Can I Flush Tissues with makeup Down the Toilet? – Consequences, Fixes, and Expert Advice

 
Understanding Why Tissues with Makeup Can Cause Problems in Your Toilet Drain
 

When you flush tissues with makeup down the toilet, you might unknowingly be setting the scene for a significant plumbing problem. Although facial tissues might seem similar to toilet paper, they are manufactured differently. Facial tissues designed for makeup removal or general skincare purposes are typically thicker, stronger, and sturdier due to added materials or chemicals that facilitate the absorption and gentle cleaning process. These tissues do not easily dissolve or break up in water, and their sturdiness — ideal when removing makeup and dirt off your skin — is precisely what makes them problematic in water drainage systems.

 
Reasons Tissues with Makeup Should Never Be Flushed
 

• Slow Degradation and Non-Flushable Composition: Unlike regular toilet paper designed specifically to rapidly dissolve through plumbing systems, facial tissues, especially those with makeup residue, are created to retain their strength even when moist or wet. This slow breakdown leads to accumulation inside pipes.
• Chemicals and Ingredients within Makeup: The added cosmetic products and residues present in makeup—foundations, creams, lotions, waterproof mascaras—contain oils, waxes, and greases. These substances clump together easily, exacerbating the blockage risk and further hindering fluid and solid waste movement through your plumbing system.
• Build-up and Pipe Blockages: Over time, flushing tissues containing makeup into your toilet can cause layers of buildup within the pipes. Eventually, these small accumulations grow into significant obstructions, causing restricted water flow, slow drainage, and persistent clog issues within your plumbing system.
• Risk of Damaging Your Septic System: For homes with septic tanks, this habit can be particularly damaging. Tissues combined with makeup products often float or partially dissolve, accumulating within septic tanks and hampering bacterial function vital to septic systems' proper operation. Consequently, repairs or septic maintenance may become more frequent.

 
Potential Effects on Municipal Wastewater Systems
 

Tissues with makeup not only affect your home plumbing system but may also impact municipal sewage systems. Especially in areas with older infrastructure—such as some neighborhoods in St Louis or Nashville—flushing unsuitable products can strain local treatment facilities, impacting plumbing service reliability. Accumulated non-degrading materials at wastewater treatment plants require extra resources and energy to remove, adding to municipal maintenance expenses and potentially causing unfortunate service interruptions for residents.

 
Long-Term Plumbing Issues that Can Occur
 

• Persistent Clogging: Frequent clogging occurs from flushing tissues down the toilet, necessitating recurring interventions and possible professional plumbing services.
• Pipe Damage: Continual buildups increase pressure within plumbing lines, potentially damaging pipes, loosening fittings, and leading to leaks. Damaged pipes might require extensive plumbing repairs resulting in substantial costs.
• Increased Maintenance Expenses: Regularly flushing tissues with makeup eliminates the cost-effective strategy of preventive maintenance, causing homeowners to incur higher expenses for professional plumbing services and repairs.
• Environmental Concerns: Regular flushing of unsuitable products has an environmental impact, potentially contributing to wastewater overflow, sewage backups, and contamination of local water sources.

Overall, ensuring you toss used facial tissues and makeup wipes into a wastebasket or trash bin rather than into the toilet can save your home plumbing system from significant damage, protecting both your wallet and the environment.

 
Gather Necessary Materials and Tools
 

Before you start unclogging your toilet that’s blocked with tissues containing makeup, prepare your workspace by gathering several items. You’ll need:

• A toilet plunger (flange-style recommended)
• A plumber’s snake or toilet auger (for stubborn clogs)
• Rubber gloves (for hygiene purposes)
• A bucket, towels, or old rags (to manage water spills)
• Warm water (not boiling)
• Mild liquid dish soap
• Baking soda and vinegar (optional, as an alternative method)

Having these supplies within reach ensures you handle the clog efficiently and prevents you from running around searching for tools amidst the process.

