tale of two moms with teenage daughters, in conversation

[Nash-Cottages-LLC0]

Mom number 1: Provided a replacement we didn't know we needed

We're letting you know that you find a spare (unused!) plunger and toilet brush in the bathroom. My daughter wasn't feeling well on the drive from the airport, so I stopped and picked up some medicine for her and a plunger and toilet brush. We didn't know if you would have those, and even if you did, we wanted to use our own, bag it up and throw it out, so you didn't have to deal with it. It turns out it was a minor thing, and we didn't even use the toilet brush or plunger and didn't want to bring them on the plane with us. So, we left them behind. We hope you store them and use them when yours are ready to be replaced. 

Mom number 2: Mother of the cause of replacement. 

I had to turn the water off to the toilet and plunge it.The water didn't run out of the toilet. It's all good now and working just fine, but we're going to need another plunger as the handle came out of the one that's there. She flushed her sanitary items and clogged the toilet. Running out to the store now to pick up some supplies for her. 

****

Good thing I had a spare plunger. 

Do we really need to place a sign in the bathroom not to flush sanitary items? Do you all have these signs? 

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

@Nash-Cottages-LLC0 

I hate to break it to you, dear fellow hosts, and I am so sorry that this happened to you...but:

Yes, we have "those signs", and it applies to many other items as well. Our signs have a list in words and pictures of what is not to be flushed. Someone flushed a few feet of dental floss which gathered other debris until the entire house plumbing - 3 bathrooms -  backed up. Our plumber had to take it all apart to locate the blockage. In the process, he found several tampons too, which were building their own balls of debris. Anything with a string will do this, and it will erupt at the worst possible time. Yikes! Not that there is a good time for any plumbing mess.  

What it comes down to is that there really is no "away" where flushed items go. Baby wipes and other such things are clogging the plumbing at the municipal sewage treatment plants; that is, those that manage to get that far from the source. 

Definitely post the bathrooms, and also the sinks for "no grease, please". I know, it is a situation, and folks on vacation ... best of luck to you, and to all of us! 

[Laura2592]

@Kitty-and-Creek0 can you share your sign?

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Nash-Cottages-LLC0  yes I do

@Laura2592  here you will find mine in comments

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Toilet-Flush-Sign-What-do-you-have/m-p/604149

[Colleen253]

@Laura2592 I printed up a small framed sign to put at each toilet that simply says “House is on a septic system. Flush nothing except toilet paper. Thanks kindly!” We do have a septic system, but even if you don’t, I think it helps to mention it, as it probably increases compliance. Fixing Septic damage is pricey and pumping out extra oogies costs extra too, lol. 

[Laurelle3]

@Nash-Cottages-LLC0  Thanks for the topic I have no sign maybe I should before anything happens and @Kitty-and-Creek0  thanks for the information about the dental floss and strings. I was aware of baby wipes. In the past we have had a sewerage farm and the wipes are a big No No.

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

@Nash-Cottages-LLC0 

Our plumber spent 4 hours cleaning out the pipes and we saw what a string can do to plumbing. He taught us a lot, and seeing the clog the strings made was quite an education. We pumped the septic tank, which did not fix the problem, so our wonderful plumber came to the rescue. The whole house plumbing was affected. Yes, this is a serious issue. 

[Colleen253]

@Nash-Cottages-LLC0 Sounds like they had quite an adventure, these guests! Yes, we do the sign thing because our house has a septic field, and also like @Kitty-and-Creek0 I have the ‘no grease or food scraps down the sink’ sign. I provide empty tin cans for bacon grease.

On a side note, bacon for breakfast is a thing for a LOT of people, apparently. Ugh.

[Helen427]

@Colleen253what do you do with the empty cans when they have Bacon grease in?

Do you have a recycle collection for cans which are usually steel or aluminum?
Just wondering from an environmentally friendly aspect what the Steel and Aluminum industries are doing in Canada about recycling.

And of course what uses Bacon fat/ grease can be used for?

[Colleen253]

@Helen427 We do recycle cans here, among other things. The bacon grease filled ones have to just go in the trash, unfortunately! In my house, on the rare occasion we cook bacon, I just let it cool and swipe it into the trash can, but with the Airbnb, that doesn't work so well. Guests can't be trusted not to pour it in while hot, or make huge mess. I'll invariably come to find grease all over the trash can, the wall, the floor. Or they'll be leaving for the day and the bacon grease filled pan sits there all day on the stove. The can thing just seems to work better. Preferable to having it going down the drain!

[Helen427]

Hello @Nash-Cottages-LLC0 use keywords related to the issues, including Septic, pneumatic, baby wipes, tampons in the search-box and you will find many others who have experienced similar situations.

Once upon a time people burnt their waste with a circle of stones around it as a barrier to prevent fire spreading.

[Suzanne302]

@Nash-Cottages-LLC0 

I have this sign in my bathroom. 

[Gregory87]

@Nash-Cottages-LLC0 :

Yes, unfortunately it is necessary to post about this topic and others.  Be proactive because you never know a guest's history of life experiences or level of "common sense".  Protect your rental!

[Colleen253]

  “Be proactive because you never know a guest's history of life experiences or level of "common sense".  Protect your rental!”

This is SO true @Gregory87 

[Lawrene0]

Just a minute, though. @Nash-Cottages-LLC0 , you had two guests, fairly close together (?) that dealt with their own messes? Proactively in one case?! 

I am filled with hope!