# Dear Ladies: Dirty tampons DO NOT belong in the toilet **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 28, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905 "2009-05-28T04:31:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/121 "2009-12-11T16:27:55Z")
Okay, I don’t understand the issue here ladies, don’t flush them. You can’t tell the bar owner to “fix his plumbing” because even if he did, the city mains is still going to be built out of the terra cotta/iron pipe. The household vs high traffic business is a different thing. If a house had a large amount of women flusing these things, its a different story than “I do it at home and never ever had a problem, so there.” My only tampon related story: The first time I got to use a jackhammer, my brother and I had to bust up his left driveway to clear a clog of tampons because my sister-in-law decided she was going to do the flush even after he asked her not to, after the first clog. We had to dig out the line. Yes, it was cast iron but the fault of the matter was her flushing, not the fact that it was cast iron. The regular bits go down just fine. We replaced it with more cast iron, but we increased the angle. I also got to drive my first concrete truck that weekend. Now for the main question, why are guys always having to clean this stuff up? If tampons wreck the system, why aren’t the users of the tampons cleaning it up? [ducks and runs] ---
**Author:** ![gang\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f07891/32.png) [@gang\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gang_green)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/122 "2009-12-11T16:42:48Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > Now for the main question, why are guys always having to clean this stuff up? If tampons wreck the system, why aren’t the users of the tampons cleaning it up? > > [ducks and runs] Because you guys always want to play with the dump trucks and jackhammers. And snaking out plumbing is exactly the kind of story you guys like to relate during your bonding sessions. Every time I try to even pick up a screwdriver to do something, all the males in my family swarm around and butt in. In fact, the best way to make a man do something that requires a tool is to start doing it yourself. At least, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/123 "2009-12-11T16:45:09Z")
> [@gang\_green](#): > > Because you guys always want to play with the dump trucks and jackhammers. And snaking out plumbing is exactly the kind of story you guys like to relate during your bonding sessions. > > Every time I try to even pick up a screwdriver to do something, all the males in my family swarm around and butt in. In fact, the best way to make a man do something that requires a tool is to start doing it yourself. At least, in my experience. Well we hate doing things twice. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/124 "2009-12-11T16:49:54Z")
> [@gang\_green](#): > > Every time I try to even pick up a screwdriver to do something, all the males in my family swarm around and butt in. In fact, the best way to make a man do something that requires a tool is to start doing it yourself. At least, in my experience. In my experience, that’s probably because you were going to use the wrong screwdriver or to use it for something it was not intended for!😃 Alternatively, if you really want a man to do something with his tool, it always helps if you start to do it yourself.;)😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/125 "2009-12-11T17:02:53Z")
> [@gang\_green](#): > > Because you guys always want to play with the dump trucks and jackhammers. And snaking out plumbing is exactly the kind of story you guys like to relate during your bonding sessions. > > Every time I try to even pick up a screwdriver to do something, all the males in my family swarm around and butt in. In fact, the best way to make a man do something that requires a tool is to start doing it yourself. At least, in my experience. HA. I wish. We have two toilets. One of them broke. I replaced the parts and it works fine now. Never did it before, but the box had, you know, instructions in it. So now the other one broke, and I told him to fix it because he uses that bathroom more and anyway it’s his turn, and he says he doesn’t know how! Well, neither did I before I used my eyes and my brain to read the goddamned instructions! Don’t learn how to do shit. People will expect repeat performances. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/126 "2009-12-11T17:11:24Z")
Was this six month old thread just bumped by a spambot? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/127 "2009-12-11T17:13:26Z")
I think that **Lobster** did it on accident, come to look at it, actually. I didn’t catch the date when I posted in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/128 "2009-12-11T21:41:16Z")
Maybe it came back up when someone tried to flush it? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/129 "2009-12-11T21:43:05Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > I think that **Lobster** did it on accident, come to look at it, actually. I didn’t catch the date when I posted in this thread. Right. And I think Lobster is a spammer. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/130 "2009-12-11T21:48:48Z")
You think so? I didn’t get the vibe. Maybe thats just my trusting nature, though. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/131 "2009-12-11T21:51:33Z")
