Can You Flush Gum Down The Toilet? (Find Out Now!)
Your chewing gum has lost its flavor and you are ready to get rid of it. Before you is a toilet and a trash can. Which should you choose? We’re here to answer that question for you, so you can avoid unnecessary problems down the road.
That said, you should avoid flushing gum down the toilet at all costs because it can very easily stick to the inside of your pipes and clog them over time. If the gum makes its way through the pipes, it will likely stay in your septic system forever, as it is insoluble and does not disintegrate over time.
Though the answer is short and simple, we’re still going to get into more specifics, so you really understand what’s happening when you flush your gum down the toilet.
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Why You Shouldn’t Flush Gum
It’s safe to say that one piece of gum is unlikely to clog your toilet, but one piece of gum every day over a period of time can begin to cause issues. Plus, even one piece can negatively impact your septic system because it will never break down and can catch other pieces of debris, eventually building into a big clog over time.
What to Do if Gum is Clogging the Toilet
So, you’ve already flushed too much gum down the toilet. Now what? Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to try to resolve the issue. Furthermore, the things you can do on your own are fairly straight forward, which is a plus.
However, if the problem persists, you may have to bring a professional into the picture. Let’s take a closer look at what you can do if you have gum clogging your toilet.
Plunge the Toilet
If a big enough wad of gum goes down the drain, it can cause a blockage right there in the pipes. This will cause your toilet to clog and even leave it out of commission. Your first easy fix for this issue is to plunge the toilet with a high-grade plunger. Plunging will hopefully dislodge any unwanted debris from your pipes, so your toilet will work properly once more.
At-Home Cleaning Solutions
There are a couple of other solutions for dislodging a gum clog from your toilet. The first involves using baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water. As a rule of thumb, you should use about a half cup of baking soda and vinegar for every gallon of water. You can also do the same thing with hot water and Dawn dish soap.
Important note: flushing boiling water straight down the toilet is a no-no. Not only can boiling water melt your pipes and break the seals around them, but it can actually crack the entire toilet bowl. All of these occurrences will leave you with a more extensive—and expensive—issue.
Get in Touch with a Professional
If your toilet is actively experiencing issue, it may be time to get in touch with a professional plumber to remove the gum from your pipes or septic system once and for all.
The national average rates for hiring a plumber range from $75 to $130 an hour. Depending on the severity of the project, fixing a plumbing issue like this can take anywhere from one to three hours on average.
What is Gum Made From?
Chewing gum has been around for a very long time and used to be made from a substance called chicle, which is a sap that came from the Sapodilla tree. Modern gums are made from a rubbery material that is basically a synthetic substitute for that sap called polyisobutylene. That material is mixed with plasticizers and food grade materials to make it chewable.
Since these materials are made to be sticky and pliable, they can quickly cause issues when placed in your pipes. That’s why it’s important to avoid flushing your chewed gum down the toilet.
What You Can Flush Down the Toilet
You may see your toilet as an alternative to your trash can, but it is simply not true. Your plumbing system is a lot more sensitive than you may think. Plus, the things that do make it through your home’s pipes can negatively impact the environment once the sewage is released back into the world. Therefore, it’s best to stick to the four P’s when it comes to flushing…
- Pee
- Poop
- Puke
- Paper—toilet paper, that is.
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Related Questions
Can you flush a tick down the toilet?
You can, but you should avoid flushing ticks down the toilet. However, it is not for the same reasons as other foreign object. A tick will not clog your drain, but it can crawl back up and continue to bother you inside your home.
Is it okay not to flush pee right away?
Technically, yes. Urine is a sterile fluid, and even if it does contain bacteria, the chlorine levels in the toilet will neutralize it, so there isn’t a health risk with leaving pee in the toilet. However, it can begin to smell if left unflushed for too long.
What can cause a toilet to flush slowly?
There are a handful of things that can cause a toilet to flush slowly. This includes a clogged S trap, a damaged fill valve, blocked jet holes, or too much debris in the system. If the pipes are frozen, your toilet won’t flush at all.
Final Thoughts
Gum is just another one of those things that should not find its way down your toilet drain. Like baby wipes, condoms, hair, feminine products, and more, gum can get stuck in your pipes and cause huge clogs. And that means you’ll either be dealing with a slow-flushing toilet, trying at-home toilet remedies, or paying for expensive plumbing repairs.
The good news is where there is a toilet, there is usually a garbage can nearby. So, use that instead!
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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