The short list
Flush human waste and toilet paper. Nothing else. That one rule would prevent a large share of toilet and sewer clogs.
Wipes labeled flushable
They are designed to be strong when wet, so they do not break apart like paper. They collect in lines and pumps, and many utilities ask residents not to flush them.
Small items that cause big clogs
Dental floss, cotton balls, cotton swabs, hair, bandages and paper towels are common culprits. Keep a small lidded bin in each bathroom.
Homes with septic and pumps
Septic tanks and ejector pumps are even less forgiving. A single wipe can jam a pump.
If it happens
If a toilet clogs repeatedly, a camera finds out whether the problem is the toilet, the branch or the main line, and the fix follows.
Our advice in one sentence
Toilet paper and human waste only. Everything else goes in the bin.
