To flush tampons down the toilet?

[CluedoCat]

Until very recently, I thought most women did this, and I didn't see it as much different to throwing a wad of loo roll down there. I know the box says you shouldn't, but I thought this way something said but never adhered to. However, I have recently learned it's really bad for the sweage system to do this, and the advice is to put used tampons in the bin?

The thought of putting bloodied tampons in the bin and keeping them in the house is gross to me - I'd rather just thrush it away and that's that. One of the many reasons I don't use towels is because the thought of them festering is disgusting to me.

AIBU to continue doing this, and am I apparently the only woman who does? I've never blocked the toilet or experienced any issues.

I will say the pads aren't so great if you have a really heavy day and are running around a lot. Then I do make an effort to use a tampon even though it falls out after five minutes.

I can't use mooncups either. Or cardboard applicator tampons.

My cramps got better after switching to organic tampons though. I actually can't believe the shite that goes in most tampons.

I can't understand how a literate adult person still thinks it's ok to use the toilet as a rubbish bin ... as pps have said, it might not cause a problem to YOU but it will cause a problem further down the line, to your neighbours, to the workers who have to fish them out of the sewers, and so on. They don't magically dissolve, and neither do wet wipes. Can't believe the ignorance of some folks - it's frightening.

If I'm having a day where a tampon won't even go in and I'm hugely heavy and active I'll put a nighttime huge one under one of the organic reusables for security. It's still shit for the environment but at least the chemicals are kept off of your taco.

Plus, you know. all the folks saying "use a mooncup" "use a mooncup" infuriates me because I was so skint at one point in my life for 3/4 years. Beyond skint. A mooncup is the guts of £20 and I just could not have afforded that. Really not. I didn't have hardly £2 spare at the end of the month never mind fecking £20.

I’ve always been taught that the only thing that should be flushed is pee, poo and paper.
I’ve never heard of people flushing sanitary products. Although we’ve always had our own septic tank so maybe that’s why?

Don’t do what @NatashaRomanov suggests and put them in ‘nappy sacks’ HONESTLY wtaf!? More unnecessary plastic 🤦🏼‍♀️

Nappy bags are often biodegradable

I put mine in nappy sacks, as I said. I live as sustainably as I can, and for perfectly sensible reasons to do with cats and dogs in the household I put them in nappy sacks - I will change to the biodegradable ones mentioned up thread though.

All those saying "don't use nappy sacks" - did you use cloth nappies, never use those weird baby wipes in packets, never use make up wipes, never use kitchen wipes?

It never occurred to me that some people flush them.

I didn’t realise that anyone flushed them until I read it on MN. Weird.

They don't have to go in the bin as they are. They can be wrapped up and put in the bin. .

I’ll be honest, until mn I thought that the do not flush on my tampon packets referred to the applicator and/or packaging. Cause I was always taught - by my mum, I didn’t research it!! - that tampons themselves were flushable. Not applicators, not packaging, not pads, and I knew about wet wipes (and in all seriousness, who tf is trying to flush nappies?!). I know better now, but it’s irrelevant anyway as I’ve moved onto reusable pads.

I didn’t know about tissue though - while I did about kitchen roll. Now I’m wondering where plain cotton wool falls - I hadn’t thought about that one...

All those saying "don't use nappy sacks" - did you use cloth nappies, never use those weird baby wipes in packets, never use make up wipes, never use kitchen wipes?

Yep. Used cloth nappies and cloth wipes. Never used make up wipes , or kitchen wipes.

Wee, poo and toilet paper are the only things that should be flushed. Nothing else at all.

i just ordered some of those paper disposal bags

Yeah I did use cloth nappies for as long as i could manage.
I do use disposable stuff though at times, but I try and avoid it if its not too much of a pain. I use kitchen towels or sponges to clean, not kitchen wipes, and I use soap and water, not makeup wipes. None of these things are difficult or inconvenient

I don't understand why more people are not using mooncups?

Mooncups are not suitable for everyone.

Omg flushing them is fucking disgusting!

Eventually they will block your pipes and some poor person will have the unfortunate job of removing all your disgusting, discarded tampons (not envy)

They'll tell you as well, imagine how embarrassed you'll be.

Disgusting.

I don't want to use a mooncup. I am happy with what I use TBH.

I've had people tell me (usually with a head tilt) that they just don't understand how I CANT use a mooncup.

I head tilt back and tell them my bladder is literately hanging out of my vagabond so how would they suggest I proceed? Usually stops them l.

Hope the OP never has to visit Greece then! You have to put all paper tissues in the bin. Even if you have a massive #2.
Grossest country I ever visited.

How the fuck have you ever thought that flushing them was ok. You get brought up knowing that only toilet roll goes in the loo....and then it even says it on the box...!!!! It can have massive impacts for pipe systems and is so unreasonable. It's just blood. Wrap it in tissue and bin it.

i didnt get brought up knowing you couldnt flush.
My mum taught me that you flush sanitary towels but you must rip them in half first, and that you flush tampons.

I then realised you dont flush towels, so i stopped using them rather than put them in the bin, and i thought you could still flush tampons till about 10 years ago, despite using stuff like cloth nappies etc and being interested in environmental issues. For some reason, info about menstrual products must have just passed me by or gone over my head. I have used mainly reusable products though for the last couple of decades

#BeyondVicious plain cotton wool acts a lot like tampons. It doesn't disintegrate and may even swell up depending how dry it is.

I actually remember having a row with DH because he had found a good last minute holiday to Cyprus and I said no because I was due my period and didn't fancy putting bloody tissue in open bins.

It must be really humiliating for anyone of childbearing age or with IBS.

Don't make plastic an excuse. It's better to use small plastic bags to wrap up sanpro and/or a bin liner in your small bathroom bin than to flush out of squeamishness. As long as you put them in your dustbin they will end up safely incinerated or in a landfill not the ocean.