7 Household Items That Should Never Be Flushed Down the Toilet

Posted by Local Sydney Blocked Drains on 4 Dec 2025

The toilet is a standard fixture in the home that we use daily. There’s a tendency to accept its convenience for granted, but it’s important to remember that it’s a toilet, not a garbage can. There are certain things that shouldn’t go down the drain as they can cause blockage in the drain or damage in sewer lines.

Key Takeaways

  • Be careful not to flush certain items into the toilet because they can cause blockages in the drain, or cause damage to sewer pipes.
  • Seven household items that you shouldn’t to flush down the toilet are:
    • Baby wipes
    • Condoms
    • Oil and cooking oil, as well as cooking grease
    • Feminine hygiene products (tampons and pads for sanitary use)
    • Medical Treatment
    • Dental floss
    • Paper towels
  • Doing this could result in blockages in drains or damaged pipes within your plumbing system, which will result in unimaginable expense to you.
  • Local Sydney Blocked Drains offers unblocking blocked drains, drain clearing CCTV drain inspection and pipe relining.

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

1. Baby wipes

Baby wipes are a convenient option however, they do not break down like toilet paper and could clog the plumbing in your home. Dispose of them in the trash instead.

2. Condoms

Dissolving condoms in the toilet can lead to blockages in both the plumbing in your home and wastewater treatment plants.

3. The cooking grease and oil

Grease and oil should be put in a container before throwing it away in the garbage, since they will harden and cause blockages in your drains and pipes.

4. Produits for female hygiene

Tampons and sanitary pads are often marketed in the form of "flushable, " but flushing them could cause trouble later on when they mix with other things to form a nasty clog.

5. Medications

Medicines should not be flushed down the toilet because they can contaminate our water sources.

6. Dental floss

Dental floss is made to be sturdy that means it will not be able to break in water, leading to the possibility of clogging your pipes.

7. Paper towels

As opposed to toilet paper the paper towels have a more dense weave that helps them to break down quickly when wet, which means they won’t quickly cause blockages.

If you flush any of the seven items could result in blocked drains or damaged sewer pipes within your plumbing system which comes at an unforetold expense to the homeowner. Be aware of the things you send down the toilet.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do feminine hygiene products that are flushed actually harm my pipes?

Yes. Products for feminine hygiene do not break down in water and could cause blockages in your pipes or sewer system.

Are flushable wipes truly flushable?

No, many "flushable" wipes don’t necessarily break down quickly and may cause clogs in your pipes.

Can I flush baby wipes down the toilet?

No. Baby wipes should never be flushed into the toilet because they don’t dissolve easily and could cause blockages.

Are paper towels safe to flush?

No. Paper towels are more dense than toilet paper and aren’t broken down as easily, leading to possible clogs in the plumbing system.

What about medications? Can I flush those down the toilet?

No. The toxins in medicines can affect our waterways, so it’s essential to dispose of them properly by taking the containers to an appropriate location for disposal.

If you’re dealing with blockage of your drain Do not delay in calling our professional plumbing assistance for assistance at Local Sydney Blocked Drains . We offer services to clear blocked drains, drain clearing, CCTV drain inspection as well as pipe relining services to ensure that your home is not impacted by plumbing issues. Call us now to make an appointment.

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