With a wide opening and relatively powerful drainage, the toilet may seem like an easy way to dispose of anything you don’t want to put in the trash. However, just because something will go down the pipes doesn’t mean it should. Knowing what to avoid flushing will help you avoid unpleasant messes and expensive plumbing bills later on. Here are a few things you should never flush, whether you have a septic tank or a municipal sewer line.

5 Items You Should Never Flush

1. Flushable Wipes

The label might say “flushable,” but these wipes don’t dissolve in water the way toilet paper does. Even if they don’t cause problems in your pipes, they can result in major blockages that wreak havoc on city sewer systems, potentially causing millions of dollars in damage.

2. Condoms

Many people assume that flushing is a safe way to dispose of condoms, but they can easily get caught in your plumbing or bundle together with other debris to clog sewer lines.

3. Cotton Balls & Q-Tips

While you might think cotton will eventually dissolve in water, it never does. Instead, wet cotton clumps together inside your plumbing system, causing clogs, slow drains, and disgusting backups.

4. Cooking Grease

Once cooking grease cools down, it solidifies, coating the inside of your pipes and catching other debris. Instead of pouring it down the sink, keep a small container on hand to hold cooking grease. Then, throw it in the trash when it cools.

5. Prescription Medication

A few pills down the toilet might not seem like a big deal, but when millions of people do it, the impact on the environment can be drastic. Municipal water treatment plants are not equipped to remove medication from water, so harmful chemicals and hormones remain.

If you need more advice on taking care of your plumbing system, turn to a professional. For over 60 years, Bernie Buchner has been La Crosse, WI’s top plumbing contractor, handling everything from leaky pipes to new system installation. They pride themselves on treating every customer fairly, so you can always expect accurate estimates with no hidden fees. Visit their website for more on their residential plumbing services, like them on Twitter for more expert tips, or call (608) 784-9000 for free estimates and 24/7 emergency service.