Overview

As autumn approaches, the Responsible Flushing Alliance offers tips to help men avoid embarrassing toilet clogs, bad breath and more

SEATTLE, Wash. (August 19, 2021) – Anytime of the year is the right time for proper grooming but after more than a year of social distancing, it may be time for a refresher course. Even celebrities are debating whether or not to wait for the stank to emerge before bathing their kids. (Celebrities, they’re just like us!)

The Responsible Flushing Alliance, a consumer education non-profit with a mission to provide information on what not to flush, is here to help men of all ages with handy tips and tricks for living their best-groomed selves.

The top 10:

  1. Don’t go overboard: No one wants to come across thirsty, which is exactly what will happen if you look like you have an overly complex grooming routine. Take the time you need to smell good and feel confident, but make it look easy and know when to stop.
  2. Don’t be a hairy mess: Even for hipster face mane’s, following a regular manscaping schedule is a good thing. Typically, men cut their hair every 2-3 weeks, and we’ll let you determine an appropriate schedule for all other hair-areas in need of shaving, trimming, waxing, combing, brushing, and styling.
  3. Floss + Brush daily: Come on guys… nearly 40 percent of men don’t floss. The bad breath club is one you do not want to join. Simple chronic halitosis is no joking matter after all.
  4. Avoid stinky feet: Wash your feet with soap in the shower (yep, the bottoms, too) to avoid smelly feet and itchy athlete’s foot. For an extra treat, sprinkle your tootsies with some powder.
  5. Don’t forget your fingernails: Invest in a nail scrub brush to get the dirt out from under your nails, or cut nails short. Dirty and/or unkempt nails is a major turnoff, especially with an emphasis on handwashing and the 20-second routine.
  6. Avoid using the wrong products: One size fits all does not apply to personal hygiene. Find specific products that match your unique hair, face, teeth and body needs.
  7. Wash your face: Half of men ages 18-24 don’t wash their face daily! But please see tip 6. The soap you use to wash your hands is too harsh to use on your face.
  8. Don’t use too much cologne: A midday shower, body wipes or a change of clothes is a better bet. Heavy perfume use might smell good to you, but it can trigger an asthma attack with those with asthma or allergies.
  9. Make sure to shower enough: Showering once a day is key to adulting. Try using body wipes on sweaty areas in between showers. Just be sure to toss them in the trash, not to toilet.

To keep these tips handy, check out the Responsible Flushing Alliance’s infographic on the Top 10 Grooming Mistakes Guys Make and be ready for the real world again in no time. Part of any grooming routine is a clean bathroom, so keep yours in tip-top shape by avoiding gross, annoying clogs. It’s easy to do – just check for the “Do Not Flush” symbol on packaging to see if wipes are flushable or not, and if it’s non-flushable, toss it in the trash instead of the toilet.

Never flush non-flushable items: Nothing is a bigger turn-off than an embarrassing, overflowing toilet. Some commonly flushed items that were never meant to be flushed include:

  • Body or facial wipes
  • Sheet masks
  • Floss, teeth whitening strips
  • Nail or hair clippings
  • Condoms
  • Medications
  • Paper towels
  • Cleaning wipes

#FlushSmart is not only a way of life but it’s also the Responsible Flushing Alliance’s national effort to educate and promote responsible flushing habits. The mission of this campaign is to teach consumers to look for the “Do Not Flush” symbol on wipes meant for disposal in the trash. Each year non-flushable items combine with fats/oils/grease (FOG) to create cement-like sewer clogs that cost municipalities millions of dollars to repair and the contribute to overflows of sewage into waterways.

About Responsible Flushing Alliance

The Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization dedicated to consumer education focused on what should and should not be flushed. RFA’s goal is to change consumer behavior to help reduce damage to our nation’s sewage systems caused by objects and materials not designed to be flushed.

Responsible Flushing Alliance Coalition Members

Albaad, ANDRITZ, DUDE Products, Essity, First Quality, Georgia Pacific, Johnson & Johnson, Jacob Holm, Kelheim Fibres, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Nehemiah Manufacturing, Nice-Pak, Procter & Gamble, Rockline Industries, Sellars Nonwovens, and Suominen Corp.