Have you ever been in a situation where you have run out of toilet paper and realized you don’t know what you can use as an alternative? With our busy lives, it is easy to forget to restock your supply in your Hamilton home. And with the many alternatives readily available at your local stores, knowing what is safe to flush down your toilet can be daunting.

Safe Alternatives

Knowing what is safe to use when you don’t have toilet paper readily available, or simply would like to try an alternative, can save a lot of unnecessary stress and potential damage to your plumbing. While we encourage you to read about how to unclog your toilet, let’s review some safe options to minimize the chance of having to use those skills yourself. 

Some safe alternatives include the following:

  • Some Tissues: Tissue paper is similar to toilet paper in consistency, and is frequently thinner. In most cases, tissue paper will dissolve easily and won’t cause extra blockage in your plumbing.
  • Bidet: The bidet is a jet of water that projects vertically, eliminating the need for paper to wipe. Since this requires no physical object to flush, it is a safe alternative to toilet paper.
  • Reusable Cloth: Having designated cloths for each member of your household in place of toilet paper removes the need for flushing. The cloths can be washed at the discretion of each individual to maintain hygiene. Reusable Cloth should never be flushed.

High-Risk Alternatives

While there are flush-safe and flush-free alternatives for toilet paper, many substitutes can be detrimental to the integrity of your plumbing. Knowing what you should not use in place of toilet paper can save you potential problems.

Here are some examples of things you should not flush:

  • Paper Towels: Paper towels are much thicker than toilet paper and will not dissolve when flushed. Using paper towels as an alternative can cause blockages in your plumbing.
  • Baby/ Wet Wipes: Like paper towels, baby wipes have a thicker consistency than toilet paper. The material of the wipes does not dissolve naturally. This can result in paper build-ups in your line, and risk potential backups.

Choosing to flush the wrong alternatives down the toilet can cause several issues for your plumbing. Being familiar with those risks can help you be prepared should they occur. 

Some of which include:

A safe measurement if something can be flushed down the toilet is the glass of water test. The glass of water test involves placing the toilet paper alternative in a glass of water, then stirring it with a spoon. If the material easily dissolves, then it is safe to flush down your toilet. If it does not easily dissolve, then you should not flush it. 

Contact Wentworth Plumbing Today.

If you need help with a clogged toilet or any other plumbing problems,  contact Wentworth Plumbing today.