# How often do you flush the home toilet? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 20, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361 "2013-11-20T17:39:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361/41 "2013-11-20T23:23:19Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I remember talking about dishwasher with someone (was it you?) a few years back and this came up. I argued that worrying about getting one dishwasher over the other because it saved a half a gallon shouldn’t be something to worry about and the other person said what you just said. > I often forget that, like Musicat, I have a virtually endless supply of fresh drinking water that needs minimal treatment to be drinkable (at least compared to other places). We draw right off one of the great lakes. Waste water is cleaned very, very well and dumped right back in. I don’t think water conservation has ever been an issue in the Great Lakes states, at least not that I know of. I mean, no one is leaving their garden hoses on for fun or turning the shower on and going to work, but with that, we’ve never been taught not to flush the toilet or been asked not to water the lawn or hold off of washing our cars\*. The 'burbs mostly have odd/even outdoor water use days, and I believe that some years car washing (at your house, not at car washes) is banned as well. I don’t have a very consistent philosophy, but no, I don’t flush urine every time. As I’ve mentioned recently before, I drink around 6L of water a day, so my urine is very dilute. No yellow color, no smell. But I don’t not-flush out of a concern for water conservation, but out of consideration for my downstairs neighbor, who has an infant with sleeping issues. If I hear him making noise, I flush with impunity. If I don’t hear him, or if it’s civilized sleeping hours, I refrain. The noise of our toilets flushing is surprisingly loud in their walls, and I’d hate to wake the little guy unnecessarily. But if poop is involved, or the level of TP makes me concerned for the pipes, fuck 'im, I’m flushing. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361/42 "2013-11-20T23:43:46Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > I have never had a septic system, but I thought it was the solids that were the problem for septic systems. Assuming you don’t have more water during the day than it can handle, why does urine and the extra gallon or two of water matter? It’s true that solids are the biggest problem in septic systems. But liquid has to go somewhere, and all drainfields have a finite capacity per time. It can’t take an infinite amount of effluent. In a perfect septic world, only liquid would pass into the drain field. But no system is perfect, and over time, dissolved solids and unsavory chunks get into the “liquid only” pipes, clogging it and hastening the overall demise. The less stress you put upon the system, the longer you can go between rebuilds. No septic system lasts forever – 20 to 40 years is my experience – and it’s very expensive (mine would cost about $15,000) to replace all components. I’d like to put that cost off for as long as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361/43 "2013-11-20T23:45:06Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > I remember being at a friend’s house once when I was really young, and they told me not to flush the toilet. So then after using the bathroom I had to go back and ask them if I flush if I go #2. I was so embarrassed, but I didn’t want to get in trouble for unauthorized flushing. Unauthorized flushing. You seem like just the sort, too — what with the shifty eyes, and all. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361/44 "2013-11-21T01:09:44Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I remember talking about dishwasher with someone (was it you?) a few years back and this came up. I argued that worrying about getting one dishwasher over the other because it saved a half a gallon shouldn’t be something to worry about and the other person said what you just said. > I often forget that, like Musicat, I have a virtually endless supply of fresh drinking water that needs minimal treatment to be drinkable (at least compared to other places). We draw right off one of the great lakes. Waste water is cleaned very, very well and dumped right back in. I don’t think water conservation has ever been an issue in the Great Lakes states, at least not that I know of. I mean, no one is leaving their garden hoses on for fun or turning the shower on and going to work, but with that, we’ve never been taught not to flush the toilet or been asked not to water the lawn or hold off of washing our cars\*. I dunno; some people live places that obviously have more water than other places, but we’re all living on the earth, which is due to have a [clean water crisis](http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/freshwater-crisis/) in the not too distant future. I think flushing four or five gallons of water for a cup of dilute pee is a ridiculous waste of clean, treated water, even though water is plentiful in your area. Other people’s mileage is obviously differing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361/45 "2013-11-21T02:14:42Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > But I’ve never detected a smell, Because you’re used to it. There’s a smell, oh yes. I’m concerned about water usage too, but IMHO flushing the toilet is a good use of water except in cases of drought or whatever. I flush every time except for sometimes in the middle of the night. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361/46 "2013-11-21T03:49:53Z")
I just piss in the dirt by the back fence. I dislike the neighbors and their annoying dog (who barks at me because I can piss higher up the fence than he can). ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361/47 "2013-11-21T04:35:13Z")
Okay, for science I’ll give you my strategy. I will not flush after everyone goes to bed because our toilet is noisy. I go maybe four or five times after because I’m a night owl who loves her tea. I will just flush first thing in the morning, because despite being a night owl I’m still the first one up. I am home all day by myself so I usually don’t flush all day either unless…well the odor might be unpleasant if I don’t. The lid is always closed after I go though, so it’s not like anyone’s going to see it but me. I just don’t see the point of flushing when it’s just me. Probably for the best I never live alone. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361/48 "2013-11-21T04:48:01Z")
I flush every time I “go”, regardless of what it is. I also close the lid before I flush; some people don’t do that, and I think it’s disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361/49 "2013-11-21T05:09:07Z")
I try to remember to flush every single time, but when the kids were babies, my husband used to freak out a bit, convinced we’d wake them up if they were napping. I got so used to not flushing that I forget sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361/50 "2013-11-21T21:58:31Z")
Every time of course. Not flushing everyday is disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361/51 "2013-11-22T01:00:31Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > “If it’s brown flush it down. > If it’s yellow still flush it down unless you want to be a disgusting asshole.” > > That’s my motto. Yep… Sometimes I have to share the bathroom with my father (I give mine up to guests) and I need to learn how to tell him to flush every time. He’s sensitive so it’s hard to point anything out that’s even a little negative. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-flush-the-home-toilet/674361.md?page=2)