There are a lot of wipes on the market that are advertised as ‘flushable’. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean they are actually doing what they claim and dissolving quickly. Instead, these wipes can lead to major plumbing troubles, both in your own home’s plumbing system as well as public water mains. Over time, even wipes that are marked ‘flushable’ can cause severe blockages and other damage!
This article will explain why flushable wipes really don’t belong in your home’s plumbing system, the type of damage they can cause to your home, and what to do if flushable wipes have already had a negative effect on your home’s plumbing.
If you have been flushing any type of wipes, including flushable ones, you should contact a plumber in Fontana who can inspect your home’s pipes and professionally clean them if any blockages are discovered.
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Why You Shouldn’t Flush Flushable Wipes
We have probably all heard the horror stories of sewer mains being blocked due to giant balls, sometimes called ‘fatbergs’, made up of wipes and other waste that cannot be broken down. This happens because these wipes, regardless of being labeled ‘flushable’, do not dissolve in water in the same way that toilet paper does.
Toilet paper takes just one to four minutes to dissolve in water, but flushable wipes won’t dissolve for months! This is due to what they are made of, which includes materials like cotton and rayon, as well as plastic resins which are nearly impossible to break down.
By not disintegrating quickly, they collect within sewer pipes throughout cities and may even clog your own home’s drains if you use them frequently enough. Serious sewer main blockages can lead to public utility works which might leave you without water until the work is completed.
Nearly all wipes that are advertised as flushable, do not pass tests that check the list of ingredients and rate of disintegration. Within the industry itself, tests are notoriously skewed because they do not mimic actual sewer conditions and instead rely on the use of force and turbulence to dissolve the wipes.
Yet even with this misleading method, many manufacturers cannot pass the high-turbulence test either. This data goes a long way to prove why flushable wipes really don’t belong in the toilet at all.
Another reason you should avoid flushing wipes has to do with the rodents that populate sewer systems. Rats and mice have been known to take wipes and other debris to build their nests. If you don’t want rodents setting up their homes underneath yours, refrain from flushing wipes down the toilet.
Unfortunately, unlike rats, most animals don’t benefit from wipes entering sewer systems. Some wipes and the microplastics they contain can end up in the ocean where other marine animals might mistake the wipes for food or mistakenly ingest the plastic. This, of course, has an extremely negative effect on marine life and our entire ecosystem as a whole.
How Flushable Wipes Can Affect Your Home
If you need a reason that is a bit closer to home, just think about the number of damage wipes could have on your home’s plumbing system. Should these wipes cause a blockage, it is very likely that wastewater and sewage will back up into your home, resulting in a giant mess and expensive repair bills.
If you have been using wipes, contact our team of plumbers in Fontana who will inspect your home’s pipes for blockages or built-up debris. If any such blockages are found, our plumbers will use a hydro-jet, which relies on forceful water pressure to push out all waste and debris out of the pipes. It is important to stop using wipes following the hydro jetting to ensure that the blockages do not reappear.
Are There Any Alternatives to Flushable Wipes?
Thankfully, there are some simple swaps you can make around the home to replace your flushable wipes with eco-friendly options. While these might not exactly match the experience of using a flushable wipe, they are better for your home’s plumbing system, the environment, and even for you because they don’t contain the microplastics and chemicals that most flushable wipes do.
1. Reusable Makeup Remover Cloth
If you use flushable makeup wipes, it’s time to make the switch to a reusable microfiber cloth. These cloths are exceptionally soft and designed to wipe off your makeup quickly without the use of harsh ingredients. Try dampening the cloth with micellar water for a faster and more hydrating experience.
2. Use a Hydrating or Soothing Spray
Whether for yourself or your baby, a soothing spray will do just as well as a wet wipe in terms of preventing diaper rash, irritation, or soreness. They are just as convenient as a wipe and some claim to have longer-lasting hydration. There are also cleansing foams that you can add to your toilet paper to moisten it before use. Unlike most flushable wipes, these don’t contain chemicals that can harm marine life.
3. Reusable Baby Wipes
We understand that one of the perks of flushable wipes is their convenience. While reusable baby wipes will require a bit more time and hassle, they won’t harm the environment and they are made from super-soft materials to ensure a pleasant experience.
4. Just Don’t Flush Them
If you still want to use wipes, then throw them away after use rather than flushing. Ideally, you would choose eco-friendly wipes made only from materials like bamboo or cotton, which are biodegradable. You won’t have to sacrifice convenience, but the environment —and your home— will be kept safe.
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