17 things you should never flush down the toilet

If you’ve ever had to make an emergency call to the plumber for an issue with your toilet, you know how expensive (and perhaps embarrassing) that repair can be.

According to HomeAdvisor.com, a visit from the plumber costs the average person $299.

Don’t flush this!

Read more: 19 things you didn’t know you could wash in the dishwasher

You may be able to avoid ever having to make that service call by being more careful about the items you flush down the toilet.

Portland Environmental Services uploaded a video to YouTube that shows what happens when the wrong things enter the sewer system, like baby wipes.

Will it flush? The results are in

The Water Environment Federation put different items to the test and found that even “flushable” wipes don’t break down when flushed.

The results of the experiment also showed how things like facial tissue, dental floss, Q-tips and feminine hygiene products don’t belong in a toilet.

A simple solution is to keep a trash can in your bathroom instead!

Here are 17 things you shouldn’t flush:

1. Disposable diapers
2. Tampons and tampon applicators
3. Sanitary napkins
4. Medications
5. Grease and cooking oils
6. Cotton balls and swabs
7. Mini or maxi pads
8. Hair
9. Dental floss
10. Paper towels
11. Condoms
12. Cleaning wipes
13. Bandages and bandage wrappings
14. Automotive fluids
15. Facial tissue
16. Poisons and other hazardous waste
17. Cigarette butts

Bottom line: It really isn’t hard to avoid problems if you remember what the experts have been saying all along: Only flush human waste and toilet paper down the toilet.

Read more: 16 foods you never want to put down your garbage disposal