TMI - Do you flush toilet paper?
By Michelle
@infatuatedbby (94921)
United States
April 18, 2016 9:15pm CST
For as long as I remember - at my parents' house we do not flush toilet paper down instead we have a little waste basket. The reason being is our house is older and the pipes are old. My parents want to prolong the pipes and what not. In the future, we will have to re-pipe the drains because my hair falls in the pipes too much and clogs the water circulation. I do use the hair net but it doesn't always work efficiently. We do resort to using Drano clog remover but overtime it is not good for the pipes.
However, at my boyfriend's house - we just flush the toilet paper. In every house hold (like my aunts, uncles, friends) it all depends on everyones customs. And of course, when at a public spot, toilet paper gets flushed down.
Odd discussion - but I'm curious what do you guys do? And while on this topic - I went to research and according to the website - top 10 things you should not flush in the toilet..
1. Floss
2. Grease, oil, fat
3. Band-aids
4. Medication
5. Disposable or flushable wipes
6. Tampons or pads
7. Paper towels
8. Condoms
9. Hair
10. Kitty Litter
Have you ever flushed anything out of the ordinary too? Besides the obvious. 
21 people like this
30 responses
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby that is good then glad th e plumbing is g ood here but they needd to really fix the shower doors
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@Hatley Ohh! I hope the fix the shower doors for you. 
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
No, not stinky. The basket has a lid and it's change often. Does not smell what so ever. 
Also for my household - my bathroom is just for myself and my parents share their own. Once in a while we have guests and when we do the waste basket is cleaned. However, we do not restrict our guests if they flush, they will. If they don't - they will use the waste basket.
Also for my household - my bathroom is just for myself and my parents share their own. Once in a while we have guests and when we do the waste basket is cleaned. However, we do not restrict our guests if they flush, they will. If they don't - they will use the waste basket.2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
19 Apr 16
When I was around 2 years old, I flushed an apple core down the toilet. A few years ago at work, I flushed my phone down the toilet.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Another apple story, hehe. Who would have thought though!
Lol, did you get you phone out?
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@ScribbledAdNauseum I call those toilets the super charged I guess those toilets can handle anything huh! Was your phone a small one so it just went down and didn't come back up?
The toilets at work.. if you put too much toilet paper it can flood up. I guess the pipes are weak compared to commercial places. And you are lucky it was a cheaper phone.
I guess those toilets can handle anything huh! Was your phone a small one so it just went down and didn't come back up?
The toilets at work.. if you put too much toilet paper it can flood up. I guess the pipes are weak compared to commercial places. And you are lucky it was a cheaper phone.@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby Nope, it was a toilet at work so one with those really high powered flushes. Did I mention it was automatic? So even if I wanted to get the phone back, I couldn't.
Luckily it was a cheap phone, and it did force me to upgrade haha!
1 person likes this
@marguicha (216305)
• Chile
19 Apr 16
I have always flushed the toilet paper. But lately, when I have visited my aunt who lived in a very old house in another part of the country, they had a waste basket. I did not ask but did as the others did.
I guess their customs come from the country where there was a small house to "go".
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I agree - Homes that have a waste basket, I will follow their traditions and others that don't , down the paper goes.
@norcal (4890)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
19 Apr 16
Once my kids flushed an apple down the toilet. The plumber came, and he took the toilet out, had it upside down on the sidewalk in front of the house, and still could not tell what was stuck in its throat. We had to buy a new toilet. I didn't find out what the problem was until my kids told me, years later.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
One to remember for the books Hehe. I have heard of kids flushing toys too!
Hehe. I have heard of kids flushing toys too!1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
19 Apr 16
At home, after taking a bath, we pick up fallen hair with toilet paper and throw them into a trash basket. It takes so many years for hair to decompose so if you allow them to be carried off into the septic tank on the floor drain, sooner or later, they will clog the drain pipes or if they reach the tank, it will possibly clog up the suction pump of the septic tank cleaners.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
We don't have the septic tank. But I use the hair net, but some gets through. The houses here are old, along with the drains and its common to have pipes repiped. Or it could be the previous owners years ago.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby That's a difficult situation indeed because you just took over from a previous occupant of the house :)
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85909)
• United States
20 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby Several pharmacies will take them as well.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
20 Apr 16
Now that makes sense, I can now understand why medication flushing is not recommended. I think many are not aware that you can get medication recycled if you hand them to the officers or during recycle drives so they can dispose the medication safely. I guess many do not want to deal with the hassle and just flush them.
