At Smooth Systems Plumbing, we’ve seen a lot. But a recent jet-cleaning job left even our experienced team shaking our heads in disbelief. Among the usual sewer grime, we pulled out:

🦷 A pair of dentures
🧻 A cloth
🟣 A toilet rim block holder
🌀 A vape
💦 And mountains of wet wipes

Yes, really. This isn’t the start of a joke — it’s a typical day in the life of a plumber. But behind the laughs is a serious problem that can cost homeowners thousands in repairs and put major strain on our environment. So let’s talk about it.

🚽 Just Because It Flushes Doesn’t Mean It Should

One of the most common causes of blocked drains and sewer backups is flushing the wrong things down the toilet. Here’s a simple truth: Your toilet is not a bin.

Things like:

• Wet wipes (even the ones that say “flushable”)
• Cloths and fabric
• Sanitary products
• Cotton buds
• Dental floss
• And, yes… vapes and dentures

…might seem to disappear with a flush, but they don’t break down like toilet paper does. Instead, they clump together, catch on pipe joints, and cause major blockages. These blockages often require high-pressure jetting, manual removal, and costly repairs.

🌍 The Environmental Impact Is Even Worse

Aside from damaging your plumbing system, these items can cause long-term damage to the environment:

• Wet wipes are made with plastic fibers. Once flushed, they enter the sewage system, make their way into rivers and oceans, and become part of the growing microplastic pollution problem.
• Chemicals in vapes can leak into wastewater and eventually affect water treatment processes and aquatic life.
• Sanitary products and cloths don’t biodegrade and often end up clogging sewage pumps or floating in our waterways.

Our sewage systems aren’t designed to handle this kind of waste — and neither is Mother Nature.

👷‍♂️ What You Can Do to Help

The good news? Preventing sewer problems is easy. Here’s how:

• Only flush the 3 P’s: Pee, Poo, and (toilet) Paper
• Bin your wipes, sanitary products, cotton buds, and anything else that isn’t toilet paper
• Educate your household, especially kids, about what can and can’t go down the toilet
• Avoid dumping fats, oils, and grease down the drain — they solidify and add to the problem

💧 Call the Pros When Things Go Sideways

If your toilet is gurgling, your drains are slow, or you’ve got a nasty smell wafting through your home — don’t wait. The longer a sewer issue goes untreated, the worse (and more expensive) it gets.

At Smooth Systems Plumbing, we offer professional drain and sewer cleaning using high-pressure jetting and camera inspection tools. Whether it’s a buildup of wipes or a rogue pair of dentures, we’ve got the tools and know-how to clear it fast.