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What Should My Kids Know About Our Home’s Plumbing System?

A toddler sitting on the toilet.

Your home’s plumbing system might be something you don’t often think about, but in reality, it keeps your house functioning. As an adult, you probably know how to take care of your home’s plumbing system and the basics of what should and shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. However, if you have a few young ones running around, they might not know everything that you know.

If you’ve recently had to unclog your toilet because of something your toddler tried flushing that wasn’t supposed to go down the toilet, this blog is for you. We’re sharing a few basic things that you should teach your kids about your home’s plumbing system.

What to Flush Down the Toilet

Toilet paper and human waste are the only things that should be flushed down the toilet. Yes, it’s spelled “toilet,” not “toy-let.” Do your kids ever complain that their toys are magically disappearing? Finding tiny objects in the toilet that belong in the playroom is quite common, so it’s important to teach your kids that the only thing they should be putting in the toilet is toilet paper and their own bodily waste.

Plunging a Toilet

Now, we don’t expect your 4-year-old toddler to know how to plunge a toilet, however, if you have kids that are 12 years or older, plunging a toilet can be a simple task. Let your child know that if they clog the toilet, there’s no need to panic as this is a very common problem. Simply demonstrate how to use a plunger and have them try to unclog the next clogged toilet in the house.

What Goes Down the Garbage Disposal

The garbage disposal is not meant for all types of food and the blades in a disposal can become easily blocked if the wrong foods go down the drain. Make sure your kids know that the following foods should never go down your garbage disposal:

  • Coffee grounds
  • Pasta and rice
  • Fats, oils, and grease
  • Vegetables and potato peels
  • Eggshells
  • Large meat bones and fruit pits

If one of your kids clogged your toilet beyond repair or put some chicken bones down your garbage disposal recently, Dr Rooter of Lexington is here to help! We offer bathroom and kitchen plumbing repairs to ensure your plumbing system is working properly at all times. To schedule a repair appointment, give us a call at (803) 398-2090.