Many people who use cleansing wet wipes or toilet wet wipes lack an understanding on whether these items can be safely flushed down the toilet and any consequences (such as a clogging or damaging the drainage system) if done so.
In this article, we will highlight the common mistakes made with regard to wet wipe disposal, the possible problems that are created and a conclusion as to whether it is advisable for them to be flushed down the toilet.
Can Wet Wipes Be Flushed Down The Toilet?
The obvious answer is yes, you can clearly flush wet wipes down the toilet (so long as the product manufacturer says that they are flushable) but in hindsight, despite some wipes being labelled as ‘flushable’, they can potentially take upwards of 400 of years to decompose. This is because cotton wet wipes contain microplastics like polyester, polythene and polypropylene which decompose fully at a range of 20-450 years!
Why You Shouldn’t Flush Wet Ones Down The Toilet:
Below, we have noted the main reasons why you shouldn’t flush wet wipes down the toilet
- They Don’t Break Apart fully
Most of us would assume that toilet wet wipes rupture once we flush them down the toilet as we see them disappear from our very existence but the actual reality is that they almost never do. They may go down the toilet with relative ease and without the need for any plunging but the problem lies later on when the wipes transfer through your sewer system. Unlike toilet paper which usually breaks apart in about 24 hours, toilet wet wipes will remain virtually imperishable even when flushed.
In the UK alone, water companies spend approximately £88m of customers’ money clearing an estimated 360,000 blockages annually in the sewerage network. Half of these blockages are caused by the incorrect disposal of wet wipes and other hygiene products.
- Fatberg Effect
The Fatberg effect is a combination of wet wipes, fat, grease and other dirt trapped in the pipes creating an iceberg-like structure. These formations create huge clogs in plumbing pipes and drains. One case back in 2013 saw a lump of solid fat the size of a bus in sewers beneath London. Fatbergs can be regularly found in homes and result in thousands of pounds worth of plumbing repairs. Similarly, the smaller variants of fatbergs are known as ‘softball clogs’ and can be equally destructive to drainage systems.
- Wall of Wipes
Depending on how old your home is, it will have a direct correlation to the strength and effectiveness of your pipes (which may be slightly brittle and corroded). Your drain pipe lining will likely be full of small holes due to general ageing of the pipes and are susceptible to the growth of tree roots. As these roots begin to grow, then they spread which makes it easier for toilet wet wipes to be caught thus, creating a wall of wipes and sewage blocking potential to increase drastically.
- Sewer System Damage
If the wet wipes manage to evade getting caught in tree roots or combine to create a fatberg and it reaches the sewer system, it can still create some damage especially to your home septic system. This is because instead of clogging up the drain lines, it now causes a blockage within the septic tank and would result in backed up sewer waste that can come into your home through your sinks, drains, bathtub, and other openings that are directly connected to the home septic system. If the blockage becomes extremely concerning, you may even have to replace the septic system of your home which will cost you up to a couple thousand pounds.
We hope we have widened your knowledge of the wet wipe disposal universe and that you are more aware of the damage it could cause to your home, environment and neighbouring community. The best way to avoid such problems? Browse our flushable paper towel products or simply, don’t throw wet wipes down the toilet!
For more information about our products, call us on 02476 703 803 or fill out our contact form.
