'Never' flush this common bathroom item down the toilet or face £2,000 in repairs, plumber says

One very common bathroom item could end up causing thousands of pounds in repairs if it's flushed down the toilet, according to one plumbing expert.

It might always seem like the easiest and quickest way to dispose of something, but often, plumbing systems are not equipped to break down certain things and can end up becoming damaged.

An estimated 10,000 pipe and drain blockages happen every year due to people putting the wrong things down the toilet, according to Southern Water. So to help people identify what isn't safe to flush, one plumber has offered his expertise.

The team at Yell has spoken to plumbing expert David Doran at Blackstone Plumbing and Heating, who has warned that a fairly harmless-seeming product should never be flushed down the toilet - and that's dental floss.

This common bathroom item is something that should always be binned instead, with David commenting: "Dental floss is non-biodegradable and usually made from Teflon or nylon, meaning it can wrap around other debris, worsening clogs."

These issues can also cause water damage if your blocked toilet overflows. Fixing water damage can cost an average of £2000, which is a high price to pay for some dental floss.

Similarly, you might not thing twice about flushing some stray hair down the toilet - but this can also end up causing a lot of problems in the long run, which can be another very pricey fix.

When hair collects in your drains after being flushed, it can create a blockage that prevents water from flowing through. This can lead to water backups, overflows, and even flooding. It can also cause your pipes to corrode and break over time and in severe cases, can cause your pipes to burst.

Burst pipes due to hair build-up can land homeowners with average bills of up to £9,000 according to the Association of British Insurers trade body. Alongside the expensive repair fees, flushing hair down the drain can also pollute the water supply and become a health hazard, as hair harbours bacteria and other contaminants.

If you're concerned about your plumbing or you're worried that something you flushed has caused a blockage, it's best to contact your local plumber who will be able to help.