LET'S STOP THE BLOCK

Freddie has kind of passed the stage of exploring and is now at the stage where he will be up to mischief on a daily basis. Doing things, he isn't supposed to be doing, and he knows it. It's quite stressful at times and quite funny at other times, but not so amusing when I've got to pick things up from the toilet pan that he has thrown in there. Many times he has thrown a full toilet roll, cardboard roll, pens, toothbrushes and so much more down the toilet where my partner or I have had to pick them out.

Years ago I would flush whatever I wanted down the toilet, I'm sure many others are guilty of this too. The damage, in the long run, isn't something many of us think about. A few months down the line after moving in with my partner, I learnt that it was bad to flush wet wipes down the toilet, or flushing anything else other than toilet roll. There have been many times that our drains have been blocked because of too many wet wipes being flushed and eventually blocked our drains. Luckily, my partner is a plumber and was able to sort it out. 

I am currently helping raise awareness of Dwr Cymru Welsh Water’s campaign Let's Stop the Block. After learning new things, I think it's so important to make sure that you don't flush just anything down the loo. As easy as it can be to do it, the best thing to do is to just put it in the bin. I've gathered up some tips that may be helpful for some people;

Throw it in the bin - not the toilet!

Many items that get flushed down the toilet are; cotton buds, nappies, wet wipes, sanitary towels and so much more. There is really no need to flush neither of these items down the toilet. Adding a bin basket in your bathroom may help stop you putting them down the toilet.

Why can't we flush these items?

In the long run, it will cause some serious problems such as flooding your home or even your neighbour's home. Not only that but it could also lead to environmental pollution and damage rivers and beaches.

Can I flush 'Flushable Wipes' down the toilet?

NO. Although the pack says flushable, they're still not good to flush and will still eventually lead to a drain blockage which then will eventually turn serious. 

Not just your toilet - the sink too

It's not just whatever you flush down your toilet that will cause damage, it's also your sink. Your sink drains can lead to blockage if you drain any fat, oils or food leftovers down the drain. 

How to prevent my sink drain from blocking

- Make sure there is no food leftover on the plates before washing the dishes

- Use a fat funnel, which is an easy way to keep water flowing freely

- Wipe any greasy dishes with a kitchen tissue first before washing in the sink

Remember to throw it in the bin - not to flush!

PS. Remember to keep things out of reach of children in your bathroom. Especially your toothbrushes! 

* This is a collaborative post with Dwr Cymru