No one thinks of their bathroom as the hottest spot in town, but for the destructive Clog Monster, it’s five-star dining! 

With the everyday products we use for cleaning, hygiene, and relaxing just one wrong flush away, bathrooms are the clog monster’s culinary dream!  These favorite “foods” for our local monster can become a costly and dangerous mess for your home plumbing. That’s why the Responsible Flushing Alliance wants to help empower families to keep Clog Monsters at bay. Sending non-flushable products (i.e., things never intended for flushing) right into the Clog Monster’s lair can create blockages that cause in-home flooding, burst pipes, and overflowing municipal sewers. 

So, what are the Clog Monster’s favorites? Let’s take a look at the menu! 

Baby Wipes and Household Cleaning Wipes 

That’s right! Improperly disposed of baby wipes are the best snack to eat for the Clog Monster. But did you know that 850 billion gallons of baby wipes, diapers, plastic bags, and more are clogging up waterfront communities, hurting wildlife, and polluting drinking water. 

These strong wipes are made of long, durable fibers and are ready to clean up tough messes. They are not intended for flushing as they do not break down in water and even though they may pass through your toilet, if they make it to your municipal wastewater treatment facility, these strong wipes will wrap around the pumps and can cause damage. That’s why baby wipes and cleaning wipes carry the “Do Not Flush” symbol on their packaging. 

Fats, Oils and Grease (F.O.G.) 

It may not come as a surprise that fats, oils, and grease are the main ingredients for fatbergs. These are giant cement-like masses that form in pipes when cooking grease congeals and combine with products that get stuck in the grease and don’t readily disperse. These blockages cause sewers to overflow – contaminating the surrounding environment, damaging homes, and costing millions of dollars to fix. 

Food, Trash 

One man’s trash is another’s treasure! Or at least that’s what the Clog Monster would say. Leftover food or bathroom products can create big problems for homeowners if not properly disposed of, whether flushed down the toilet or dropped down the kitchen sink. You can always check for the “Do Not Flush” symbol on packaging if you’re ever unsure where that last scrap goes.  

Bon Appetit! While the clog monster dreams of his favorite three course meal, what are some of his other favorite treats to eat?

  • Baby Wipes or Household Cleaning Wipes
  • Paper Towels, Facial Tissue, Makeup Wipes
  • Fats, Oils, and Grease
  • Food, Trash, Plastic Bags
  • Rags, Cloth, Disposable Gloves
  • Cotton Balls, Cotton Swabs, Dental Floss
  • Feminine Products
  • Hair/Hair Weaves
  • Medications/Syringes 

 

Why should we #FlushSmart?  

It’s time to the end of the road for the Clog Monster by scratching his favorite dishes off the menu. The easiest way to make sure the Clog Monster loses his seat at the table is to properly dispose of bathroom products to protect your wallet, home, community, and health of our planet. 

The Clog Monster is always lurking in your pipes, waiting to gobble up any improperly disposed treats that come his way. Too much food, and the Clog Monster will come out to ruin your day. 

The good news is that these blockages are avoidable. 

It’s on us to spread the word and encourage our family and friends to practice proper flushing habits every day and protect our community from feeding the Clog Monster. 

How can you help? 

We’re all in this together! Talk with your friends and family about the importance of looking for the “Do Not Flush” symbol and make sure those products end up in the trash, not the toilet. 

The Responsible Flushing Alliance is leading the way with its #FlushSmart consumer education campaign. RFA is dedicated to keeping homes and communities healthy through proper flushing practices. This includes supporting clear and prominent labeling of all items that should not be flushed, including promotion of the “Do Not Flush” symbol on non-flushable wipes. 

For more information, go to http://www.flushsmart.org or @flushsmart on Twitter or Facebook.  

About Responsible Flushing Alliance 

The Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization dedicated to consumer education focused on what not to flush. RFA’s goal is to change consumer behavior to help reduce damage to our nation’s sewage systems caused by objects and materials not designed to be flushed. 

Responsible Flushing Alliance Contributing Members 

Albaad Inc., ANDRITZ Group – Nonwoven Division, DUDE Products, Dukal, LLC., Essity, First Quality, Glafelter, Johnson & Johnson, Kelheim Fibres, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Nehemiah Manufacturing, Nice-Pak, Papel Aralar S.A., Procter & Gamble, Rockline Industries, Sellars Nonwovens, and Suominen Corp. 

Responsible Flushing Alliance Advisory Members 

California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC), H20 Global News, Toilet Board Coalition, Baby and Adult Hygiene Products (BAHP).