The bathroom: a place we all use but something we don’t always talk about. We won’t get into too much detail, but it’s important to know a few things so our bathroom trips can be clean and easy. It may not seem like it, but what gets flushed down a toilet is very critical to keep plumbing functioning. (No one wants bathroom plumbing that doesn’t work…) This information is good to know beyond living in the residence halls, too. You’ll want to keep this in mind for future apartments, houses, or wherever you may be living.
What Should be Flushed?
If you’re using the bathroom and thinking to yourself, “Can I flush this?” the answer is probably no. Here is what can be flushed without damaging plumbing:
- Waste that comes from your body
- Toilet paper
What Shouldn’t be Flushed?
The short answer is anything that is not on the above list should not be put in a toilet. This includes:
- Menstrual products
- Food
- Medications
- Trash
- Hair
- Clothes
- Towels
- Wipes (even “flushable” wipes are not truly flushable)
- Tissues
- Paper towels
- Your homework
- Letters from your ex
If the wrong items are flushed down a toilet, it can cause clogging, backups, and it’s harmful to the environment. Take a second to think before you put something in the toilet to be flushed.
How do I Know if a Toilet isn’t Working Correctly?
Watch out for a few warning signs of a toilet not functioning properly. These include:
- The toilet flushes or drains water slowly
- After a flush, the toilet is filling with more and more water without draining
- The toilet is slow to fill water after being flushed
If you see a toilet that isn’t working quite right, please submit a maintenance request so our Facilities staff can attend to it as soon as possible. If a toilet is actively overflowing, immediately contact your House Fellow (or the House Fellow on duty) or report it to your hall desk.