My mother always flushed hers. Well, to be more specific, she left hers in the toilet. She was never good about flushing. My mother was rather gross, come to think. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/132 "2009-12-11T21:58:46Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > You think so? I didn’t get the vibe. Maybe thats just my trusting nature, though. Just seems weird that the person only has one post which is about the Key West rentals he owns, and contains a URL to the business at the bottom of the post. A bit odd by me. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/133 "2009-12-11T21:58:55Z")
Put up closed signs on the toilets and set up portable toilets. No flushing! You can call the company to replace the dirty ones. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/134 "2009-12-11T22:05:14Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Just seems weird that the person only has one post which is about the Key West rentals he owns, and contains a URL to the business at the bottom of the post. A bit odd by me. Were I to spam about condos I own, I wouldn’t lead with how feminine hygene products tend to adversely affect their well-being. But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/135 "2009-12-11T22:08:52Z")
Come to **TD’s** resort of overflowing smelliness! ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/136 "2009-12-11T22:33:52Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > In my experience, that’s probably because you were going to use the wrong screwdriver or to use it for something it was not intended for!😃 > > Alternatively, if you really want a man to do something with his tool, it always helps if you start to do it yourself.;)😉 Girlz are teh stoopit! ++Penis Joke! great post, thanks for your contribution. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/137 "2009-12-11T22:49:13Z")
> [@The\_Lobster\_Lodge](#): > > I have several vaction rentals in Key West. It seems like everytime we have a large group of women they clog up the sewer. Bacheloret parties are the worse. We call the plumber and he always snakes out a bunch of tampons. We now have signs across from where you sit saying do not flush anything but human waste and toilet paper. It is also in the lease. We do give them nice sented bags to do their bussiness with. If they do flush tampons and it does clog the sewer we take it right out of their security deposit. Please do not flush tampons at someone elses property. Do what ever you want at yours. But no one wants to clean up a bunch of crap. Well there maybe a few weirdos who do. > > Regards, > Captain Nole Karcher Welcome to the SDMB, Captain. Two things: 1. We don’t allow links that promote your personal business unless you have advance approval. Therefore, I’ve removed the link you posted. 2. It’s usually not the best idea to bump a thread that’s been dormant for a while. In this case, your bump has restarted the discussion, so I will leave the thread open. \*\* Gfactor\*\* Pit Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/138 "2009-12-12T03:36:22Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I am sure that once all women were persuaded to wrap and pitch their tampons, we would have another thread complaining about the prodigious use of TP in the ladies room and the expense it imposes on struggling small businesses. When my mother told me about Menstruating, How To Deal With It, I was firmly instructed to either put the used napkins in the little paper bag that came in the package, or to wrap my used napkins in yesterday’s newspaper. At the time we took two newspapers (this was back in the 60s, people), and my mother considered tampons Unsuitable For Young Girls. Also, note that I said “napkins”. I don’t think that maxi and mini pads were even on the market when I started. We had to use elastic belts. I was instructed not to flush any parts of the napkin. Also…for several years before I had my hysterectomy, I was discharging large bloody clots along with the regular fluid in my periods. While I loved the convenience and comfort of tampons, they just were not adequate to catch these clots, and I ended up having to wear pads anyway…or adult diapers, for especially bad times. Even then, I was frequently having to change the pad or diaper every hour or so, because I had so much discharge. And before you guys go :eek: :eek: :eek: at me, what did you EXPECT in a thread about tampons? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/139 "2009-12-12T04:10:49Z")
OP chiming in again. Thought this thread died months ago, but I feel I owe an update. We have put signs up in the bathrooms, and since my original post there haven’t been any plumbing issues to speak of. I can’t think of anything else to add really. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905/140 "2009-12-12T04:15:09Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Maybe your friend had some kind of vaginal infection? Because I’ve never heard of such a thing. I regularly throw mine out and I’ve never had the smell be an issue. Me neither, thank the baby jesus. Not a whiff. This thread merely adds another bullet point to the long list of why menstrual cups are infinitely superior to anything absorbent (once you figure out how to get the damn thing in, and stuck). To the OP: flushing tampons is common practice, and only causes problems in certain plumbing systems. So far the ancient one in my building hasn’t been clogged by tampons - just by excessive quantities of paper towels, and a menstrual PAD last month. There’s nothing you can do, really. Putting up a sign isn’t going to stop everyone. Sorry you have to spend the dinner rush cleaning sewage! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ladies-dirty-tampons-do-not-belong-in-the-toilet/497905.md?page=8)