The Unflushables

Imagine a beautiful, sunny day…

It’s the weekend, and you have your home all to yourself, with plans for some rest and relaxation. You take a trip to the bathroom to clean out those ears, and as you flush down that Q-tip… it won’t stay down. Rather, it all comes back up. You flush again, but there’s no hope. It overflows onto the floor, your home, and even backs up into the streets. Now the neighbors all know — you’re a clogger!

Did you know many common household objects cause clogs? And most people regularly flush or pour them down the drain because they just don’t know. Let’s change that!

Unflushables can lead to sewer backups. Even the smallest objects add up. That backup doesn’t have many places to go, so it finds a new home. Where do you wonder? You guessed it. Sewage can back up into your home and neighborhood streets, which is not fun to clean up or good for the environment.

Don’t let a clog ruin your weekend of R&R — or your pipes!

So, what shouldn't be flushed or put down the drain?

So, what shouldn't be flushed or put down the drain? We're glad you asked. Just because you can flush things down the toilet or pour things down the drain doesn't mean they should go down the toilet or drain. Remember, only flush the 3 Ps. Everything else belongs in your trash can.

Grease

Grease solidifies, when it goes down the drain.
That means it's solidifying along pipe walls and helping trap whatever objects float by. This causes even more buildup inside pipes and increases the risk of clogs.

“Flushable Wipes”

Don’t fall for the wipe hype. “Flushable” wipes don’t dissolve in water. When they go down the drain, they cause blockage and destroy the pumps in the sewer system.

Cotton Swabs

Cotton swabs don't dissolve in water. When they go down the drain, they clump together and cause blockage.

Paper Towels

All paper is not created equal, and paper towels don't dissolve in water. When they go down the drain, it's bad news for your pipes. Toss them in the trash.

Dental Floss

Dental floss doesn't dissolve in water. When it goes down the drain, it forms a sort of net and catch and holds onto other objects, causing a blockage.

Disinfecting Wipes

Disinfecting wipes don't dissolve in water.

Wipes go in the trash, not down the drain, they grow and cause blockages.

Feminine products

Feminine products don't dissolve in water.

That means it'll help trap whatever objects float by. This causes even more buildup inside pipes and increases the risk of clogs.

Oil

Oil forms a sticky trap, even when it goes down the drain.

That means it'll help trap whatever objects float by. This causes even more buildup inside pipes and increases the risk of clogs.

Condoms

Condoms don't dissolve in water.

When they go down the drain, they get caught inside the pipes and cause blockage.

Tissues

Tissue paper and toilet paper may seem like close cousins, but tissues don't dissolve in water.

Avoid a blockage and keep the tissues out of the toilet.

Paint

Paint isn't environmentally-friendly and can contaminate our lakes and rivers. Paint also solidifies when it goes down the drain. After enough build-up, it'll clog your pipes.

Rags

Rags down the drain is a rags-to-riches story for your plumber. Put rags in the trash and not down the drain.

Masks

When you're done with the mask, it goes in the trash. Masks down the drain cause blockage.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions down the drain can contaminate our lakes and rivers. They can also hurt fish and other aquatic animals.

If everyone pitched in to ditch items properly and flush only the 3 Ps (pee, poop, and toilet paper, that is), there'd be far less damage to our wastewater collection system (our fancy word for the underground pipe system) and less maintenance costs coming out of customers' wallets. Thank you for taking the time to learn more!

Information Provided by your friends at

WEAT invites utilities to participate in the Clog Alert campaign. Download the toolkit for guidance on launching the campaign as well as access to the assets, such as social media ads, videos, and more.

Download the
Clog Alert Toolkit