Never flush
- Wipes, whatever the package claims
- Kitchen roll and facial tissue
- Swabs, cotton rounds
- Floss
- Hair from brushes
- Feminine hygiene products
- Condoms
- Cat litter
- Medications
- Grease or cooking oil
Why it matters
Toilet paper breaks apart quickly in water. Wipes and paper towels do not. They catch in pipe joints, roots and pump stations, building into large masses. Municipalities spend significant money removing them from sewers and treatment equipment.
Unused medications can be returned to many pharmacies for disposal. York Region also provides guidance on hazardous waste.
Kitchen drains
Grease, coffee grounds, eggshells and rice cause kitchen clogs. See our kitchen drain guide.
If it is too late
See toilet unclogging.
About flushable wipes
Products labelled flushable may pass through the toilet, but they do not break down quickly like toilet paper. In home drains, they catch on joints, roots and rough spots. Municipal wastewater systems also struggle with them. Put them in the garbage.
When to put the tools down
Some of this is homeowner work and some is not. Stop and phone us if you see any of these:
- Tank hisses and tops itself up between flushes
- Water at the base after a flush
- Bowl shifts under your weight
- Flush swirls weakly and leaves a ring
- Anything involving the gas line, the venting or cutting into a wall
Quick answers
Are tissues safe to flush?
Facial tissues are made to hold together when wet, so they behave more like paper towel than toilet paper.
What about cat litter labelled flushable?
It adds clay and solids to drains and sewers. Bag it and put it in the garbage.
Is a little grease okay with hot water?
No. It cools and solidifies further down the line no matter how hot the water is.