 
Protect Your Bathroom Area
 

Clog removal will typically involve splashes or spills. Protect the area around your toilet by laying towels or old rags down to absorb any leaking or overflowed water. It’s equally important to wear rubber gloves for your safety and sanitation purposes.

 
Initial Plunging Technique to Clear a Toilet Clogged with Makeup Tissues
 

Begin the unclogging procedure by trying the simplest approach first — plunging. Follow these precise steps to maximize the efficiency of your plunge:

• Insert the plunger into your toilet bowl slowly to avoid splashing and form a tight seal around the drain at the bottom.
• Ensure there’s enough water covering the head of your plunger; if not, add warm water slowly from a bucket until the plunger head is submerged. This additional water pressure helps unclog the drain.
• Push the plunger down gently initially to ensure suction, then pull up sharply to create pressure that will dislodge the clog. The pulling action is usually more effective than downward pressure alone.
• Attempt plunging repeatedly (10-15 times) to loosen the clog.
• Lift the plunger carefully from the bowl after the plunging action to check if the water drains away effectively. Sometimes, you may need to repeat this step several times before seeing noticeable improvement.

 
Using Warm Water and Liquid Dish Soap as Natural Drain Lubricants
 

If plunging alone doesn’t resolve your toilet clog, consider using warm water and a mild liquid soap to lubricate and help dissolve the clogging tissues embedded with makeup:

• In a bucket, mix warm (never boiling) water and two or three squirts of mild dishwashing soap. Stir gently to dissolve the soap.
• Pour this warm, soapy solution directly into the toilet bowl from waist height. The gravity and gentle pressure can often help shift and break down clogged tissues.
• Allow the soapy solution to sit undisturbed for approximately 20-30 minutes. The dish soap lubricates the blockage while the warm water helps dissolve the makeup residue and toilet paper tissues.
• After waiting, attempt plunging again to see if the clog has loosened and is ready to flow downward easily.

 
Alternate Method: Baking Soda and Vinegar
 

Another highly effective and natural method involves baking soda and vinegar, which react chemically and can break down organic matter such as makeup-soaked tissues:

• Pour one cup of baking soda directly into the toilet bowl.
• Slowly add two cups of white vinegar. Allow the baking soda and vinegar mixture to foam and fizz vigorously. This fizzy action will help loosen the clog.
• Let the mixture sit in the bowl undisturbed for approximately 20-30 minutes.
• Afterward, slowly pour warm water from your bucket into the toilet bowl to aid the natural flushing process.
• Attempt plunging once again after the baking soda and vinegar mixture has had time to work.

 
Using a Plumbing Snake or Auger for Stubborn Clogs
 

If plunger, warm water, and natural solutions aren't effective enough to break down the makeup-soaked tissues, resort to a toilet auger or plumbing snake:

• Carefully insert the auger into the toilet drain opening and twist it gently while pushing down. The snake's tip should break up or remove the blockage stuck deep in the drainpipes.
• Avoid aggressive or excessively strong motions to prevent damage to your porcelain toilet bowl interior.
• Pulled out tissue material should be carefully discarded into a trash can or garbage bag.

This process can get messy sometimes, so always have handy towels nearby to control any spills or drips.

 
Final Testing and Cleanup
 

Once you have successfully cleared the clog (either by plunging, warm water, dish soap, natural mixture or auger), test the water flow by flushing the toilet. Flush gently the first time, checking to confirm that the blockage is fully cleared.

Clean up your work area immediately afterward. Disinfect the plumbing tools you utilized (plunger, auger, snake) after unclogging your toilet to maintain proper hygiene.

 
Call a Professional If Issues Persist
 

While most clogged toilets caused by tissues embedded with makeup can be resolved with these DIY techniques, some blockages or plumbing problems may require specialized equipment, expertise, and experience. If you've tried all these methods without success, consider reaching out to a professional plumber. Contacting an experienced plumbing service provider like Hoffmann Brothers serving households and commercial buildings across St Louis and Nashville can ensure safe and thorough resolution of your plumbing issue.

Professional plumbers have the experience required to solve tough clogs quickly, reliably fixing your plumbing without risking damage to your property.