In a world beneath your bathroom floorboards, a silent war is being waged. A gang of hardened criminals is wreaking havoc on your drainage system. They’re known by many names, but in the industry, we call them The Unflushables.
These are the top five items that should never be flushed down the loo – yet somehow, they always end up there. Consider this your briefing dossier, courtesy of your local drainage detectives at Happy Drains.
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Wet Wipes (AKA: The Wet One)
Profile: Often masquerades as “flushable.” Doesn’t break down like toilet paper – instead, clings to pipe walls and teams up with fats to create fatbergs.
Crime Stats: According to Water UK, wet wipes make up 93% of blockages in UK sewers.
Why So Bad? They’re the ringleader of the fatberg formation squad. Tough, fibrous, and practically indestructible in water.
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Cooking Fat, Oil & Grease (AKA: FOG)
Profile: Slippery but sinister. Looks innocent when warm, but hardens into pipe-choking sludge once cooled.
Crime Stats: Thames Water spends around £1 million a month clearing fatbergs caused largely by fats and oils.
Why So Bad? FOG clings to pipe walls and solidifies, trapping other debris. Think cholesterol in arteries – but for your drains.
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Cotton Buds & Pads (AKA: The Swab Twins)
Profile: Small, stealthy, and deceptively innocent. Often flushed out of habit or convenience.
Crime Stats: The Marine Conservation Society found thousands of cotton buds on UK beaches in clean-ups every year.
Why So Bad? These don’t break down in water and can get lodged in bends or contribute to larger blockages. Plus, they can end up in waterways harming wildlife.
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Dental Floss (AKA: The Stringer)
Profile: Slippery, stringy, and surprisingly strong.
Why So Bad? Floss doesn’t degrade and can wrap around other debris like a lasso, creating clumps that cause blockages or damage pump equipment at treatment plants.
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Sanitary Products (AKA: The Absorbers)
Profile: Heavy-duty, absorbent and definitely not built for the sewers.
Why So Bad? Pads and tampons swell when wet and cause serious clogs. They’re designed to absorb liquid, not to break down in it.
How Do You Catch the Unflushables?
Simple. Don’t flush them. Keep a small bin in your bathroom and dispose of these offenders responsibly.
Want to go one step further? Educate the rest of your household. Print out your own Unflushables Most Wanted list and stick it on the bathroom wall. (Your pipes will thank you.)
Busted Already? Call the Real Professionals
If the Unflushables have already struck, don’t panic. Happy Drains has seen it all, and we know exactly how to get your system flowing freely again. Whether it’s a minor blockage or a full-blown fatberg, we’re on the case!
Call Happy Drains on 0800 849 8099 – Your local drainage detectives.
Best, David & Will
P.S
Just remember: the only things that should go down your loo are the 3 Ps – Pee, Poo and (toilet) Paper. Everything else? That’s criminal.
