Are tampons flushable?

[Anonymous]

I grew up thinking tampons (not applicators) were flushable. Was I wrong? I feel an enormous wave of guilt that I may be causing some horrible back-ups. Do you just wrap them up and toss them in the trash?

[Anonymous]

Of course they are.

[Anonymous]

Well, technically they are, but I've been reading about some pretty awful damage they can cause whether in your own home, in the pipe between your house and the main sewer line, or in the sewer treatment facility. That said, I generally flush them, but switched to a menstrual cup a year or so ago so I don't use too many tampons anymore.

Anecdote: many years ago my sister's toilet wouldn't work. Something was clogging it and her preschooler had a habit of flushing pencils and things down so she thought it was something like that. She had my brother come over and help her take the toilet off the floor to get whatever was clogging it out. It was tampons. She was pretty embarrassed and said this doesn't leave the room. Of course he told me though I think it had been a few years at that point. But yes, the strings can get caught and it can cause a very expensive problem. Menstrual cups eliminate all of that.

[Anonymous]

They are flushable. Yes, you can flush them.

But yes - they will clog your pipes. Eventually. Sooner in DC.

[Anonymous]

Yes! Until they clog your plumbing! (Personal experience)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, technically they are, but I've been reading about some pretty awful damage they can cause whether in your own home, in the pipe between your house and the main sewer line, or in the sewer treatment facility. That said, I generally flush them, but switched to a menstrual cup a year or so ago so I don't use too many tampons anymore.

Anecdote: many years ago my sister's toilet wouldn't work. Something was clogging it and her preschooler had a habit of flushing pencils and things down so she thought it was something like that. She had my brother come over and help her take the toilet off the floor to get whatever was clogging it out. It was tampons. She was pretty embarrassed and said this doesn't leave the room. Of course he told me though I think it had been a few years at that point. But yes, the strings can get caught and it can cause a very expensive problem. Menstrual cups eliminate all of that.

A menstrual cup sounds like a good idea. I like the idea that I wouldn't be contributing to more trash, pollution and it seems more eco-friendly but how much 'interaction' would I have with blood when using a menstrual cup? I'm embarrassed to say that I am grossed out by my own blood. Just gross.

[Anonymous]

No. Do not flush tampons. Wrap them in paper and throw them in the trash like a civilized person.

[Anonymous]

No. In my tenant lease I specify the tenant is liable for any plumbing problems caused by tampons.

[Anonymous]

Never flush tampons anywhere. Just wrap and throw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, technically they are, but I've been reading about some pretty awful damage they can cause whether in your own home, in the pipe between your house and the main sewer line, or in the sewer treatment facility. That said, I generally flush them, but switched to a menstrual cup a year or so ago so I don't use too many tampons anymore.

Anecdote: many years ago my sister's toilet wouldn't work. Something was clogging it and her preschooler had a habit of flushing pencils and things down so she thought it was something like that. She had my brother come over and help her take the toilet off the floor to get whatever was clogging it out. It was tampons. She was pretty embarrassed and said this doesn't leave the room. Of course he told me though I think it had been a few years at that point. But yes, the strings can get caught and it can cause a very expensive problem. Menstrual cups eliminate all of that.

A menstrual cup sounds like a good idea. I like the idea that I wouldn't be contributing to more trash, pollution and it seems more eco-friendly but how much 'interaction' would I have with blood when using a menstrual cup? I'm embarrassed to say that I am grossed out by my own blood. Just gross.

About the same you would get using a tampon or pad. Once you get the hang of it, it really isn't messy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, technically they are, but I've been reading about some pretty awful damage they can cause whether in your own home, in the pipe between your house and the main sewer line, or in the sewer treatment facility. That said, I generally flush them, but switched to a menstrual cup a year or so ago so I don't use too many tampons anymore.

Anecdote: many years ago my sister's toilet wouldn't work. Something was clogging it and her preschooler had a habit of flushing pencils and things down so she thought it was something like that. She had my brother come over and help her take the toilet off the floor to get whatever was clogging it out. It was tampons. She was pretty embarrassed and said this doesn't leave the room. Of course he told me though I think it had been a few years at that point. But yes, the strings can get caught and it can cause a very expensive problem. Menstrual cups eliminate all of that.

A menstrual cup sounds like a good idea. I like the idea that I wouldn't be contributing to more trash, pollution and it seems more eco-friendly but how much 'interaction' would I have with blood when using a menstrual cup? I'm embarrassed to say that I am grossed out by my own blood. Just gross.

About the same you would get using a tampon or pad. Once you get the hang of it, it really isn't messy.

I agree it's no big deal after you get the hang of it. It will be a bit of a crime scene for the first couple of cycles while you're learning. Just empty it at home until you are comfortable with it.

[Anonymous]

There was a huge thread here a while back from a plumber's wife... it went on for pages and pages. In it, everyone found out that tampons are NOT flushable, and neither are "flushable" wipes. They both cause tons of plumbing/pipe/septic tank problems. Maybe someone can dig it up. We all learned a lot, seriously. It was hugely informative.

[Anonymous]

I grew up flushing my tampons until DCUM taught me the error in my ways. Apparently you can destroy your plumbing. There's a whole thread on this if you do a search.

[Anonymous]

I could give you nightmares by describing what the plumbers removed from the clogged pipe leading from our DC rowhouse to the street. We (both women) flushed tampons routinely every month for seven years. Apparently, none of them got further than our front yard. We learned this when the shower backed up with sewage and we were without water or plumbing for a week.

Wrap and trash. Always.

[Anonymous]

Wrap and trash!