1 person likes this
@LdeL0318 (6402)
• Philippines
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby oh yeah, even in public places here like the malls, they don't allow it.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@LdeL0318 Oh I did not know that. Here, it's allowed. They do have a separate trash bin for pads/tampons though.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I think it is more common in Asian cultures to use a trash bin.
1 person likes this
@davidalicea100 (3495)
• Merced, California
20 Apr 16
I reuse my toilet paper i like to save lol
1 person likes this
@davidalicea100 (3495)
• Merced, California
20 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby I forgot what i said again lol.
@LeaPea2417 (36578)
• Toccoa, Georgia
17 May 16
I have always flushed the toilet paper. I on occasion have flushed a paper towel and for a short time I flushed disposable wipes and that did clog the toilet , once my husband fixed it, I have learned never to flush a disposable wipe.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
20 Apr 16
Hehe yes - I understand if now thinking about it. I would think the same but since I grew up like that I am used to it. I will only follow the customs if the family or home I go to follows that, if not toilet paper goes down the drain too.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
20 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby I understand. I suppose if I were in your situation I'd do that, too, or move! Lol!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
21 Apr 16
@DianneN its common among my relatives to have a waste basket too! Only the ones that are Americanized don't
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
23 Apr 16
I can't remember if I flushed anything bad as a child either. That's good the pipes are good where you live!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
25 Apr 16
@CRK109 We have lower pressure to save water installed for our toilets
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
24 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby Yes it is. And there are also different kinds of flushing here, too. Some use a lot of water and some use less to conserve water. Once we know what we're using, we have to be careful not to clog things up because of lack of water. It can get very complicated, but once you get used to it, it's all pretty easy. Well, for me, anyway! lol
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
19 Apr 16
Yes we flush our toilet paper, if I couldn't I would immediately call a plumber and get it fixed. Not sure I have ever flushed something I shouldn't have.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
24 Apr 16
@fishtiger58 I see! Problem free is the way to go!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
23 Apr 16
We have never called a plumber in our life. Is it common for you to call a plumber though?
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
24 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby No we don't have any problems usually. We have never had a plumber here in our current home. We did have some problems with our septic system at our last house. But the town we lived in paid for it all, long story.
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
19 Apr 16
I use "reusable toilet paper" sometimes, which is just old towels, and I put them in a basket and wash them with laundry. When I use TP I flush it. Once I forgot and tried to flush a towel. Not a good idea!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
That is really great you use reusable toilet paper, it is great for the environment. I have researched that. I guess if I was living alone, I'd actually consider that for like #1
I guess if I was living alone, I'd actually consider that for like #1 @petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby I started using it last May and it has saved me a ton of money! I only use it for #1, too. (TMI.)
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@petatonicsca Hehe I can't imagine using it for other options but that's good to save money. Toilet paper can get very costly and I personally use a lot. 
It's a habit even to go #1.
I can't imagine using it for other options but that's good to save money. Toilet paper can get very costly and I personally use a lot. It's a habit even to go #1.
@shaggin (71678)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I flush floss, tampons, baby wipes, medicine and hair even though I know it goes to the sewer. I have flushed cat litter before but found that was a bad idea. Once in awhile I flush a paper towel but I usually through it in the garbage. I always flush toilet paper. I have been to two houses over the years who had bad plumming and had to put the toilet paper in a basket instead of flushing.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
23 Apr 16
Wow the house you're at right now has strong pipes hehe!
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Same here - we have a trash bin also as we do not want clog pipes.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby It's just a matter of training ourselves in doing that , to ensure that they won't have future problems .
@taramarie39 (667)
• Williamsburg, Virginia
19 Apr 16
We only flush toilet paper. Sometimes the kids flush a little to much toilet paper so it clogs up sometimes.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
23 Apr 16
I see. If it clogs is it a easy fix? Or after a while the paper will dissolve?
@JESSY3236 (19058)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Most of the time I do flush it unless I use it to clean my makeup brushes.
1 person likes this
@rina110383 (24495)
•
19 Apr 16
I don't flush anything aside from the obvious. We have the same rule at my parents' place. No flushing of toilet papers. There is a bin intended for them.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
20 Apr 16
I think it is common for Asian households I have noticed.1 person likes this
