# To flush or not to flush... your tampons

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-flush-or-not-to-flush-your-tampons/551915>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 29, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-flush-or-not-to-flush-your-tampons/551915 "2010-08-29T20:54:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 62

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**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-flush-or-not-to-flush-your-tampons/551915/62 "2010-08-30T20:15:24Z")

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Tampons are designed to be flushed. If you have a septic tank and/or pipes that can’t handle them, it’s \*your job \*to warn me, at which point I’ll politely dispose of them in whatever way you request (by default, wrapped in toilet paper and deposited in the trash).

> [@Mr.Accident](#):
>
> The head off those new “flushable” toilet brushes.

AFAIK, most of those are marketed as _disposable_, not flushable. I made the mistake of thinking they were flushable, flushed one, then checked the box when the toilet started backing up–nope, it \*says \*to drop it _in the trash_.

> [@alexandra](#):
>
> Nope, I don’t flush them. They can end up in the sea. Gross.

Soooooo… You shit in the garbage, too? :rolleyes:

> [@AClockworkMelon](#):
>
> Imagine the poor guys who have to clear your disgusting used tampons out of the toilet at every store you’ve ever been to.

The standard assumption should be that the system can handle tampons. If it can’t, it’s the job of the store or restaurant or bar or whatever to put up signage warning women not to flush tampons.

> [@Dogzilla](#):
>
> For another thing, if my poop manages to clear the chute and never clogs up, and a wad of toilet paper can clear the chute and not clog up… how is a tiny little tampon supposed to be a clogging item? It’s much smaller than my poop.

Poop isn’t a solid piece and toilet paper is designed to break apart quickly and easily in water. Tampons are designed to absorb a lot of liquid, expand while doing so, and stay coherent.

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