Can You Flush Hair Down The Toilet?

Last Updated on August 5, 2023 By Emma W. Thomas

Flushing hair down the toilet is not recommended. Hair can clog pipes and sewer systems, leading to costly plumbing issues. Dispose of hair in the trash to avoid potential blockages and plumbing problems.

Why You Should Never Flush Hair Down The Toilet

There are several reasons why you have to avoid the temptation of flushing hair down your toilet among them;

It Will Block Your Drain Pipes.

Hair or fur tends to snag on anything along the path. While the hair will not stick on new pipes, it holds onto old ones with wear and tear. If you have had your tubes repaired, they will have rough parts that will hold any hair which tries to make its way through them.

It Catches Debris Leading To More Clogging.

Long broken hair will tangle together and tend to ball up. When this happens, it will create a web that catches any substance which tries to pass through. With time, this netting causes a clog by holding more and more debris. 

Hair Is Not Easily Biodegradable.

The hair breaks down slowly, unlike other biological substances. If hair clogs the drainage, it will take time to break down and stay in the pipes for a long and worsen over time. This problem can eventually require you to spend money to unblock the plumbing system.

It Leads To Issues With The Septic System.

A clogged drain pipe could lead to serious problems with the septic system. The materials blocking the drainage may be difficult to access and repair, and they will spoil the septic system over time. Repairing a faulty septic system can be quite costly, and it is better to avoid it altogether. For this reason, only human waste and other safe materials such as toilet papers should find their way into your toilet. 

How To Deal With Excess Hair

While small amounts of hair may not clog your toilet, it is necessary to avoid flushing it altogether. Other safer options for handling unwanted hair include;

Composting It

It may sound unrealistic, but hair can be composted to provide nitrogen for your plants. You can mix small amounts of hair with other substances in your compost. Instead of throwing hair and fur from your pets inside the toilet, try using it for more gainful purposes. 

Throwing The Hair Away

Suppose you are not comfortable composting your pet’s fur and hair, disposing of it in the trash bin can be a good option. While it may not be an eco-friendly practice due to the hair’s slow breakdown, it could be the only option. 

How To Unclog A Toilet

While we should do all we can to prevent blocking the toilet, such as not flushing down the hair, the toilet may still get clogged. If this happens, there are still some ways to solve the problem that include:

Using Dish Soap 

Dishwashing soap is slippery and can help to lubricate the blocked pipe and push the stuck debris easily. You can pour about a half cup of this solution into the toilet and leave it for a few minutes. If you do not have some dishwashing soap, cut a bar soap into small chunks and put them inside the toilet. 

Hot Water

Sometimes the clogging could be a result of grease sticking on the inside of the drain pipes. You can try to pour a bucket of hot water inside the toilet to help push the materials down. Avoid boiling water as this could crack a porcelain toilet. The force from hot water can help to dislodge any materials that are causing the blockage. 

Vinegar And Baking Soda Mixture

You can also unblock your toilet using a natural solution of baking soda and vinegar mixture. Pour 2 cups of vinegar and 1 cup of baking soda inside the toilet. Allow the mixture to fizz for about 30 minutes. If the clog does not filter away, try adding hot water to it. The hot water will, together with the mixture, help the clog to dissipate. 

Create Water Pressure Using A Plastic Bottle

Using this method of unclogging your toilet needs a lot of caution since it could be messy. Make sure that you drain the toilet bowl as much as possible. You can remove the water from the bowl using a small container and pour it into a bucket. You can also use a sponge to drain the water, although this method may be slow. Wait for the sponge to soak, then squeeze the water into a bucket.

You could use a squirt gun to suck out the water and pour it into a container. You will then use warm water to fill a large plastic bottle. 

Cover the top of the bottle with your thumb. Try fitting the top end of the bottle at the toilet’s bottom outlet. Use rubber gloves to observe hygiene. Remove the thumb carefully and press the bottle for the water to shoot inside the pipe. This additional pressure will help to dislodge whatever debris that is causing the clog. 

A Cling Film

This method of unclogging the toilet will succeed or fail depending on your toilet’s water pressure. If the pressure is high, the method will work well, but it might fail if it is low. Start by drying your toilet’s surface with an old towel. The next step is to place three layers of cling film on the toilet bowl to cover it completely. Press the film firmly to seal the porcelain fully and flush the toilet. 

When you flush your toilet, the cling film will balloon upwards due to the water pressure. You will then push the raised film down slowly to quash the suction. This method will help to push blockage material into the main drain. 

Using A Coat Hanger

You can also unclog your toilet using a wire coat hanger. Make sure that you unwire the coat hanger to make it straight and easy to use. You will need to bend one of the ends to form a U-shape, which you will push into the toilet. Push and pull the clogged material until it starts to break up and flow away into the main drainage.

While this method is easy, it can take time and only work partially. To make it more effective, you can accompany it with a washing-up liquid. You may also want to use the plastic bottle method to ensure that everything blocking the toilet is removed completely. If the clogging substance is removed partly, the toilet may re-clog once more.

How To Prevent Your Toilet From Blocking

Dealing with a clogged toilet is not only frustrating, but it can be disgusting as well. It is, therefore, easy to prevent the problem than to solve the same. The following ways will help to prevent your toilet from blocking:

Be Mindful Of What You Flush

One of the easiest ways to prevent clogs is to be mindful of what goes down your toilet drain. Ensure that items such as hair and dental floss do not find their way into the toilet bowl. Try using the right type and amount of tissue paper as a large piece could block the pipe. 

Double Flushing

You can consider flushing your toilet two times after every use. Start with getting rid of the waste before you throw in the tissue paper. Throw in the toilet paper, flush it a second time, and ensure the paper goes deep down the drain. You can also consider splitting the paper into two if you use a large piece and flush it between the two rounds.

Clear The Tanks 

Sometimes the items placed on the toilet tanks may fall into the bowl and cause a blockage. It is necessary not to place items such as brushes, soaps, and tissue paper on the tank to prevent them from accidentally clogging the toilet.

Trace Tree Roots

If your toilet clogs up regularly, it could be due to tree roots attacking the main sewer. Tree roots that grow underground will sometimes reach the drain pipes and clog them up. To solve this problem, contact a reputable plumber to help deal with the menace. Practice proper maintenance of your sewer system after that to prevent the problem from re-occurring.

Clean Regularly

Always make sure that you clean your toilet regularly. Doing this will help you detect any problems and solve them immediately. It will also help you to know if there are any potential leaks or if the water is dripping. If you notice any issue of concern, deal with it immediately other than wait for it to escalate to unmanageable levels.  

Conclusion

Flushing hair down the toilet may seem harmless at first. But you will notice over time that it may lead to serious issues such as clogging the drainage pipes, which will be costly to solve. It is vital to avoid this practice altogether and keep your toilet safe.

References:

https://southendplumbingllc.com/is-it-ok-to-flush-hair-down-the-toilet/
https://experthometips.com/can-you-flush-hair-down-the-toilet