TAMPONS ARE *NOT* FLUSHABLE

[SandingWithMyUnshavenLegs]

I cannot believe the number of women nonchalantly stating somewhere on MN that they have always flushed their tampons, and expressing mild, disinterested surprise at the notion this is not okay.

So.

Stop flushing them. They are not flushable.

Cheers.

@lololololollll lmao I’ll give you that!

I’m rummaging around in the cupboard for a box of tampons to see what the actual symbol on it looks like, but months of the Mirena means I am out of luck.

My father was a phe who ran over 1000 sewage processors plants
We flushed
As children we used to go and watch them being collected out of the filters

[quote SandingWithMyUnshavenLegs]@ABitOfAShitShow Right I see. I mean, I’d be the first person to say they should make it clearer! And bigger. And possibly more shouty That’s the problem with symbols; if they are crap, they make matters worse![/quote]
No you’ve missed my point entirely. Never mind - it’s not important.

And yes, they should make the warning symbol bigger on the box. I’ve just checked and the one on mine is tiny.

@Thoosa

Warnings on the boxes in huge type (a la cigarette packs) would probably help. After all who ever reads a tampon instruction leaflet after the first time?

Exactly, no one will ever read that box again after 1989 (when I did). Literally never another reason to discuss either, not even the weird toilet pics would make me question it, but will certainly educate my daughter now

@TheHoptimist I don’t think you are joking but when I initially read it I thought it was a wind up!

Like “my mum invented tampons and my dad is the secretary of waste disposal and as children we went tampon fishing as a family sport and it was the national sport”

@lololololollll 😂 Books! They look more like books than tampons, that’s for sure! Is it a universal ‘do not flush’ symbol perhaps? For books, tampons and everything else?

I will start with saying I have no flushed anything other than toilet roll in many many many years. However also an 80s baby and was taught to flush tampons. What is even more shocking I was taught to rip pads in half and flush most definitely not envy.

Sorry @ABitOfAShitShow I thought your point was that the symbol doesn’t effectively get across the message it’s supposed to? Apologies.

[quote SandingWithMyUnshavenLegs]@TheHoptimist I don’t think you are joking but when I initially read it I thought it was a wind up!

Like “my mum invented tampons and my dad is the secretary of waste disposal and as children we went tampon fishing as a family sport and it was the national sport”[/quote]
I am not joking

I was born early 70s
Always flushed. It was totally the done thing and not a problem at all

Spent my childhood at the various sewage works
Used to look at the waste
Lots of false teeth
Toys

People used to call to ask for their teeth back (and they got them)

@SandingWithMyUnshavenLegs

Sorry *@ABitOfAShitShow* I thought your point was that the symbol doesn’t effectively get across the message it’s supposed to? Apologies.

Well yes but, again, I was considering it as a warning on a toilet door not on the side of a tampon box. Because you posted it after talking about laminated signs in public places. On a toilet door the non-tampon-like shapes could be pads or packaging.

@TheHoptimist I am now doubting whether my anti-flushing fervour is actually justified. Maybe something to do with changes in sewage handling or modern plumbing or something. I’ll be so annoyed if it’s actually been okay all along and I’ve missed out on all that convenience!

@ABitOfAShitShow Oh yes! I did get that just got wrapped up in the shape discussion!

@TheHoptimist 🤣🤣🤣

Day out on the sewage boat to dump at sea.

@SandingWithMyUnshavenLegs - good call to highlight this as I too was brought up thinking to flush was the correct way (haven't used tampons for several years so haven't flushed) and started periods in early 90's.

I also believe somewhere along the line, years and years ago (certainly before my period days) pads were to be torn in half and also flushed, although I never ever did that - does anyone else remember that?

I know you aren't supposed to flush them in public toilets, which is understandable due to the large amount of users, but in the days when I used them we all flushed them at home, and I'm pretty sure we were told that was okay. Not in the UK though.

[quote SandingWithMyUnshavenLegs]@TheHoptimist I am now doubting whether my anti-flushing fervour is actually justified. Maybe something to do with changes in sewage handling or modern plumbing or something. I’ll be so annoyed if it’s actually been okay all along and I’ve missed out on all that convenience![/quote]
You kinda did and didn't.

About half of the women in the UK think it's ok and do it(easy to see why). So in that regard you missed out.

However, the situation is changing (very slowly)as is guidance so you didn't.

Shroedinger's tampon.

I draw the line here I have been flushing them for 40 years and will continue to do so

@shamalidacdak I have to ask though, did you (prior to reading this thread) not know that it has been the official line for the past 20+ years that they should not be flushed?

Or have you known for ages and just decided to carry on out of habit/convenience/whatever?

I also believe somewhere along the line, years and years ago (certainly before my period days) pads were to be torn in half and also flushed, although I never ever did that - does anyone else remember that?

Yes, I do. Pre the Always-led engineering revolution they were made of basically cotton wool and gave off loads of linty fluff when torn. Hated them.

Had to move on to tampons by stealth as my parents disapproved of them.

@Breastfeedingworries

Hang on…. I was taught in school you could flush the (bit that goes inside blush) then applicator and packaging I would wrap up in loo roll and pop in the bin?

So that’s wrong?

Your username references breastfeeding, so presumably you've had a baby.

You're posting anonymously on a thread about tampons.

But you felt the need to "blush" at even an oblique reference to a vagina?

People are strange...

@SquirrelG

I know you aren't supposed to flush them in public toilets, which is understandable due to the large amount of users, but in the days when I used them we all flushed them at home, and I'm pretty sure we were told that was okay. Not in the UK though.

Yes that was pretty much the standard in the U.K. in the 80s and 90s. Public and school loos had sanitary disposal bins (“because the plumbing couldn’t cope” we were told at our girls’ school), but in private homes, there was never any facility to do anything but flush it away. I only ever heard of one friend’s dad who tried to ban his womenfolk from flushing but they all rebelled and through the special non disgusting. I never saw anything at any friend or relative’s house that could have been intended for non-flush disposal.

Come to think of it, you never used to see pads or tampons left for guest use then, either. You do now.

All of which is probably enough tampon-history pondering for one night.

Totally agree OP.

Folklore are bludy mingin!!

@SandingWithMyUnshavenLegs. I was going to say 'Calm Down! Stop Shouting! There can't be anyone (especially on MN) who still thinks it's ok to flush them'.

But obviously I was wrong. I'm not sure where people have been for at least 20 years, that they've missed this messaging.

I'm 52, so for the first 20 years of periods, flushing was the done thing (not pads though) but it's been a very long time that NOT flushing has been 'a thing'

KEEP SHOUTING THE GOOD SHOUT!!!