Clogged pipes are common, but foreign objects in your toilet drains can cause more issues than you would ever expect. Flushing toys, hair brushes, excess toilet paper, books, or other large items will cause the toilet to back up, overflow, and could even damage your pipes. When you have a toddler, there are many ways they can get into mischief, so we suggest taking these steps to childproof your toilet. While it may not solve the issue completely, these safety measures can help limit toilet clogs and the need for professional plumbing repair.
Toilet Lid Locks
One of the easiest ways to childproof your toilet is to install lid locks. These locks secure the lid and make it difficult for a child to open. A lid lock prevents accidental toy drops, playing in the toilet water, and accidental drowning. Lid locks are a key safety feature for any household with children.
Keep Non-Flushable Items Out Of Reach
Children are naturally curious and often see new items around a home every day. Whether it be toys, hair accessories, body care products, cleaners, makeup, or other random objects, keeping them high above the child’s head will prevent them from easily grabbing them and tossing them in the toilet bowl. Since children are curious, the toilet bowl may fascinate them and they may want to see what will happen when something is put in the water. If no object is easily accessible to them, they may quickly lose interest.
Install A Toilet Paper Restrictor
Unraveling the toilet paper roll can be quite fun for a child. Shoving mass amounts of bath tissue into the toilet and flushing is not great for your plumbing though. A toilet paper restrictor is another way to childproof your bathroom and will help limit the entire roll from coming unraveled and also limit how much paper can be pulled off at once. This can restrict excessive toilet paper use for children and adults.
Heavy amounts of toilet paper and the waste being flushed will put a strain on your pipes and could lead to repairs sooner than you planned. Restrictors and talking to your child about the risk of toilet clogs will help teach moderation.
Slow-Close Toilet Seat And Childproof Handle
Another way to childproof your toilet is to install soft close toilet seats and a slow flushing handle. While these devices will not keep the child from using the toilet, they can help limit the repetitious acts that children love. Slamming the toilet seat or opening it multiple times a day puts wear on the seat. Frequent flushing can put a strain on the toilet and the rest of your plumbing. Slow closing and slow flushing options limit how quickly a child can repeatedly perform those actions and will limit the wear on your system.
Educate About What Can Be Flushed
Even items that say they are flushable, your pipes may not be able to handle. There are a select few items that can be flushed down a toilet, so educating your children is the first line of defense against major clogs. Taking steps to childproof your toilet can help, but talking to them about what should and should not be flushed can help push that to a further level of understanding.
Children often learn quickly, so explaining some of the dangers and damage that can occur from a clogged toilet can help them refrain from flushing toys or other random objects.
Double Check Before Flushing
If you have a curious toddler, it is good practice to lift the toilet lid and check for hidden items before flushing. Since supervision isn’t always possible, you should check for toys or other objects before using the bathroom or before flushing. This can prevent unnecessary clogs and frustration from occurring.
Professional Toilet Clog Services
The team at Drain X has been working in the plumbing industry for many years and has provided many homeowners with better peace of mind. Even if you childproof your toilet, there are still clogs that can occur from daily use. Our plumbers can help with sink clogs, toilet clogs, floor drains, shower drains, sewer systems, and much more. We know that the last thing you want to think about is sewage and drain cleaning, which is why we are here to help at any time of the day.
Drain X is proud to serve cities across Northern Utah including Salt Lake City, Ogden, Layton, and Morgan. No matter what drain or sewer problem you have, give us a call and see what our experienced team can do for you!
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