If you’ve ever clipped your fingernails in the shower, you may have wondered whether or not those clippings can be flushed down the toilet.
Trying to dispose of fingernail clippings by flushing them down the toilet is a bad idea. While fingernail clippings are biodegradable and will eventually break down, they can still cause problems in wastewater treatment facilities and clog pipes.
Can You Flush Nail Clippings Down The Toilet?
If you’re wondering whether you should flush your nail clippings, the answer is No. When it’s flushed down the toilet or washed down the drain, it can clog pipes and even cause flooding, especially when it combines with soap scum or hair.
You can dispose of hair and nail clippings by putting them into the trash can or compost pile.
What happens when you flush nail clippings?
If you are talking about clipping the actual nails themselves, then the answer is No, this is a terrible idea. Nails contain a fair amount of keratin, which is pretty tough on its own and becomes even tougher when dried out. If you put this in your toilet it will eventually build up and cause a clog and maybe even damage your plumbing system.
Do fingernail clippings decompose?
Yes, fingernail clippings will decompose in time. Just like hair and skin cells, fingernail clippings are made of keratin. Keratin is a protein that can be broken down by soil-dwelling bacteria (a process called “biodegradation”).
Keratin isn’t the most resilient of substances, and it will break down fairly quickly in a moist environment. In fact, if you accidentally leave your clippings on your bathroom sink or floor and they’re not immediately swept up, they’ll start to smell. That’s because the keratin has begun to decompose and produce ammonia gas as a byproduct.
In order to help your clippings decompose more quickly — and reduce the risk of unwelcome smells — try placing them in an area with plenty of sunlight and water. A little bit of rainwater or dew every day can speed up the biodegradation process considerably.
Is it okay to cut nails in shower?
Do you know that it is not good to cut nails in shower?
Firstly, it is very dangerous as the small pieces of nail clippings can get stuck in the drain. Secondly, it will also produce bad smell when they begin to rot.
Thirdly, cutting nails in shower is not hygienic if there are people with a cold or flu around.
Fourthly, it will be very troublesome if there are any children around as they may touch the dirty nail clippings and put them into their mouth.
Fifthly, if your bathroom has a bathtub, nail clippings will float if they are not cleaned soon. This is regarded as dirty and unhygienic.
Sixthly, if you use nail clippers, you should avoid cutting nails in shower as the noise produced can disturb others who may be taking a shower at that time.
Therefore, it is better to cut nails outside of the bathroom instead of doing so in shower.
Final Words
While you can flush nail clippings, it’s not something that we recommend doing. The last thing you want to do is clog your pipes with your garbage. After all, the best way to dispose of this sort of thing is to throw them in the trash can. You may even be able to compost them if you have a garden!
