Question:
Are you supposed to flush toilet paper or throw it in the trash?
lee
2013-08-08 15:41:46 UTC
Okay, this is a serious question. I'm asian, and I was taught to throw toilet paper in the trash, but I started flushing it in the toilet recently, and my parents were furious. They said that if it ever gets clogged we would have to pay a couple of thousand bucks to get it unclogged, and I've tried convincing them that toilet paper was meant to be flushed and most plumbing systems in the US can handle toilet paper, but they completely disregarded my reasoning and said that you should ALWAYS throw it in the bin. I personally think it's dirty to throw it in the trash can, so how do I convince my parents that it's okay to flush it? (They're really stubborn though.)
Sixteen answers:
scoutma53
2013-08-08 15:46:47 UTC
Yes flush. I can see that if they were used to an ancient sewer system or septic tank, they might not want to fill it with tissue, but in today's cities that is not a problem. Do NOT flush facial tissue though, a plumber told me that they are not designed to fall apart in water the way toilet tissue is. Also do not flush sanitary towels.

It sounds really unhygienic to have used toilet paper hanging around even in your trash can! But I guess it's their house, their rules. They are mistaken but you will never convince them.
Lex
2013-08-08 16:08:05 UTC
It's flattering you think the plumbing is so great in the US, but the plumbing really isn't the reason why the toilets don't clog with toilet paper. You throw a tampon or even a paper towel in the toilet, it will still clog. It's really the toilet paper itself. You can throw US toilet paper into a 50 year old toilet and it still won't clog it. That's because the toilet paper dissolves. If you put a square of it in a glass of water and let it slit for I'm not kidding you five minutes, that toilet paper is gone.



Your problem though is more of a culture one. Your parents are from China and you always listen to your parents. They probably see you telling them otherwise as a sign of disrespect. The only thing you can do is keep flushing your toilet paper and maybe proving to them that it does dissolve in liquid.



PS: Wow, your parents really are from China. It's not a couple thousand bucks to fix a toilet. If they're spending a couple thousand bucks on a clogged toilet, they need to find a new plumber. Trust me. Most toilet problems can be fixed for the cost of a plunger. More severe ones will require a plumber for a few hundred buck. For a couple thousand bucks, you're talking the excavation and replacement of an entire collapsed sewer line system. And for that, you're going to need to be throwing boulders down your toilet!
?
2013-08-08 16:10:47 UTC
Your supposed to flush it, in less developed areas they throw it in trash as it just adds to the septic system filling up which may not be kept up. Perhaps you could call a plumber and ask questions on toilet paper, at least you'd have an specialist as a witness. The cost of unplugging a toilet or clearing a fuctioning sewer line is no where near couple thousand dollars. You could use the point that pretty much all Americans use toilet paper, and plumbers use it too, and flush it. Some people are just set in their ways. At a large retail store we had to put t.p. buckets in stall for the day laborers as they would just throw it on ground by toilet, not out of hate but their own experience with sewer and septic tank issues.(no disrespect just pointing out cultural differences based on where you live. We have people in the country sometimes use same method. So unless you've got roots, some other blockage, or lack of downward slope your fine.(other issues exist with septic tanks and the lateral lines that disperse liquids than a home hooked up to a city sewer.) If your line doesn't have the downward slope or fall needed the water can outrun solids. (fyi that's not common) F.Y>I> paper does dissolve, but not immediately, I've constantly had to stop a sewer machine to rip off toilet paper, tampons, condoms ect. off my cable, so tp can stay solid enough to plug for a while if its stuck on my cable. Generally this is from wadding up to much paper to wipe with.
skulasa
2013-12-11 02:05:07 UTC
Well, I honestly thinks it's worse when Americans think they can flush everything from q-tips to tampons. What's worse, a little skid mark on paper inside the trash or an overflown toilet? If the pipes can handle toilet paper, flush away
Olivia
2013-08-08 15:45:30 UTC
Yeah, you're supposed to flush it..

Doesn't it smell? Ew..

Anyway, you have internet, show them proof that you're supposed to flush it and how toilets are supposed to be used to have tissue flushed, it'll only get blocked if you put too much toilet paper in the toilet, which won't happen if you flush regularly.

Throwing toilet paper in the trash can could also be unhygienic, you could catch things from it.
2013-08-08 15:44:34 UTC
The ONLY time I have ever heard of trashing TP is when you have a sensitive old pipe system likely coupled with an old septic tank. If your home does not consisit of the above, you should flush your toilet paper. Much more sanitary and logical.
2016-11-11 00:26:26 UTC
that's exciting, i've got observed that interior the U. S., we flush it. besides the shown fact that, i've got travelled throughout and in many different countries, there is an illustration on the wall interior the restroom to not flush it down. One occasion is Greece, the place i replaced into final week. it kind of feels gross, yet i assume the lavatories are distinctive there or something. I nevertheless think of "flush it" if the rest room can cope with it. otherwise, i might hate to be the guy who empties the trash!
2013-08-08 15:49:34 UTC
You should flush it, and it won't clog up your toilet unless you shove loads down it then flush it, and even if you do it won't take thousands of pounds to get it unclogged. I don't know how to convince your parents possibly keep telling them or take away the trash can thing so they HAVE to flush x
Martin
2013-08-08 15:43:51 UTC
Toilet paper is designed to break apart when wet, you would have to put an awful lot down at one time to create a blockage.



Just flush it and not tell them, who wants sh!t in a bin at home. Bet it stinks the house out.
2016-06-02 21:08:29 UTC
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2016-04-12 03:23:35 UTC
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?
2013-08-08 15:43:47 UTC
You are correct, it is meant to be flushed. It disintegrates in water. Putting it in a trash bin would be really nasty and stinky.
2013-08-08 15:45:22 UTC
Lmao sh*tty toilet roll in the bin, lol that must be disgusting to empty lol, toilet roll should be flushed especially if it has urine or sh*t on it lol
2013-08-08 15:43:41 UTC
Yeah, you are definitely supposed to flush it. Not sure about how you can convince your parents of that though.
Harley Drive
2013-08-08 15:48:13 UTC
in asia , greece and turkey you bin it as their sewer systems are medieval in the rest of the world you flush it , it is designed to disintegrate in the sewers , always bin wet wipes
Mills
2013-08-08 15:58:48 UTC
flush it usually, unless you have wads and wads of it you were using for some reason - in that case you might clog the drain...


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