Walk into five households today and you are likely to find slime in most of them. Kids and adults alike have immense love for these toys, thanks to their ability to keep them entertained for hours on end.
And yes, gone are the days when you needed to buy slime. As long as you have glue, Borax, and a tad of knowledge on the process, inventing your DIY slime is only a few steps away.
Now, with all this slime fun, it’s only natural for the question to arise – what happens when you need to get rid of it? Can you flush slime down the toilet and be done with it? Well, keep reading to find out!
Can Slime Go Down The Toilet?
The answer to this question is a little bit complicated. Technically, you can flush slime down the toilet. However, we do not recommend it for a few reasons that we will explain below.
When you flush slime down the toilet, there is a chance that it will stick to the sides of the pipes. Over time, this can trap other materials and cause issues in your plumbing, something you definitely don’t want for your toilet.
Slime is also very difficult to break down, so it can sit in the pipes for a long time before it actually dissolves, something that can cause a backup in your toilet or drains, an extremely unpleasant occurrence.
But other than the plumping issues, there are other issues to avoid. You see, slime will attract a lot of bacteria, which can cause serious health problems. Yes, the moment slime remains stuck in the walls of the pipes, it can start to rot and attract bacteria, which can eventually find their way into your home.
So yes, although you can technically flush slime down the toilet, we do not recommend it. If you must get rid of your slime, opt for other better options that are good for your plumbing and won’t cause any problems.
Will Slime Clog The Toilet?
If you decide to flush your slime down the toilet, there is a chance it will clog your toilet. This is because slime is very difficult to break down and it can easily get stuck in the pipes.
Slime undoubtedly looks like a lot of fun. And it is! But you should know that it isn’t a friendly substance for your toilet or drains. This fun toy can easily turn into a nightmare if you’re not careful.
The trouble begins the moment you press the flush button. You see, slime includes glue as one of its ingredients. And we all know that glue is famous for sticking to everything.
So, when you flush slime down the toilet, there’s a big chance it will get stuck to the sides of the pipes. There, it will then attract other materials and eventually cause a clog. And believe us, you don’t want to deal with a clogged toilet.
Toilet clogs are not only annoying but can also be very dangerous. If not fixed in time, they can easily lead to sewage backup, which can cause a lot of damage to your home, not to mention the unpleasant smell.
But again, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way out. Once your toilet gets clogged from slime, there are a few things you can do to fix it. First, try using a plunger to see if that does the trick. If that doesn’t work, you can always call a plumber to help you out.
But generally, we discourage flushing slime down the toilet to avoid any issues! You better consider other ways of disposing of slime other than flushing it down your toilet.
Can Slime Be Reused?
If you’re tired of your slime or simply want to get rid of it, you might be wondering if you can reuse it. The answer is yes, you can!
But before you repurpose slime, first ask yourself whether or not you’ll need to use it in the future. If the answer is affirmative, put it in an airtight container and save it for later. If not, proceed to find out other ways of reusing slime.
And yes, one way to reuse slime is to mix it with other ingredients to create new slime. For example, you can mix it with food coloring to create colored slime. You can also add glitter or confetti to your slime to make it more fun. The possibilities are endless!
If you don’t want to reuse your slime, you can always give it away to someone else. This is a great way to get rid of your slime without having to throw it away.
How To Dispose of Slime?
If you don’t want to keep your slime or reuse it, you can always dispose of it in the trash, use local recycling centers, or even donate it. Each of these ways is healthy and way better than flushing it down your toilet.
Let’s take a closer look at each of them;
1. Throw It In Trash
The simplest way to dispose of your slime is to throw it in the trash. But again, you need to do is put it in a plastic bag and throw it away. Only ensure that the bag is properly sealed so that the slime doesn’t leak out.
In addition, cut the slime into smaller pieces before throwing it in the trash. That way, you’ll have made the work easier for the garbage collection people.
2. Use Local Recycling Centers
Another way to dispose of slime is to take it to your local recycling center. These centers help in the disposal of several items, including slime.
The process is pretty simple. All you have to do is take your slime to the nearest recycling center and they’ll take care of it. They have the necessary equipment and knowledge to deal with slime properly.
3. Donate It
If you want, you can also donate your slime if it’s still in a good condition. This is a great way to get rid of your slime and help others at the same time.
There are a few ways you can donate slime. One way is to simply give it to someone you know who likes playing with slime. Another way is to donate it to a local school or daycare that would accept it.
You can also donate slime to charities that work with children. Donation is a great way to ensure your slime goes to a good cause.
What Can And Cannot Be Flushed Down The Toilet?
Now that you know that slime is generally not something to flush down your toilet, it’s worth pointing out other things that should neither get into the toilet system as well.
They include:
Diapers: I know it may come as a surprise. However, the fact is that you shouldn’t flush diapers down the toilet. Unlike normal tissue, these baby products won’t break down easily. In addition, diapers will absorb water and clog your pipes, causing many problems.
Baby Wipes: Like diapers, baby wipes shouldn’t go down the toilet. Once they do, they will clog your pipes. So yes, don’t even allow the “flushable” variety to go down your toilet.
Cigarette Butts: Cigarette butts shouldn’t go down the toilet because they contain dangerous chemicals that can pollute the environment. It’s better to dispose of them in the trash.
Sanitary Pads: You should also avoid disposing of sanitary pads in the toilet because they have high absorbency. Hence, they will absorb a lot of water and make clogs more likely.
Kitty Litter: Yes, as much as toilets are meant to flush away body waste, using them for kitty litter isn’t recommendable. It’s best to dispose of your feline’s waste in the trash. Kitty litter contains clay that won’t break down in the water. So, it will clog your pipes and cause other costly issues.
Medicine: Yes, those expired drugs in your medicine cabinet should be properly disposed of and not flushed down the toilet. Otherwise, they will pollute the environment and cause serious problems.
Dental Floss: Dental floss should neither go down your toilet’s piping system. That’s because it’s of plastic and has a stringy nature that may tangle items coming later.
Bandaids: The next time you remove a bandaid from a wound, don’t even think of taking it to the toilet. Bandaids are plastic and won’t dissolve as easily as toilet paper. Again, these products contain adhesive that can trap other items and clog your pipes.
Hair: The fact that it’s part of the human body doesn’t make it safe for disposing of through the bathroom. Hair is stringy and will tangle around other items in your pipes and cause a clog. As such, ensure that it doesn’t touch your toilet bowl.
Cooking Grease: You may think that it’s biodegradable because it’s from the kitchen. However, cooking grease shouldn’t touch your toilet in whatsoever amount. When it cools, grease will solidify and clog your pipes. It’s best to pour it into a can and dispose of it in the trash.
And that’s not all yet. There are a lot of other things that should never get into the toilet. Actually, most plumbers will tell you that the only thing that your toilet can handle without issues is human waste and toilet paper.
Any other thing may attract issues with your toilet, contaminate the environment, or both. So, just be mindful of what goes down your toilet.
Conclusion
You shouldn’t flush slime down the toilet. It’s best to recycle it, donate it, or throw it in the trash.
But again, slime isn’t the only thing to avoid flushing down the toilet. We have lots of items you should never dispose of via your toilet. As such, ever be mindful of what goes into your toilet system.
Actually, as a rule of thumb, only human waste and toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet. This will save you a lot of plumbing issues in the long run.