Should My Roommate be Flushing Dental Floss?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the practice of flushing dental floss down the toilet, with participants expressing concerns about potential plumbing issues and environmental impact. The scope includes practical implications for apartment living and the functionality of local sewage systems.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about the safety of flushing dental floss, questioning whether it could lead to clogs and potential costs for repairs.
  • Another participant doubts that flushing dental floss would cause clogs but acknowledges it may not be environmentally friendly.
  • A later reply questions the quantity of dental floss being flushed, suggesting that the amount could influence the potential for clogs.
  • One participant cites a source indicating that dental floss can gum up sewer systems, particularly referencing issues in Toronto.
  • Some participants argue that while dental floss is not hazardous in terms of dangerous substances, it could still cause plumbing problems due to its strength and potential to accumulate in pipes.
  • Another participant shares a personal experience of a clog caused by fibers from a washing machine, drawing a parallel to the potential risks of flushing dental floss.
  • One participant notes that the robustness of the sewage system in different areas can vary, suggesting that local infrastructure may influence the safety of flushing dental floss.
  • A participant expresses a desire to discuss the issue with their roommate after considering the feedback from others.
  • There is a side discussion about the acceptability of shaving hair down the sink, indicating a broader concern about what can be safely disposed of through plumbing.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether flushing dental floss is safe or advisable. Multiple competing views remain regarding the potential for plumbing issues and environmental impact.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference varying local sewage system capabilities and personal experiences, indicating that the discussion is influenced by individual circumstances and regional infrastructure.

bballwaterboy
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Not sure how "safe" this is and thought I'd ask some people more knowledgeable than myself.

I live in an apartment this year and have two other roommates. Still technically a campus rented property, but we're responsible for our own cleaning like a real apt.

Anyhow, I notice that one of my roommates flushes dental floss down the toilet after he's done. I never said anything the first three weeks, but am starting to wonder about it now.

Totally Safe, Possible Hazard, or total No-no?

Worried about some kind of a clog. ...and possibly having to pay ourselves for a fix!
 
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Clog, I doubt it. Might not be environmentally the best, but I've done it before.
 
bballwaterboy said:
Not sure how "safe" this is and thought I'd ask some people more knowledgeable than myself.

I live in an apartment this year and have two other roommates. Still technically a campus rented property, but we're responsible for our own cleaning like a real apt.

Anyhow, I notice that one of my roommates flushes dental floss down the toilet after he's done. I never said anything the first three weeks, but am starting to wonder about it now.

Totally Safe, Possible Hazard, or total No-no?

Worried about some kind of a clog. ...and possibly having to pay ourselves for a fix!
How much dental floss are you talking about? A couple strands or a couple kilograms?
 
Not a hazard as in containing any dangerous substances.
Not a hazard as in causing plumbing problems.
Maybe hazardous as in that seems to be giving you nightmares.
 
rootone said:
Not a hazard as in causing plumbing problems.
Apparently, it is clogging up pumps in Toronto, if you read Edward's link. It is, actually, very strong stuff, and I can see it getting wound around spinning shafts without breaking.
 
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Bad idea IMHO for the reasons already stated - it is very strong, and while single piece is not going to do much harm, I can easily imagine it becoming a part of a clog that is pretty difficult to remove. I have seen a clog containing fibers from a washing machine - the filter was broken and the fibers were not removed from the waste water, instead they accumulated in the tube further down, together with some slimy junk.
 
It really depends on how robust the sewage system in your neck of the woods is, in some of the townships of South Africa all sorts of things (some of which we'd rather not know about) get tossed in the drains, so some pretty intense pumps have been installed to deal with it. But as a general rule, bin it before you flush it.

 
SteamKing said:
How much dental floss are you talking about? A couple strands or a couple kilograms?

Not sure exactly how much, but I know he flushes it every time he flosses. I guess whatever a normal person uses for daily flossing, that's how much he flushes.

I just don't want any clogging issues, because I'm afraid we might have to pay for it. I'll talk to him about this after reading people's posts here. :cool: Thanks guys!

(p.s. I'm guessing shaving and allowing hairs down the sink/pipes is okay right? I shave in a sink and wash it all away down the pipes.)
 

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