What Not to Flush or Pour Down the Drain

Never in the toilet

• Wipes of any kind, including those labelled flushable. They do not break down in the time it takes to reach the street sewer.
• Paper towels, tissues and cotton pads, which are engineered not to fall apart in water.
• Dental floss, which ties other debris together into ropes.
• Cat litter, even "flushable" types; it sets like mortar in a slow pipe.
• Medication; the Region and pharmacies run take-back programs.
• Hair, bandages, cotton swabs and menstrual products.

Never in the kitchen sink

• Fats, oils and grease, even washed down with hot water. They cool and harden further down the line.
• Coffee grounds, which settle like sand in the trap.
• Rice, pasta and bread, which swell.
• Shells and stringy vegetable skins, disposal or not.

Where it goes instead

In Brampton, Peel Region's green bin program takes kitchen scraps, and a little fat wiped up with paper towel can go in with them. Larger quantities of cooking oil can be taken to a community recycling centre. Check the Region's current waste guide for the latest rules on each item.

Why it matters beyond your house

What clogs a house drain also causes problems at the municipal level: wipes and grease form masses that block sewers and pumping stations. When those back up, the water often comes into basements through floor drains. A clear habit at home helps the whole street.

If something already went down

Stop running water in that fixture. A plunger may still move a fresh clog. If it does not, or several drains are slow, read about kitchen drain cleaning or call us.

Ready when you are. One call, a real plumber, an arrival window.