At some point in time, we’ve all flushed something down the toilet that we know we shouldn’t have. Maybe it was a cotton ball that accidently fell into the open toilet bowl? Perhaps it was a bucket of soapy mop water? And while you might’ve thought twice about it before you pushed the lever, it’s probably not something that haunts you to this day.
The truth is, all different types of things can easily find their way into our home’s septic system… but just because you can flush something doesn’t mean you should. In fact, the odds and ends that you’re flushing today could be the root of major problems you’ll see tomorrow. And, as a result, you could be in for costly septic repairs or, at the very least, excessive septic pumping in Prior Lake, MN.
So what’s safe to way goodbye to as it circles the drain and what shouldn’t be flushed at all costs? Take a look at some of the common items people think are safe to flush, but in reality shouldn’t be:
- Old medications: Got some old pills laying around the medicine cabinet that you need to dispose of safely? Flushing them might seem like a smart solution, but the reality is that these pills are going to do a number on your septic environment. Most medications will kill off bacteria thriving in your tank, which can turn the tide in favor of waste, leading to backups and overflows from a tank that’s unable to handle the waste breakdown process.
- Bleaches and soaps: Cleaning your home thoroughly can leave you with a nasty bucket of water and cleaning solution. Think twice before you flush it though—antibacterial soaps and other abrasive cleaners will throw off the equilibrium in your tank and create volatility.
- Feminine hygiene products: Many women flush their hygiene products when there’s no garbage present in the bathroom. And while this might save some embarrassment, it’s wrecking havoc with a septic environment, since these products can’t be broken down! What’s more embarrassing: wrapping these products in toilet paper and walking them to the garbage or having a septic professional pump dozens and dozens of them out of a backed up septic tank?
- Baby wipes: Unlike toilet paper, baby wipes and other similar products aren’t able to be degraded in the septic environment very quickly, giving them time to build up to dangerous levels. Eventually, they’ll cause blockages and backups that are expensive, requiring septic pumping in Prior Lake, MN to resolve. Even wipes that claim to be flushable are likely not a good option to flush.
So, looking at the list of products above, what can be flushed? There are so many things that shouldn’t go down out toilets… what’s safe to make the journey? The answer is simple—it’s just three things: 1) human waste, 2) toilet paper, 3) water. That’s right! If you’re ever wondering if something is flushable or not, ask yourself if it’s one of those three things and you’ll have a quick answer to a question that could end up being very costly if overlooked!