Knowing what you can and cannot flush down the toilet has been debated for years, with many people coming to various conclusions. Since the average person loses up to about 100 hairs in a single day, you may be wondering if you can toss those locks down the toilet or not.
Flushing hair down the toilet should be avoided at all costs since it can harm your plumbing system. The hair tends to snag on other items, including previously flushed hair, feminine products, or too much toilet paper, which can cause a clog. Try to dispose of hair in the trash if possible.
To discover whether you should flush hair down the toilet, you may need to refer to your manufacturer’s handbook. Let’s look at this issue and what alternatives you should consider before flushing your hair down the toilet.
Should You Flush Hair Down the Toilet?
Most people know that letting hair go down the sink in the bathroom is a recipe for disaster in most cases. But did you know that you should also not flush hair down the toilet either?
Common sense tells most people that putting large amounts of anything in a toilet and then flushing it can cause an issue. However, when it comes to the few strands of hair that come off as you are brushing your hair are not often thought of.
Allowing any amount of hair to flush down the toilet can build up over time and cause your toilet to become clogged. This is because hair often clings to anything such as pipe residue and other particles that may be sitting in the drain.
After a while, this hair that has accumulated inside your pipes and attached itself to various other particles can build up and cause your toilet to become clogged. Fixing a clogged toilet can use up a lot of your time and energy.
The bottom line is that you should never flush any amount of hair down the toilet since it can cause problems down the road. You should also remember that while the hair may not pollute the water, there may be consequences for the hair being exposed to various sea creatures.
Where Should You Dispose of it?
Not flushing hair down the toilet often leads people to wonder exactly what they should do with the hair that falls out during brushing. While the toilet is not an option, there are several other things you can do to dispose of it.
Keep in mind that most toilet manufacturers recommend only putting in small amounts of toilet paper as you flush. They say this will, in turn, prevent residue from building up over time.
Toss it in the Trash
The most obvious solution to disposing of unwanted hair that many agree on is tossing it in your trash can. This prevents it from ending up in the toilet or even the sink, which can cause problems down the road.
Most people keep a trash can next to their toilet in their bathroom for such purposes as to throw things away. This can be used to toss in your unwanted hair and other items you no longer want.
Compost it
If you are more environmentally savvy, you may want to consider adding unwanted hair to your compost pile. This is a great choice because it does not get flushed where it will cause clogs, but it is also not adding to the landfill overcrowding issue.
While this solution is odd, it has some positive effects on the environment and your pocketbook. Since you are not flushing it down your toilet, you can add it safely to the other items in your compost pile.
Dissolve it with Bleach
As another alternative to flushing hair down the toilet, many experts agree that you can dissolve it by using bleach. The strong chemicals in bleach can be harsh and dissolve many things it comes in contact with. This is especially true for hair that has come from your brush or even off your head when brushing.
How to Fix a Hair-Clogged Toilet
When it comes to fixing a toilet with a hair-clogging problem, you may need to try a few different things to make it work. In most cases, a clogged toilet happens at the worst possible time and usually when you do not have anything to help you unclog it.
Tools
The most common way to unclog a toilet is to use a plunger. This is because the action of the suction and the plunging process causes the object that is clogging it to push its way down through the pipes.
Unless you have one around, a snake can be a somewhat more expensive method to fix a hair-clogged toilet. This is because you either have to purchase the snake or call a professional to help.
Home Remedies
There are also home remedies that work to unclog a toilet with hair down it that many people find effective. Using baking soda is one of those household items you usually have on hand.
Putting baking soda into the toilet bowl can sometimes be enough to help properly unclog the drain. However, many DIY experts agree that if you add a little dish soap and a tad of vinegar, you can create the chemical reaction you need to unclog the toilet.
You should keep in mind that whatever you decide to do to try and fix your toilet when it is clogged, you will want to follow instructions carefully. This is because if you make a mistake, it can cost you more in the long run.
What Else You Should Never Flush Down the Toilet
In addition to not flushing hair down the toilet, many other products should never be flushed down the toilet either. Some of these are pretty obvious to most people. However, it is essential to be reminded.
The best rule of thumb is that if the item is larger than your fist, you should not attempt to flush it down the toilet. While most openings in the bottom of the toilet can seem large enough to fit many things, you should be mindful that the pipes that the water is going into are not as large.
Here is a list and an explanation of items you should never flush down the toilet:
Wet Wipes
Wet wipes are never a good idea, even if they state that they are the flushable type since they can block the drain pipe. The flushable wipes are not supposed to clog your toilet. However, if flushed often, this can occur.
Band-aids
Band-aids are another item that should not be flushed down the toilet. Since they have sticky ends, even though they are immersed in water, it is best not to wash them since they can become stuck and clog your drain.
Feminine Products
Feminine products should never be flushed down the toilet, or you will find yourself with a clogged toilet rather quickly. This is because both pads and tampons are made with materials that allow moisture to become trapped. This causes the pad or tampon to expand, which can clog your toilet.
Medications
Medications are another item that should not be flushed down the toilet for reasons other than just taking the chance of them clogging the toilet. Medications flushed are then carried into the sewer system and out to the larger bodies of water, where they will come in contact with sea animals.
Dental Floss
No matter if the floss is made from Teflon or nylon, it is never a good idea to flush it down the toilet. This is because the material does not break down in the water and therefore can get caught up in other items. After a while, this build-up can create a worse problem for you and your toilet.
Cigarette Butts
You have likely seen in the movies when someone who should not be smoking is doing so in the bathroom; rather than get caught with the cigarette, they flush it down the toilet.
This can cause your toilet to get clogged after a while with the butts, but it can also introduce harmful chemicals into the water system that can harm animals down the road.
Cotton Balls
You have most likely flushed this household item down the toilet once or twice during your lifetime. This is often because one of the easiest ways to get rid of cotton balls after you have used them is to toss them in the toilet and flush. Unfortunately, over time, this can spell disaster for you and your toilet.
Final Thoughts on Flushing Hair Down the Toilet
At the end of the day, it is a bad idea for you to choose to flush hair or any other item down the toilet for many reasons. As stated previously, flushing hair down the toilet can cause it to build up over time, resulting in a clog you have to deal with.