The toilet is an essential part of every home. Keeping your latrine in good working order is vital to having a functional residence and a hygienic bathroom. Avoid embarrassing and costly clogs by preventing them before they happen. Give your plunger a break with these tips to avoid clogs.

1. Regular Cleaning
Cleaning your toilet routinely is not only good for your bathroom aesthetics, it also can help you spot any potential leaks. A shining commode will make it easier to see if the water is refilling properly or dripping on the floor. The sooner you identify an issue with your potty the sooner (and cheaper) it can be fixed.

2. Avoid Harsh Chemicals
While regular disinfection is important for your toilet’s health, stay away from chemical drain cleaners. Harsh clog clearing chemicals can damage pipes, leading to more clogs and large plumbing bills. Chemical in-tank toilet bowl cleaners can also damage your privy. If you have a clog use a plunger before exploring any chemical options.

3. The Double Flush
Don’t be stingy with your flushes! If you know you have a sensitive lavatory try using two flushes: one for waste, and one for toilet paper. Or if you’re using a lot of TP, try splitting it between flushes so everything goes (and stays) down the drain.

4. Check Your Flapper
A weak flush could be the culprit behind your clogs. One cause of feeble flushes could be a defective flapper. The flapper is the round, rubber gasket at the bottom of the toilet tank. When you flush the flapper opens, allowing water from the tank to be flushed out. If your flapper isn’t opening completely it could cause a weak flush and stop your waste from being eliminated. Luckily, flappers are easy to fix. Before calling a professional, try shortening the chain that attaches the tank lever to the flapper so it opens completely.

5. Don’t Flush the Unflushable
The only things that should be going down your toilet drain are TP and bodily waste. Anything else can damage your pipes and will have to be taken to landfills and incinerators by your local wastewater treatment plant. Keep your plumbing in good working order and save your sanitation workers a trip to the dump, by putting tampons, diapers, condoms, and flushable wipes (don’t believe the packaging, none of them are flushable) in the trash, not the toilet.

6. Go Easy With the TP
While sometimes it can’t be helped, when possible be mindful with the amount of toilet paper you use. Toilet paper is flushable and will eventually disintegrate, but too much may contribute to an existing backup. Using sewage system safe toilet paper like No.2 bamboo toilet paper will lessen the chance of a TP related clog. Made from sustainably sourced bamboo, and free of dyes, scents and BPA, No.2 will keep your keister clean and your toilet flushing!

If your can is chronically backed-up, call a licensed plumber ASAP. In the meantime, practice good flushing habits to keep your toilet healthy.