Can you Flush Paper Towels | What Happens if you Flush Paper Towels

Nearly all of us have gone to the bathroom, used the toilet, and then flushed paper towels after using them to dry our hands. In most cases, this is an acceptable practice. However, there are a few instances where flushing paper towels down the toilet can cause problems. In this blog post, we will explore those instances and provide tips on properly disposing of paper towels.

Can you Flush Paper Towels?

You should never flush paper towels or napkins down the toilet if you see yourself without toilet paper. They do not dissolve in water and clog white and black water channels.

Paper towels are not a good move to degrade quickly in water. Most toilet paper brands degrade immediately upon contact with water, which is why we use it in the sewer system.

They are also considerably more significant, making them more prone to getting tangled in the sewer lines.

Is it Right to flush or not to flush Paper Towels?

Throughout this global COVID-19 pandemic, one topic that seems to be everywhere is toilet paper. People buy it in massive quantities; retailers are running out of it, and people are running out of their own and don’t know what to do.

Toilet paper is experiencing a time when people realize how much they take for granted. Learn how to avoid succumbing to the coronavirus buying frenzy. Households that have run out of toilet paper are exploring other options.

Bidet sales are skyrocketing. More worrisome, some people are flushing wet wipes, other paper goods, or other “alternatives” to toilet paper down the toilet. However, they are not toilet paper, and the sewage systems do not handle them well.

People encourage others not to, sharing frightening images of sewers clogged with garbage and overflowing toilets.

So what can be done and what products should be avoided at all costs? 

Of course, the general rule of plumbing companies is that nothing other than you should flush human body waste and toilet paper down the toilet. There are numerous items that people have been using in place of toilet paper that is likely to clog pipes and a couple that you can use if you are careful.

What happens when you Flush Paper Towels?

Although paper towels are comparable to toilet paper, do not flush paper towels down the toilet. Although they are composed of a paper that would ultimately disintegrate in water, this paper is made of a higher quality wood pulp that provides durability.

Thus, they are designed to be absorbent and durable and not degrade quickly, causing clogged pipes. It would help if you did not flush them down the toilet. Dispose of old paper towels, or convert them to cloth towels that you can wash and reuse.

Household materials such as wipes, washcloths, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and personal care products can cause a blockage that a plunger cannot clear.

The discharge of non-disposable materials often causes plumbing problems. 

Can You Flush Paper Towels?

We all use the toilet daily. However, the development of COVID-19 has created a new complication: empty toilet paper shelves. Certainly, flushing anything down the toilet seems tempting. You can solve the problem if you can flush it down the toilet.

Not so. Flushing items down the toilet that you shouldn’t flush can clog your bathroom and create an environmental problem.

Not to mention the embarrassment you’ll suffer when the plumber determines the source of the clog.

Bottom line

So, can you flush paper towels down the toilet? The quick answer is no. Toilets are not the best choice to handle toilet paper and human waste. Household materials such as wipes, washcloths, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and personal care products can cause a clog that a plunger cannot clear.