Whether it’s pubic hair, beard hair, or any other hair on our bodies, we all get to a point where we have to shave our hair to remain clean and hygienic. Coincidentally, this activity mostly happens in the washroom, and we are usually tempted to flush the extra hair down the drain. However, before you do this, it’s good to take a moment and ask, can hair clog a toilet?
If you have ever dealt with a clogged toilet, you would know that it’s a messy situation. It’s unsightly and poses health risks to you and your loved ones. For this reason, it is crucial to be mindful and take note of everything we flush down our toilets.
So, can you flush hair down the toilet? Let’s find out.
Does Hair Clog Toilets
Flushing a little hair can’t clog up your toilet, especially if you have good-quality plastic pipes running across your toilet. However, too much hair in the drain can cause serious problems down the line. This is made worse if you have any kind of flaw in installation, such as rusted cast iron pipes or a sharp cut in the plastic pipe.
As you flush more and more hair down the drain, it will hoop itself on something in the drain pipes or ball up. Over time, you’ll have accumulated a ball of hair in your drain. The hair will also trap other things, such as stool and toilet paper, and within no time, you’ll be dealing with a serious clog of the drain or pipe.
This problem can be escalated by the occasional flushing of Q-tips, which often lodge at the end of the porcelain on the wax ring. This causes rapid accumulation of hair. And just so you know, human hair takes a long time to decompose. You’ll have to pump out your septic tank more frequently if it is clogged with hair.
So, is it bad to flush hair down the toilet? Yes, it is not advisable to flush hair down the drain. You’re better off just flushing toilet paper and human waste down the toilet and nothing else.
Can Short Hair Clog My Plumbing?
You may think that only people with long hair are to blame for all your plumbing woes. The truth is, any hair, whether short or long, can clog your pipes.
As mentioned above, hair takes a long time to decompose, so even small amounts of it can quickly accumulate and cause a clog in your drain and pipes.
How to Remove Hair Clog from Toilet
The best way to prevent hair clogs is to simply avoid flushing it down the toilet. But accidents do happen, and you may have to deal with a hair-clogged toilet. So, how do you go about this?
Unfortunately, we can’t say that there’s a single solution that works for everyone. You have three options, use a plunger, drain snake, or clog remover. Whatever you choose to use will depend on the degree of the clog.
- Plunger: If you feel you have the muscle to do it manually, and the clog is minor, use a plunger to force the entire clog into the septic system.
- Drain Snake: Use a drain snake to smash through tough clogs. Snaking should help to effectively break up any clogs from your drain and scrape the walls of the line.
- Clog Remover: If the clog is too tough, use a lye-based liquid to dissolve the hair and any other materials before plunging.
If using the above methods still doesn’t unclog your toilet, you can try a chemical drain cleaner. But make sure you follow the instructions carefully, as these cleaners are known to be very corrosive.
Also, avoid using chemical cleaners in your septic tank, as they can destroy your tank. In such cases, baking soda and vinegar can break down the clog.
First, pour a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by vinegar. Wait 10 minutes for the fizzing sound to stop, then pour a liter of boiling water. Confirm that the water is draining perfectly by turning on the faucet.
In case the drain is still clogged, repeat the whole procedure.
If, after repeating severally, the drain is still blocked, then it’s time to call in a plumber.
How to Dispose of Hair
Now that we have established it’s a bad idea to flush hair down our toilets, how can we safely dispose of hair so it doesn’t become a nuisance?
Compost It
This might surprise you, but hair is highly rich in nitrogen, making it an ideal fertilizer for both local and industrial composting. Easily mix your hair with other products in the compost heap and use it for gardening. The same applies to fur from your pets. You can also recycle hair by making hair mats and booms.
Textiles
Hair has both thermal and elastic properties. This makes it perfect as stuffing materials for pillows, cushions, mattresses, and toys. So, why buy stuffing when you have hair?
Some people also use hair fibers as yarn to make hirsute hair blankets, clothes, and suits.
Toss It Away
This might not be environmentally friendly, but if it’s your only choice, you can resort to throwing the hair in the trash bin.
Can Hair Clog a Toilet FAQs
How Do Hair Strainers Work?
You can ensure that no hair goes down the shower or sink drain by placing hair strainers over the drain. These strainers have slots or small holes for water to pass through as hair and other small objects like lint, pet fur, and food particles are trapped. Of course, this equipment can also clog over time. But you can easily clean them and continue using them.
What Can Be Flushed Down the Toilet?
The only things you should flush down the drain are poo, urine, and toilet paper. Note that too much toilet paper can also clog the toilet.
Can I Flush Toilet Paper
Yes, you can flush toilet paper. However, remember flushing too much toilet paper can still clog the toilet.
Can Hair Go Down the Shower Drain?
Yes, even if you have a drain stopper, your long and short hair can end up in the shower drain and cause clumps that will slowly clog your pipes. They are especially prone to sticking together because of the oils from your body and other cleaning products that end up in the shower. That’s why you’re advised not to pour any oil products down your shower drain.
Can You Flush Beard Hair Down the Toilet
Any hair, whether short or long, can accumulate and clog your drain. So, the answer is no, you shouldn’t flush beard hair down the toilet.
Is It Okay to Flush Pubic Hair Down the Toilet
While pubic hair might seem too little to clog your toilet, it shouldn’t be flushed down the drain. This is because it can accumulate and block your drain over time.
What Will Dissolve Hair in a Drain
If your drain has suffered a hair clog, you can use baking soda and vinegar to dissolve it before pouring hot water to wash it away. Besides helping dissolve hair, baking soda also comes with disinfectant qualities that can help kill bacteria and fungi.
Can Hair Clog a Sewer Line?
Hair is among the top culprits that prevent water from flowing freely down the sewer line and eventually causing serious clogs. While it might seem impossible to avoid pushing hair down the drain, it’s important to think about the damage you’re causing to your pipes and desist from this habit.
Final Thoughts on “Can Hair Clog a Toilet”?
While it can be tempting to throw hair in the toilet as you shave, we have seen from the above text that this is a habit that can cause a lot of problems to your plumbing system. A clogged toilet can be unsightly, unhealthy, and costly to repair. You can help reduce the number of times you’ll deal with a clogged toilet by not flushing the things that you’re not supposed to flush down the drain. To keep hair out of your drain, you can use a hair strainer or drain cover to trap any loose hair before it finds its way down the drain.
Have you learned something from this post? Let us know in the comments section below.
