Can You Flush Condoms? (Find Out Now!)
When getting rid of condoms, flushing them down the toilet may seem like the easiest way to get the job done. This can be especially true if you are trying to be discreet about disposing of it. Whether you’ve been flushing condoms down the toilet without knowing the repercussions for years, or you are wondering if you even can, you’re in the right place to hear this simple request: do not do it!
You absolutely should never flush new or used condoms down your toilet as they can clog your pipes, ruin your septic system, and pile up in your sewage system. Flushing condoms is not only harmful for your own plumbing system, but it’s terrible for the environment, too.
Read on to learn more about why you shouldn’t flush your condoms, what to do if you already have, and how to properly dispose of them in the future.
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Why You Shouldn’t Flush Condoms
Much like flushing baby wipes, flushing a condom down the toilet can cause a variety of issues for your home plumbing system and the planet as a whole, too. Let’s dive a bit deeper into the topic, so you can better understand the impact of being lazy about condom disposal.
Plumbing Issues
First and foremost, flushing condoms down the drain can completely ruin your plumbing system, septic tank, and sewer lines, too. These issues can arise in varying degrees, but all of them are problematic.
What may start as your toilet flushing slowly can quickly turn into a full-on clog, water leaks, and an all-around unusable toilet. Whether you are dealing with a small inconvenience or a huge issue, you should try to resolve the problem as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the problems can just get worse and worse, and you will have to shell out even more money.
Pollution and Animal Endangerment
Even if your condoms make it through your home’s plumbing system, they will then sit in a pile of sewage. Then, they will eventually be released into the sea. Even biodegradable condoms sometimes contain additives that will slow down decomposition, which means your used condom can float to the water’s surface and can stay there for centuries.
Once there, birds and sea animals can find them and mistake them for food, turning your trash into a major choking hazard. Plus, the presence of condoms in the water, in general, pollutes it, which is worse on the environment overall.
Proper Condom Disposal
Instead of destroying your plumbing system and the planet, the best thing you can do with your used condoms is to wrap them up in a tissue, toilet paper, or a bag, and throw them straight in the garbage can—not the recycling bin! To make sure you don’t make an unnecessary mess, you can tie the condom off at the top before wrapping it up. This will help with spillage and unwanted odors, too.
Sometimes, you may not be near a garbage bin. If this is the case, don’t get lazy. Whether you’re in a car, on a boat, or anywhere else away from your home, find something to wrap or contain the used condom until you can make it to a trash can for proper disposal.
How to Unclog a Toilet That is Clogged by Condoms
If you’re reading this article a little too late, don’t stress. We’ll also go over what you can do in the case you already have a condom blocking your toilet pipes. Fortunately, there are many different solutions to the problem. Let’s take a closer look.
Plunge the Toilet
Sometimes, simply plunging the toilet can take care of the issue. Be sure to have a high-grade plunger that is made specifically for toilet drains—not sinks. You should try to plunge between 10 and 20 times before flushing again. If the problem persists after trying this a few times, move on to a new method.
Snake the Drain
You may also be able to snake the drain to manually get the condom out of the drain. Drain snakes feature a flexible wire with small barbs that can go reach into your toilet. Two things can happen when you snake a drain.
You’ll either be able to break up the clog so it can go pass all the way through the drain, or you can catch the condom and pull it back up through the toilet bowl. The latter is the preferred result as it then allows you to dispose of the condom properly instead of letting it make it to the sewage system.
Try Home Remedies
There are a couple of other methods to try before calling in the professionals. Try to pour a couple different mixtures down the drain to break apart the blockage in your drains. The first solution consists of approximately…
- ¼ Cup Vinegar
- ¼ Cup Baking Soda
- ½ Gallon Water
First, boil the water, pour in the vinegar and baking soda, and let it all mix together over the stove for about two minutes. Then, the mixture cool slightly and pour it in the toilet bowl and leave it overnight. Flush the toilet in the morning and see if everything is clear. You can use the same method with a pot of boiling water and about a ½ cup of Blue Dawn dish detergent.
When using this method, it is important to remember not to pour boiling water straight down the toilet. Hot water is fine; boiling water is not. This is because boiling water can crack the toilet bowl, melt pipes and break the seals around the pipes, which will leave you with an even worse problem.
Call a Plumber
When all else fails, call in a professional. While this may turn into a rather awkward interaction, it is the best way to ensure the problem is resolved and you won’t experience any future issues with your pipes. A plumbing expert will be able to pinpoint the issue and completely clear out the sewer line.
Biodegradable Condoms
Even “biodegradable” condoms can mess up your pipes and septic system. Moreover, all condoms float, so if they make their way from the sewage system into local water sources, they will make their way to the surface where other people can find them, or birds and other animals can choke on them.
Male vs. Female Condoms
You should not flush male condoms or female condoms down the toilet. However, female “internal” condoms are made from a synthetic rubber that is not biodegradable. This makes them not as eco-friendly as male “external” condoms. That said, they are still better off in a landfill than the ocean.
Related Questions
Are condoms eco-friendly?
Yes and no. All latex-based condoms are biodegradable, but they can also have stabilizers, hardening agents, and preservatives that will hinder decomposition. However, they will not have a lasting effect when they end up in a landfill. Also, condoms help control the population, which also helps the planet.
What can you flush down the toilet?
To keep your toilet and plumbing in top shape, you should really only ever flush toilet paper down the toilet—other than bodily fluids and waste, of course. Toilet paper is manufactured to dissolve in water as soon as it is submerged, so it cannot block your drains.
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Final Thoughts
There are many items that you should not flush down the drain, and condoms are one of them. Instead, you should wrap the used condom with tissue or toilet paper and simply throw it in the trash. Most condoms are naturally biodegradable, so they will not have a lasting impact in a landfill. However, they will cause many issues if they make their way into the sea or ocean from the sewage system.
I am a copywriter and editor based in the Las Vegas area with nearly a decade of experience under my belt writing landing pages, cost guides, blog posts, newsletters, case studies, and social media content. I have a degree in Strategic Communication and experience working in both the account and creative spheres. My goal is to always be discovering new interests and bettering myself as a writer and editor along the way.
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