Can you Flush Hair Down the Toilet

 It may be tempting to take the fallen hairs out of our hair brush and simply flush them down the toilet but this is big mistake that can mess up your pipes and cause a costly visit from a plumber. Find out what happens when you flush hair down the toilet and what you should do with it instead.

Can you flush hair down the toilet?

Can you flush pubic hair down the toilet?

No. Do not run the risk of blockage or the awkward conversations you might have to have with members of your household or a plumber. Depending on the mass of hair you’re getting rid of, there’s chance of the flush backfiring. You should throw the hair in the waste basket instead.

What happens if you flush hair down the toilet? 

Just because it’s a part of our body doesn’t mean it can be safely flushed down the toilet. Hair clogs up showers, sinks and toilet plumbing. Like dental floss, it forms giant balls which trap odours and create massive blockages in pipes, plumbing and sewers.

This golden rule doesn’t only apply to human hair. For example, if you have pets you groom regularly, you should avoid flushing their fur or hair down the toilet. The last thing you want to do is ruin your drains and end up with costly plumber fees because you didn’t think before you flushed.

Does hair dissolve?

Human hair is biodegradable and decomposes, but it takes about two years. So, if you have a drain or pipes clogged with hair, you’ll need a faster fix than that. Tools, natural products, chemicals and some ideas dating back a generation or two are all options.

Can hair clog a sewer line? 

Hair can clog your toilet, sink or shower drain. During the shower, multiple strands of hair slip down the drain, and they are unable to make their way to the sewer pipes. Over time, continuous hair accumulation leads to a large clump formation mixed with soap scum and other debris, causing the water to move slowly.

Place drain covers over the opening in your shower to prevent stray hairs from going down the drain.

Silicone shower drain covers.

Lastly, if you have a septic system, you could end up with more issues than a clogged drain, as the components are much more difficult to access and repair. Septic system repairs can be very costly, so the only items that are safe to flush in this case are human waste and septic-safe toilet paper.

How should you dispose of hair?

t comes as a surprise to most people, but hair is compostable. In fact, it’s a good source of nitrogen for your soil. Simple mix it in with the other items in your compost pile in small amounts. The same goes for fur from your pets

If composting doesn’t work for you, you can always resort to the trash bin, like most people likely do. While it might not be the most environmentally-friendly option, it might be the only one that makes sense in your situation.

So what do you do if you already flushed hair down the toilet and its caused a clog?

Don’t panic. If the water level is rising quickly grab a plunger and start plunging aggesively until the clog is cleared. 

Time needed: 1 hour

How to unclog a drain with dish soap

  1. Fill a kettle with water

    Turn the kettle on and bring it to a boil.

  2. Pour dish soap in to the toilet

    Pour about a half cup of dish soap into the toilet. It doesn’t matter what kind. If you don’t have dish soap try shampoo or body wash.

  3. Leave the dish soap

    Let the dish soap do it’s thing for about 20 minutes.

  4. Pour hot water down the toilet

    Make sure the water is not boiling, just super hot and pour it down the toilet.

  5. Repeat if necessary

    At this point the water in the toilet may have gone down. If so try flushing again. If the toilet is still clogged repeat the previous steps by adding more soap and more hot water.

No plunger? Fetch the dish soap from your kitchen (shampoo will also work in a pinch) Pour about a cup into the toilet. Leave it for about 20 minutes then pour hot water (not boiling) down into the toilet. 

Adrienne Carrie Hubbard

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