Can I Flush Facial tissues Down the Toilet? – Consequences, Fixes, and Expert Advice

 
Facial Tissues vs. Toilet Paper: What's the Difference?
 

It is essential to understand the fundamental differences between facial tissues and toilet paper. Facial tissues are specifically designed to stay intact when encountering moisture, primarily to ensure durability and prevent tearing or disintegrating while wiping noses or faces. On the other hand, toilet paper is intentionally engineered to break apart quickly upon contact with water. This vital characteristic allows it to safely travel down plumbing systems without obstructing pipes or sewer lines. Due to their structure and intended function, flushing facial tissues down your toilet can create unwanted plumbing problems.

 
Why Facial Tissues Can Cause Plumbing Issues When Flushed
 

Facial tissues are often mistakenly assumed to be flushable because of their similarity in appearance to toilet paper. However, unlike toilet paper, these tissues do not dissolve rapidly when flushed. Their strong fibers and added lotion or moisturizers significantly increase resistance to breaking apart. As a result, facial tissues accumulate in the drainage pipes and sewer systems, creating blockages and serious plumbing issues. No matter if you're in a busy city home in St Louis or a suburban residence in Nashville, repeatedly flushing facial tissues greatly increases your risks for plumbing emergencies and costly repairs.

 
Common Problems Caused by Flushed Facial Tissues
 

Flushing facial tissues down the toilet can ultimately lead to several problematic situations:

• Pipe Blockages and Clogs: As facial tissues fail to dissolve quickly, they tend to accumulate in pipe bends, junctions, or narrower sections of drain lines, eventually forming partial or full blockages.
• Sewage Backup: Over time, tissue blockages cause water flow disruption in your plumbing systems, resulting in potential sewage backups. These backups can create unsanitary conditions within your household or business.
• Damage to Septic Systems: For septic tank users, introducing facial tissues can negatively impact septic tank performance and efficiency since they do not decompose adequately within those systems.
• Costly Plumbing Repairs: Clearing severe blockages or repairing damages caused by flushed facial tissues might require plumbing professionals, resulting in significant unplanned expenses.

 
Environmental Impact of Flushing Facial Tissues
 

Beyond plumbing issues, flushing facial tissues contributes toward detrimental environmental impacts. Non-dissolved tissues add stress to public sewer infrastructure, requiring energy-intensive processing at wastewater treatment facilities. Additionally, if blockages occur within sewer systems, they pose risks of environmental contamination and harm ecosystems by causing sewer overflow into surrounding streams, rivers, or water bodies.

 
Preventative Measures: Alternatives to Flushing Facial Tissues
 

To avoid the harmful consequences associated with flushing facial tissues, you should always discard these tissues into a proper waste bin. Placing waste bins conveniently next to toilets or sinks encourages the correct disposal behavior among family members or guests, significantly reducing inadvertent flushing and ensuring smoother plumbing functionality.

By recognizing the potential hazards linked to flushing facial tissues, you maintain your plumbing health, protect your local sewer systems, and contribute positively toward the environment.

 
Tools and Preparations Before Clearing Your Toilet Clog
 

Before tackling a toilet clog from facial tissues, it's crucial to gather the appropriate tools and materials. Here's what you should have readily available:

• Rubber protective gloves
• A standard toilet plunger (preferably with a flange)
• Plumbing auger, also known as a toilet snake, for tougher clogs
• A bucket to catch water overflow and safely discard waste
• Old towels or newspapers to protect your bathroom floor from spills or splashes
• Hot water and dish soap (optional)

Be sure you wear rubber gloves before beginning to protect yourself from germs and bacteria, as toilet water can harbor germs harmful to your skin or health.

 
Step-by-Step Guide for Unclogging Your Toilet from Facial Tissues
 

 
Immediately Stop Flushing
 

If water begins rising when you flush, don't flush again. Additional flushing can cause water to overflow, resulting in potential water damage, staining, and unsanitary conditions. At the sign of a clog, let the water settle naturally. Turn off your toilet's water supply valve at the back or bottom of your toilet to avoid accidental flushing until you have cleared the clog.

 
Using a Plunger to Clear Facial Tissue Blockages
 

Facial tissues can create stubborn clogs, due to their slow breakdown compared to standard toilet paper. Follow these steps to effectively use a plunger to clear the blockage:

• Place old towels or newspapers around the base of the toilet, as plunging may cause water to splash out.
• Insert your toilet plunger into the toilet, creating a tight seal around the drain opening at the bottom. Make sure the flange fits securely into the drain to form a tight suction.
• Using firm downward motions followed by pulling upward movements, plunge repeatedly, creating suction and force to break up the clog.
• After several plunging motions, carefully lift the plunger. If the water levels recede, your clog is likely cleared.
• Turn the water valve back on and perform a test flush to verify the blockage is cleared completely.

If, after repeated plunges, the toilet remains clogged, you may need to move to a plumbing auger.

 
Utilizing a Plumbing Auger (Toilet Snake)
 

A plumbing auger (toilet snake) is specifically designed to handle tougher blockages like facial tissues:

• Carefully insert the flexible end of your toilet auger into the toilet bowl, pushing gently at first.
• Once it meets resistance, slowly begin to turn the auger’s handle, allowing the auger’s coil to break apart the tissue blockage. Continue pushing carefully while turning the handle to clear the clog fully.
• After successfully breaking through the blockage, carefully retract the auger.
• Turn your water valve back on and flush your toilet again to check if normal water flow resumes.

If you're uncertain about safely using a plumbing snake or auger, professional plumbing services, available in cities like St. Louis and Nashville, can provide expert help.

 
Optional Method: Hot Water and Dish Soap
 

If you prefer trying another technique before using the auger or hiring a plumber, you might consider using hot water and dish soap method:

• Add a generous squirt of dish soap directly into the toilet bowl. The dish soap acts as a lubricant helping tissues disperse easier.
• Carefully pour hot—but never boiling—water into the bowl from waist height. Using very hot tap water temperature generally works well. (Important: Never use boiling water because it may crack the porcelain bowl.)
• Allow this soapy hot-water solution to sit for 20-30 minutes to loosen and break down the facial tissues.
• Try again carefully plunging after this soaking period. The softened material often becomes easier to clear.

 
When to Contact a Plumbing Professional for a Persistent Clog
 

If you’ve tried the techniques above without success, your clog may be deeper or stronger than normal. Persistent clogs caused by facial tissues and similar items frequently require professional plumbing services. A plumbing specialist in your local community can provide the right equipment, expertise, and long-term solutions, particularly in communities like St. Louis or Nashville. If you notice repeating issues with clogging or suspect a bigger issue within your plumbing system, utilizing a professional plumbing service is the safest and most reliable solution.