Should you put tissues down the toilet?

Author: Ms. Birdie Moen  |  Last update: Monday, July 21, 2025

Paper is the only other waste you should flush down the toilet. The paper that you flush should only ever be 100% tissue paper, so no newspapers, magazines, tissues, or wipes. Toilet paper can be flushed, but if you're somebody who likes to use toilet wipes, they should never be flushed.

Can you put normal tissues down the toilet?

No, Kleenex, or any other brand of facial tissue will not dissolve in the water, and can choke up pipes. Toilet paper is the only paper product that can be safely flushed.

Is it OK to throw tissue in the toilet?

DO NOT Flush These Items Down the Toilet: Disinfecting, Baby, or Flushable Wipes. Paper Towels. Facial Tissue/Napkins.

Is it better to flush or throw away tissues?

Do not flush paper towels, wipes or facial tissues—they clog your pipes and our pumps! As toilet paper is now so hard to find, many District residents and employees are turning to alternatives. If you must use something other than toilet paper, please be sure to discard it in the trash.

Are Kleenex tissues flushable?

As our Kleenex® Brand tissues have not been designed or tested for flushability, please dispose of our products in the trash. Cottonelle® Flushable Wipes can be flushed, they are are designed to safely break down in home septic systems and will not affect the normal bacterial activity in a septic system.

What Not to Flush Down the Toilet

Is it OK to use Kleenex as toilet paper?

Despite their textural similarity to toilet paper, the fibers in these paper products do not break down the same way and can cause clogs in plumbing and septic systems. Instead, toss used tissues and paper towels in a garbage can with a lid lined with an appropriately-sized garbage bag or plastic grocery bag.

What happens if you accidentally flush a tissue down the toilet?

What to Do If You Flush Facial Tissue or Paper Towels. If you do it once, it shouldn't cause any problems. However, if you have a habit of flushing these items down the toilet, you should watch for signs of trouble. If your toilet stops flushing properly, you might have a clog from paper towels or facial tissue.

How do you dispose of tissues?

Paper towels and tissues cannot go into the curbside recycling. If you do not have compost, please put them in your trash.

What should not be flushed down the toilet?

Here's what you shouldn't flush:
  • Bags / wrappings and cardboard.
  • Band-aids and bandage wrappers.
  • Cleaning wipes.
  • Condoms.
  • Cotton balls, swabs and pads.
  • Dental floss and teeth whitening strips.
  • Disposable diapers, nursing pads, and baby wipes.
  • Facial wipes.

Is it better to use tissue or wipes?

Wet wiping offers a better clean than tissue which is really important, plus there will be no little bits left behind because of the nature of the product.

Can you flush condoms?

Flushing condoms down the toilet is a big no-no for various reasons. They're non-biodegradable, create clogs, damage your plumbing, and harm the environment. Instead, please take a moment to dispose of them responsibly in the trash. Your love life may be hot, but let's keep our plumbing cool, calm, and clog-free.

Does hair clog toilets?

So, can hair clog a toilet? Yes, it can. Also, flushing certain household products, instead of tossing them in the trash, can clog drain pipes, contaminate the water system, or even cause environmental damage.

Which brand of toilet paper breaks down the fastest?

Look no further, with Scott Rapid Dissolving TP it breaks up 4 times faster than the leading TP!

Is it OK to throw toilet tissues in the toilet?

Cotton buds, tissues and wet wipes aren't flushable. These items don't disintegrate like toilet paper. Don't even think about putting them anywhere near your loo. The same goes for paper towel and dental floss which also don't break down in water.

Can Kleenex go in the toilet?

You can't flush facial tissues because they are not designed to break down in the water like toilet paper. Toilet paper is specifically made to dissolve quickly and easily in water, which helps to prevent clogs in your plumbing.

Why shouldn't you flush tissues?

If you flush multiple tissues simultaneously, you could accidentally create a clog that can be difficult to remove. Not to mention, facial tissues are not as easily processed by water treatment plants and will cause septic system tanks to fill up faster.

What are the only 3 things you should flush down the toilet?

The only three things you can safely flush down the toilet into the sewer system are the three Ps —pee, poop and (toilet) paper. Nothing else. Remember: Wipes clog pipes. Even if it says "flushable" — it's not.

Can you throw floss in the toilet?

Dental Floss

In addition to clogging your pipes, flushing dental floss can actually cause environmental damage. When floss is flushed, floss basically turns into a net, catching and holding onto other debris — it can even wrap around parts of your septic system and burn out the motor.

Can you flush a joint?

Do not flush cannabis products or packaging down the sink or toilet.

Can you flush used tissues down the toilet?

Paper is the only other waste you should flush down the toilet. The paper that you flush should only ever be 100% tissue paper, so no newspapers, magazines, tissues, or wipes. Toilet paper can be flushed, but if you're somebody who likes to use toilet wipes, they should never be flushed.

Does Kleenex decompose?

Is Kleenex® tissue biodegradable? Kleenex® Tissue is made with biodegradable cellulose fibers. Because the tissue is made with an additive to make it strong, it will not break down as rapidly as bathroom tissue. Therefore, we suggest you discard Kleenex® Tissue in the trash.

Where should we throw toilet paper after use?

Toilet paper must be disposed of properly. Left on the surface, it can impact other visitors, attract wildlife and cause contamination. It should be thoroughly buried in a cat hole or packed as trash.

Will wet tissue clog toilet?

Unlike toilet paper, which is designed to easily break down when wet, tissues are designed to be strong and absorbent so they don't tear as soon as you blow your nose. That's why flushed tissues often get wadded up, bloated with water, and stuck blocking pipes when flushed down the toilet.

Can you throw paper towels in the toilet?

The disposal of paper towels through flushing is not recommended. Unlike toilet paper, specifically designed to disintegrate upon contact with water, paper towels are engineered to absorb liquid while maintaining structural integrity, making them more durable and less prone to effective disintegration when flushed.

Can you flush tissues in an emergency?

While using paper towels, “flushable wipes,” and facial tissue during a state of emergency sounds like a good idea, please remember that these products are still garbage and should be treated as such. These items have a high probability of clogging your drain line resulting in a call to a plumber that could be avoided.

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