Hair-Raising Reasons to Think Before You Flush
We discussed in a previous blog a common item that you might think about flushing down the toilet: food. While it’s recommended to avoid doing this, there is another thing that you might innocently flush down the toilet without realizing the damage it could be causing. Curious about what that is? Well, for most of us, it’s attached to our scalp… hair. While it might not seem like it would be an issue, flushing hair down the toilet is a big no-no.
Why You Shouldn’t Flush Hair
While it might go down the drain easily, that doesn’t mean that flushing hair isn’t causing issues once it’s made its way down, if it does. Unfortunately, hair doesn’t break down in water over time, meaning it can cause problems down the road.
According to an article from Spruce, “hair can become a barrier deep inside the pipes, eventually leading to slow drainage and clogs.” Additionally, it can wrap around pipes and pick up soap scum and other things that are making their way down the drain.
So, while it’s easy to pick hair up off the floor, pull it from your hairbrush, or remove it from your hands and place it in the toilet, it’s best not to do so. Rather than putting it down the drain, you can dispose of it easily by placing it in the garbage or compost bin. That way, you don’t run the risk of causing costly damage to your pipes, leading to expensive repair costs you’d prefer to avoid.
If you do find that you are having issues with your toilet that could be caused by hair, consider the following:
Manually remove any hair that may fall into the toilet, using gloves, and dispose of it properly.
Use a drain snake designed for toilets to help remove the hair from the toilet once it’s been flushed.
Mix baking soda and vinegar to help dissolve the hair. This is a simple task of putting one cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl, followed by two cups of white vinegar.
Call Action Plumbing. In some cases, you might not be able to fix the issue yourself, and that’s why we are here! Contact our team, and we will be happy to remedy the problem and get your toilet flushing like new.
Other Items to Avoid Flushing
Now that we’ve covered the bases on why flushing food and hair is a bad idea, there are several other things that should never make their way down your drains as well.
Wipes: Even if they say they are flushable, these can cause issues not only to your drain but to the sewer system as well.
Paper towel: While it might seem like these should go down the toilet like toilet paper, that is not the case! Paper towels cause a significant number of clogs and shouldn’t be flushed.
Tissue and napkins: Like paper towels, flushing these might seem harmless, but they can cause significant damage!
Feminine hygiene products: Best practice is to dispose of these items in the garbage, as they can also cause clogs and issues for your plumbing.
The next time you find hair in your hands, on the floor, or in your hairbrush, think twice before flushing it down the toilet. Disposing of it properly can help prevent clogs and costly plumbing issues. And if you do find yourself dealing with a stubborn toilet problem, the team at Action Plumbing is here to help!