the damage of sewer lines.
  • Seven household items that you should never flush down the toilet include:
    • Baby wipes
    • Condoms
    • Oil and cooking oil, as well as cooking grease
    • Female hygiene products (tampons and pads for sanitary use)
    • Medications
    • Dental floss
    • Paper towels
  • Doing this can result in blockages in drains or damaged pipelines within your home’s plumbing system, which will result in an unimaginable cost to you.
  • Blocked Drains Plumbing Sydney offers unblocking blocked drains Drain clearing CCTV drain inspection and pipe relining.

There are 7 household things you shouldn’t flush down the toilet.

1. Baby wipes

Baby wipes might seem useful but they don’t disintegrate like toilet paper and could clog pipes. You should dispose of them in the garbage instead.

2. Condoms

Toilet paper that contains condoms can result in blockages of both your home’s plumbing and wastewater treatment plants.

3. Food preparation grease and oil

Oil and grease should be put in a container and thrown away in the trash, because they’ll harden, causing obstructions in your drains or pipes.

4. Products for feminine hygiene

Tampons and sanitary pads are frequently marketed as "flushable, " but flushing them can cause troubles later on if they are combined with other items to cause a terrible obstruction.

5. Medications

The flushing of medications should not occur into the toilet as they can contaminate our water sources.

6. Dental floss

Dental floss is made to be strong that means it will not be able to break in water, causing potential blockages in your pipes.

7. Paper towels

Unlike with toilet paper, paper towels have a thicker weave that means they are less likely to degrade quickly after being wet, meaning they can easily cause blockages.

In the end, flushing any of these seven items could result in blocked drains as well as damaged pipelines within your plumbing system which comes at an unforetold expense to you. Be mindful of what you put down the drain.

Item Reason for not Flushing
Baby wipes Do not break down like toilet paper and can clog your plumbing system. Dispose of them in the trash instead.
Condoms Leads to blockages both at home’s plumbing and treatment plants.
Cooking grease and oil Will harden and cause blockages in your drains or pipes.
Feminine hygiene products Combining with other items creates a nasty clog despite being marketed as "flushable".
Medications Can contaminate our water sources.
Dental floss Designed to be strong, leading to potential blockages in pipes.
Paper towels Less likely to deteriorate quickly once wet, easily causing blockages unlike with toilet paper.

Common Questions and Answers

Are feminine hygiene products flushed in the bathroom causing damage? actually harm my pipes?

Yes. Female hygiene products don’t break down in water and may cause blockages to the sewer or your pipes.

Are flushable wipes really flushable?

No, many "flushable" wipes don’t actually break down easily and can lead to clogs in your pipes.

Can I use baby wipes to flush them down the toilet?

No. Baby wipes shouldn’t be flushed down the drain since they won’t dissolve well and can cause blockages.

Are paper towels suitable to flush?

No. Paper towels are thicker than toilet paper, and they will not break down as easily, leading to potential clogs in the plumbing system.

What happens to medications? Should I flush them down the toilet?

No. Medical treatments can cause a contamination of our waterways. It’s crucial to dispose of the drugs in a proper manner, by bringing your medications to the designated drop-off location.

If you’re faced with an unblocking drain Don’t hesitate to contact our professional plumbing assistance at Blocked Drains Plumbing Sydney . We offer services to clear blocked drains as well as drain clearing CCTV drain inspection as well as pipe relining services to ensure your home is not impacted by drain issues. Call us today for an appointment.

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