7 Household Items That Should Never Be Flushed Down the Toilet

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Posted by Sydney Blocked Drains Plumbers on 7 Nov 2026

The Importance of Regular Pipe Relining for Homeowners

Toilets are a typical household fixture that we all regularly use. We tend to think of its convenience as a given, but it’s crucial to remember that it’s not a trash can. Certain things should not be flushed down the drain because they could cause blockage within the drainage system or damage for sewer drains.

Key Takeaways

Don’t flush certain items into the toilet because they could block the drain, or cause harm to pipes in the sewer.
Seven household items that you should never flush down the toilet are:
- Baby wipes
- Condoms
- Oil and cooking grease
- Feminine hygiene products (tampons and sanitary pads)
- Medications
- Dental floss
- Paper towels
Flushing any of these items will ultimately lead to blocked drains or damaged sewer pipes within your plumbing system. This can result in an unimaginable cost to you.
Sydney Blocked Drains Plumbers offers unblocking blocked drains drainage clearing CCTV drain inspection and pipe relining services.

These are the seven items in your home that you shouldn’t flush down the drain.

1. Baby wipes

Baby wipes might seem useful however they don’t dissolve like toilet paper and could clog your plumbing system. Throw them away in the trash instead.

2. Condoms

Flushing condoms down the toilet could cause blockages in both your home’s plumbing and wastewater treatment plants.

3. Food preparation grease and oil

Oil and grease should be removed from the container before throwing it away in the trash, because they’ll get hard and cause blockages in your drains and pipes.

4. Products for feminine hygiene

Tampons and sanitary pad are usually advertised by their name as "flushable, " but flushing them is not likely to cause issues later on when they are combined with other items and cause a blockage.

5. Medicines

Medications should never be flushed through the toilet, as they could contaminate water sources.

6. Dental floss

Dental floss is made to be durable, which means it won’t split in water, causing potential blockages in your pipes.

7. Paper towels

Unlike with toilet paper, papers have a stronger weave that means they are less likely to degrade quickly after being wet, meaning they can easily blockage.

The bottom line is that flushing any of these items can lead to blocked drains as well as damaged pipes within your home’s plumbing system which comes at an unforetold cost to you. Be aware of the things you flush 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.

FAQs

Can flushing feminine hygiene products can cause harm to my pipes?

Yes. Products for feminine hygiene do not dissolve in water and could cause blockages in your sewer pipes.

Are flushable wipes actually flushable?

Many "flushable" wipes don’t necessarily break down quickly and can lead to clogs in your pipes.

Do I have to flush baby wipes down the toilet?

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

Are paper towels okay to flush?

No. Paper towels are thicker than toilet paper, and they don’t break down as easily, leading to the possibility of clogging your plumbing system.

What about medications? Can I flush them in the toilet?

No. The toxins in medicines can affect our waterways. It’s important to dispose of them correctly by taking them to a designated drop-off location.

If you’re dealing with the problem of a blocked drain do not delay in calling our professional plumbing service at Sydney Blocked Drains Plumbers . We can help you unblock blocked drains and drain clearing CCTV drain inspection, and pipe relining services to make sure your home remains free from drain issues. Contact us today to set up an appointment.