When it comes to personal hygiene, many look to use more than just toilet paper following a trip to the restroom. In many areas around the world there are specially designed toilets used to further cleaning, although this has yet to really take off in the United States. Wet wipes provide one additional cleaning option (outside of installing such a toilet), but before you reach for the wet wipes, you need to know whether or not it is safe to flush these wipes down the toilet, and what might happen if you flush the wrong kind of wipes.
Can Wipes Be Flushed Down the Toilet?
First, it is important to point out there is a difference between wipes and flushable wipes. Wipes might be what you use to clean up a sink or the toilet. These are often soaked in some kind of cleaner or even a light bleach. There are other wipes designed to remove nail polish or makeup. These kinds of wipes are far different from flushable wipes.
Regular wipes are sturdy. It’s like a piece of paper towel on steroids. It doesn’t rip when saturated with water. Because it doesn’t rip it’s not going to break down easily (or at all). This will lead to some serious problems within your plumbing system. So, if you’re wondering can wipes be flushed down the toilet, the short answer is no.
Unless wipes are made specifically for the toilet and clearly say “flushable” on the label, you should never put them down the toilet. In fact, there are some septic systems that don’t even take some extra thick toilet paper very well (in these instances you should use single ply or toilet paper made for campers, although you should also talk to your local North Carolina plumber for help with this matter).
If you’re shopping for flushable wipes, stop to think where you’re buying them in the store. Toilet flushable wipes are sold right next to the toilet paper. If the wipes you’re buying comes from the beauty section these are not flushable and should never be put down the toilet.
Are Flushable Wipes Safe to Flush?
So, what about wipes that are specifically labeled “flushable”? These are safe to flush down the toilet, right? Maybe. And yet maybe not.
First, most people use more toilet paper than they need. This can cause clogs. Thinner toilet paper will break down and pass through the plumbing system. Wipes, even the “flushable” kind, are thicker. It is important to not use flushable wipes like toilet paper. At the very most, just one should be used at a time. It may even be best to flush the toilet paper down before using the one flushable wipe.
However, using a single flushable wipe at one time does not always satisfy the are flushable wipes safe to flush question. Why? Because it depends on the plumbing system of the house. If you live in an older home (or you purchased a home because it has “character”) the plumbing is likely old. Old plumbing was never designed for the sturdier wipes. In fact, most old plumbing systems were not made for the thicker, modern, toilet paper.
Additionally, if you have a septic tank and are not connected to the city line you will fill up your septic tank faster as flushable wipes do not break down the same. This increases the chance of blockages in the tank and you’ll need to have it pumped more often.
What Can Happen If You Flush Them?
So, what can happen if you flush wipes down the toilet? It’s basically like flushing paper towel down the toilet. If you ever did that as a kid (or if you had a child that has done that before), it causes the toilet to back up and flood. And this is the best-case situation. If the toilet floods you can at least use a plunger and pull up the clogged flushed wipes.
What is more likely to happen is the wipes are flushed down the toilet and somewhere along the way will become stuck in the plumbing. Once stuck additional material will stick to the wipe. It might be more toilet paper and wipes, or it might be something else. Regardless, debris will begin to collect and build, causing the plumbing line to bottleneck. This will lead in either sewage backing up into your toilet, sink, shower, and any other drain, and it can also lead to a burst plumbing line.
If having sewage pump back up into your shower sounds terrible, you’re right. You can avoid this issue by not using any kind of wipes. Now that you know the answer to can wipes be flushed down the toilet, you still may want to know how you can improve your personal hygiene following your trip to the restroom. The very best way to do this is to upgrade your toilet. There are a number of toilet features that use water only cleaning solutions that will keep you feeling fresh and clean, all without putting more paper down the toilet. In the long run this will save you money on damage to the plumbing line, not to mention you won’t need to continually buy flushable wipes.
If You Have A Plumbing Problem, Contact A Professional
Personal hygiene is important. Now, there are some wipes that are safe for most systems. However, if you live in an old house that is connected to a septic tank you may want to look at either other ways to boost your personal hygiene, or plumbing and toilet upgrades. The last thing you want is a burst sewage pipe in your home or the backyard. If you are in need of assistance with your plumbing, either to upgrade the system or you want to know the answer to are flushable wipes safe to flush for your specific property, now is the time to give your local North Carolina plumber a call.
