That fresh, clean feel. That wonderful crisp smell. That’s the feeling you’re probably familiar with when using those handy dandy flushable wipes. Sure, they do a great job cleaning up, but are they really worth the potential damage they may be causing your plumbing?!
Although the packaging does say they are flushable – are they truly toilet safe? What really happens when these wipes are flushed down?
Consumer Reports ran standard tests between toilet paper and flushable wipes such as Charmin, Cottonelle, Scott, and Equate. These wipes all claim to be “flushable and sewer and septic safe”, but the results of these tests contradict the marketing. The truth was some of these wipes broke down after 12 hours, but a couple of them never did! The toilet paper on the other hand, broke down very quickly. The breakdown for wipes occurs at slower rates, causing pipes to clog and blockages to occur more frequently. This can result in serious issues for your plumbing as well as large plumbing bills for you.
The wipes get flushed down the toilet with other items like paper towels, cotton swabs, and sanitary pads. When combined, they all create “ragging”, otherwise known as a mess of a clog. This has actually become a major problem for city sanitation departments. The wipes may flush down the pipes easily, but as soon as they hit a 45-degree angle, they accumulate and then it’s only a matter of time before they block the sewer line, causing a backup in people’s homes! Since wipes aren’t easily broken down, they also put strain on the water pumps and eventually, it damages wastewater equipment.
So what’s the verdict? Well, although wipes can be flushed, they shouldn’t be. Wipes manufacturers don’t actually have to pass any tests, legally speaking, to label their wipes “flushable”. Therefore, if you’re going to use them, they should be thrown in the trash. The only things that should go into the toilet are human waste and toilet paper! If you’re experiencing clogs, you should ask your plumbing professional to investigate before you end up with a bigger issue. You may even find some of your wipes in there!
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