This is a very common question you may find yourself wondering about,  especially when you are a parent changing diapers and using wipes daily.  Parents are always on a hunt for a good wipe, to make sure we get the best clean possible. Used for cleaning up poop and pee so it is only natural you find yourself wondering what happens when you flush them?! Right now there are many types of baby wipes in the market, some are even claiming to be flushable, but are they flushable? 

Generally speaking, the answer to that is “no”, you should not flush baby wipes. Even if you are using natural baby wipes, unlike toilet paper, they are not designed to degrade, even with the presence of moisture. By flushing baby wipes down the toilet, it's an open invitation to blockage to build in your drain pipe. Even if at first you don't cause a blockage, you'll cause difficulties in your septic system (if you have one) or the sewer system down the road. 

Reasons Not to Flush Baby Wipes

Step away from the toilet when a wipe is near! No really, a study tested 101 single-use wipes and not a single wipe formulation/design passed the flushability test. This means all the wipes failed to fall apart or disperse safely in toilets and water. 

In other words, cleansing wipes and baby wipes shouldn't be flushed, ever! Even if they're labeled as "flushable".  They will clog sewer systems, according to the first-ever study by Ryerson University in Ontario. 

Always remember you should not flush baby wipes, even if they are natural baby wipes. Here is why: 

 

They Don’t Break Apart

Unlike a cloth, most baby wipes are made using a non-woven fabric, which means they are bonded together using a chemical or heat, instead of being woven like traditional fabrics. This allows wipes to be strong and soft making them greater for a mess but never for your toilet or pipes.  That’s not it, flushing wipes also leads to a clogged toilet. We all know that is no fun at all, and even a chemical unclogger will not help.  This is due to natural baby wipes and how they are made, like stated above they will not break down allowing them to pass. 

Fatberg Will Develop Overtime

A fatberg is a large rock-like mass of waste in a sewer system. It is  formed by the combination of flushed non-biodegradable solids, such as wet wipes, and fat, oil, and grease accumulation. This debris is trapped in the pipes to create an iceberg-like clog. These clogs can obstruct entire pipes and drains. Fatberg can weigh more than 100 pounds and can reach up to 10 feet tall causing serious and expensive damage. 

Softball clogs, which are smaller versions of fatbergs, can be equally destructive if flushed down the  toilet.

Root Wall Formation

Is your home old? If so there is a possibility your plumbing system may be fragile, don't be surprised if some of your drain lines are full of holes or have become infested with tree roots. Many older sewer systems are made of clay, concrete, iron pipes, or orangeburgs. All of these materials are susceptible to tree roots forming a web through the pipes. Deep roots could grow into pipes at seams and then begin to grow outward throughout the system. The roots are blocking the complete opening to the sewer system. Since roots prevent anything else from entering, a professional plumber is needed to fix the issue. 

Sewer System Damage

Even if your natural baby wipes are flushed down the toilet it can still cause some damage. Even if they do not get caught in the pipes or create a blockage and reach the sewer system. They can ruin your septic system and the sewer system of your city.

The reason is that instead of clogging up pipes, this causes a blockage in the septic tank. This then results in the backed-up sewer that can enter your house via drains, bathtubs, and other openings that are directly connected to your septic system. 

 

How to Properly Dispose of Natural Baby Wipes

So how do we dispose of wipes to make sure we cause the least amount of damage to our sewers and oceans?  If flushed wipes end up in rivers and oceans where it will never biodegrade, it can cause further harm to our ecosystem. After wiping the baby’s bum, it is a good idea to dispose of the baby wipes inside the used soiled diaper you just changed.

If adults are using baby wipes for personal hygiene, it is best to read the label on the wipe’s package for recommended disposal methods for that particular wipe based upon the material and ingredients.  

 

Now that we got that covered and you understand why our wipes are not flushable we’d love to introduce you to our natural baby wipes, Our Clear+Pure™ Natural Baby Wipes are well known for our  sensitive-skin therapy, healing, and protecting baby skin: 

Features of our Natural Baby Wipes:

• Hypoallergenic baby wipes for sensitive skin  
• Natural baby wipes are 99% pure made from reverse-osmosis water
• Aloe leaf extract nourishes the skin
• Restores skin’s natural pH balance
• Premium, 60 GSM thick-ply with embossed surface absorbs more mess
• Awarded seal of approval by Dermatest(R) Research Institute
• Gluten-free
• A hygienic clean for baby’s bum, toys, and surfaces
• 60 natural baby wipes in a convenient dispenser pack
• No harmful chemicals. Our diaper wipes have zero chlorine, alcohol, parabens, fragrance, dyes, or phthalates
• Ingredients: Spunlace, reverse osmosis H2O, glycerin, potassium sorbate, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, xylitol, citric acid, alkyl polyglucoside