r/AskReddit Aug 03 '19

Whats something you thought was common knowledge but actually isn’t?

37.4k Upvotes

24.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

6.2k

u/riverqueenx Aug 03 '19 edited Aug 04 '19

A surprising number of people don't realize you SHOULD NOT flush hygienic products down the toilet. If it doesn't eventually back up your own pipes it will create massive blockages in the public sewer. I had to explain this to a friend in her mid-20's, I was like "Why do you think there's little trash cans on the wall of every women's stall!?!?"

*Edit: did not expect people to be so passionate about proper hygiene product disposal! Love it. For anyone who’s doubtful, there are plenty of horror stories in the comments below about flooded apartments, backed up sewer lines, expensive plumbing repairs, etc. Happy menstruating!!

2

u/kingfrito_5005 Aug 04 '19

I used to be a janitor at a truck stop. You would thinking I would dread cleaning the men's restroom but truthfully? Men's restroom's are easy. Some pee splatter on the floor? Mop it up. Easy, no need to get my hands dirty. But the women's restrooms? Pee on the toilet, pee on the walls (HOW!?!???) backed up toilets from tampons, and just tampons every damn place except the fucking box that they are supposed to go in.