A blocked toilet or sink is nobody’s idea of a good day.
It can make part of your home difficult to use, create unpleasant smells and, in more serious cases, lead to wastewater backing up or flooding. Blockages can also contribute to pollution in Scotland’s rivers, burns, coastal waters and beaches.
The good news is that many blocked drains are preventable.
Scottish Water clears around 100 sewer blockages every day, with wipes found in approximately 80% of them. Its Nature Calls guidance explains that the wastewater drain running from a home to the public sewer is usually only around 10cm wide. That is less than the diameter of a DVD, so it does not take much for the pipe to become obstructed.
Two simple habits can make an enormous difference:
- Only flush the 3Ps down the toilet.
- Never pour fats, oil or grease down the sink.
Here is what every tenant needs to know.
Only Flush The 3Ps
Scottish Water’s rule is easy to remember:
- Pee
- Poo
- Toilet paper
Everything else belongs somewhere other than the toilet.
An item disappearing when you flush does not mean it has safely travelled through the drainage system. It may become caught further along the pipe, combine with other waste and gradually create a blockage.
What Should Never Be Flushed Down The Toilet?
The following items should always go in the appropriate bin:
- Baby wipes.
- Facial wipes.
- Personal cleansing wipes.
- Surface-cleaning wipes.
- Sanitary towels.
- Tampons and tampon applicators.
- Panty liners.
- Period product wrappers and backing strips.
- Cotton wool.
- Cotton pads and cotton buds.
- Disposable nappies and nappy liners.
- Condoms.
- Incontinence pads.
- Colostomy bags.
- Plasters and used bandages.
- Contact lenses.
This applies to all wipes, even when the packaging describes them as flushable. Scottish Water’s guidance is clear that wipes should be placed in the bin rather than flushed down the toilet.
Keeping a small, lined bin in the bathroom makes it easier for everyone in the property, including visitors, to dispose of these items hygienically.
How Should Other Bathroom Items Be Disposed Of?
Some bathroom and medical items need additional care:
- Place used razor blades in a solid, secure container before putting them in the bin.
- Put needles and syringes in an approved sharps box or take them to an appropriate Needle Bank.
- Return unused or unwanted medicines to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Medicines should not be flushed down the toilet, poured into the sink or placed loose in household rubbish. Your local pharmacy can advise you on safe disposal.
Why Fats, Oil And Grease Block Kitchen Drains
Fats, oil and grease are sometimes referred to collectively as FOG.
They may appear to travel easily down the plughole, particularly while they are warm. However, once they enter colder pipes and sewers, they cool, congeal and harden.
They can then combine with wipes, food residue and other waste to form stubborn blockages and fatbergs.
Pouring hot water down the sink afterwards will not solve the problem. The fat may move slightly further through the pipe, but it can cool and harden elsewhere in the drainage system.
It does not matter whether it is lard, olive oil, vegetable oil, cooking fat or grease from a roasting tray. They can all contribute to blocked drains.
What Should Never Be Poured Down The Sink?
Avoid pouring or washing away:
- Cooking oil.
- Lard.
- Fat and grease from pans or trays.
- Gravy.
- Sauces.
- Soup and stock.
- Leftover milk products.
- Food peelings.
- Leftover food.
Small pieces of food can also collect in pipes, particularly when they become trapped in grease.
Simple Kitchen Habits That Help Prevent Blockages
A few small changes to your routine can protect the drains in your property.
Let Fat Cool Before Disposing Of It
Allow leftover fat, oil or grease to cool. Once it has cooled or hardened, scrape it into a suitable sealed container and dispose of it correctly.
For used liquid cooking oil, the City of Edinburgh Council advises residents to take it to a household waste recycling centre. Alternatively, it can be placed in a sealed bottle in non-recyclable household waste.
Scrape Plates And Pans Before Washing
Remove leftover food and grease before placing plates, pans and utensils in the sink or dishwasher.
A quick scrape or wipe with kitchen roll can prevent a surprising amount of grease and food waste from entering the drain.
Use A Sink Strainer
A simple sink strainer catches peelings, grains, food scraps and other residue before they disappear down the plughole.
Empty the strainer into the appropriate food waste or household bin after use.
Reuse Cooking Oil Where Appropriate
Some cooking oils can be cooled, stored safely and reused. Only do this when it is appropriate for the food and oil involved.
When oil cannot be reused, dispose of it correctly rather than pouring it away.
Why Your Everyday Choices Matter
A blocked drain does not only affect one sink or toilet.
Blockages can cause wastewater to back up into homes, affect neighbouring properties and contribute to sewer flooding. During periods of severe rain, sewers that are already restricted by wipes and other waste have less capacity to handle stormwater.
Waste entering the sewer system can also contribute to pollution in rivers, burns, coastal waters and beaches.
Putting a wipe in the bin or scraping a pan before washing it may feel like a tiny action. Across thousands of homes, those actions make a substantial difference.
What Should You Do If A Drain Is Slow Or Blocked?
A sink, bath, shower or toilet that begins draining unusually slowly can be an early indication of a developing blockage.
You may also notice:
- Gurgling sounds.
- Water rising before draining away.
- Unpleasant smells from an outlet.
- Water backing up into another sink, bath or shower.
- A toilet that does not clear properly when flushed.
Please report the problem promptly rather than waiting for the drain to become completely blocked.
Clan Gordon tenants should report non-emergency drainage and maintenance problems through Fixflo. Include a clear description of the problem, when it began, which outlets are affected and photographs or a short video where useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Flush Wipes If The Packet Says They Are Flushable?
No. Scottish Water advises that all wipes should go in the bin, including products labelled as flushable.
Wipes do not break down in the same way as toilet paper and can become caught in pipes or combine with other waste.
Can I Flush A Tampon Or Sanitary Towel?
No. Tampons, sanitary towels, applicators, liners and their packaging should be placed in a suitable bathroom bin.
Can I Pour Oil Down The Sink If I Run Hot Water Afterwards?
No. Hot water does not remove the risk. The oil or fat can cool and harden further along the drainage system.
Allow it to cool and dispose of it using the appropriate household waste or recycling route.
Can Cotton Buds Go Down The Toilet?
No. Cotton buds, cotton wool and cotton pads should all go in the bin.
What Should I Do With Unwanted Medicine?
Return unused or unwanted medicine to a pharmacy. Do not flush it down the toilet, pour it into the sink or place it loose in your household bin.
What Should I Do If More Than One Drain Is Affected?
Report it through Fixflo promptly and explain that several outlets are affected. This information can help the team assess where the problem may be located and arrange the appropriate response.
Should I Try To Repair A Serious Blockage Myself?
Please report a persistent or serious blockage rather than dismantling plumbing or attempting significant repairs yourself.
Provide as much information as possible through Fixflo so the issue can be assessed properly.
Help A Lot By Doing A Little
The message from Scottish Water is simple: only flush pee, poo and toilet paper, put wipes and personal items in the bin and keep fats, oil and grease out of the kitchen sink.
These small habits protect your home, your neighbours and Scotland’s wider environment.
You can download the Scottish Water Nature Calls guide here for a useful bathroom and kitchen checklist.
If you notice a slow or blocked drain in your Clan Gordon property, please report it through Fixflo promptly. The sooner we know about a developing problem, the sooner the right action can be taken.
About Clan Gordon
Clan Gordon is an award-winning Edinburgh letting agency committed to providing tenants with safe, well-maintained homes and clear, practical support throughout their tenancy.
Existing tenants can visit the Clan Gordon tenant information page for maintenance guidance, useful contacts and answers to common tenancy questions.