Have you ever thought about what causes plumbing problems in most homes or establishments? In some instances, these damages can reach a staggering amount of more than a thousand dollars to repair. The culprit? Baby wipes. You may be wondering why this soft and refreshing wipes can pose a real danger to the plumbing system. Thus the question, can baby wipes be flushed? Generally speaking, you shouldn’t flush baby wipes in toilets. Unlike toilet paper, these baby wipes are not designed to break down when wet. Read on to know why you shouldn’t flush baby wipes down the toilet and how to dispose them properly.
If you ask, can baby wipes be flushed, here are the reasons why you shouldn’t.
It Does Not Break Apart.
Although a lot of you would assume that wet wipes just dissolve once it’s flushed down the drain, the truth is, it rarely happens. Unlike toilet paper that breaks typically apart in about a day or so, wet wipes remain virtually imperishable even when flushed down the drain. Many plumbing specialists would attest that wet wipes have been recovered intact inside drain pipes even after being flushed for so many months.
Because they do not easily break apart, they form a massive buildup that causes the clogging of drain and pipelines and eventually damaged plumbing systems. So if you’re still wondering – can baby wipes be flushed, please don’t.
In a test conducted, a piece of wet wipes was placed in a blender for almost 10 minutes. And the result is, it remained practically intact even after being subjected to such process. So what is the best way to dispose of wet wipes? Throw it into the garbage bin.
Fatberg Effect
What is a fatberg? Fatberg is a situation wherein wet wipes combine with the fat, grease, or other grime trapped in pipes forming an iceberg-like formation. These formations form massive clogs in the plumbing system and drain. Fatbergs can measure up to ten feet long or sometimes even longer and can weigh up to more than 100 pounds.
Fatbergs are commonly found in residential houses resulting in thousands of dollars’ worth of plumbing repairs. The smaller version of fatbergs is known as softball clogs, which can be equally damaging, just like flushing a softball down the toilet.
Wall of Wipes
How long have you been living in your house? Chances are, the older your home is, the more weak your plumbing system is. This means that most of your pipes are corroded and brittle already. It’s not shocking if your drain lines have tons of small holes or have already become home to infestation.
Do you have any idea what happens when you flush baby wipes down the drain? They get trapped and tangled with everything else down there, creating a wall of wipes that would be almost impossible to infiltrate. This wall will prevent anything from reaching the sewer system, and a professional plumbing service should be called to fix the problem. It is also important to get regular plumbing inspection services if you have an old home plumbing systems.
Damage on the Sewer System
If the wet wipes that were flushed do not get caught up in the pipelines or create a blockage and would eventually reach the sewer system, it could still create some damage. It can damage your home septic system as well as the city’s sewer system.
Instead of clogging up the pipelines, it will create a blockage within the septic tank. The result is a nasty backed up sewer that can come into your home through the sink, drains, bathtub, and other openings directly connected to the septic system.
The clean-up alone can cost thousands of dollars, not including potential plumbing toilet repairs. When the blockage grows extremely bad, you may have to replace your home’s whole septic system. So the best way to evade this scenario is not to flush wet wipes ever!
How to Properly Dispose Baby Wipes
The question remains, can baby wipes be flushed? If flushing isn’t an option, what can you do with your baby wipes? Well, this one is quite simple. You have one of two options, depending on the materials of your baby wipes.
Most baby wipes are made with synthetic materials and chemicals. For these types of wipes, your only reasonable option is to simply throw them away. Though this might not seem ideal, it’s the best thing to do. This is why most environmentalists consider wet wipes to be bad for our planet.
The other option is for specific brands of wipes that are biodegradable is composting. Some of these types can be composted as they’re made with natural substances and don’t contain toxic chemicals. This is a much better option than throwing wipes away, but you have to make sure that the packaging explicitly states that they are biodegradable.
Conclusion
Anyone would agree that baby wipes are handy and convenient to use. But the question remains, can baby wipes be flushed? Thought the ability to flush down baby wipes makes them more convenient, you shouldn’t. Instead, you have two options: throwing them in the trash bin or composting them (if they are biodegradable). So, avoid these damages and costly repairs, and never flush wet baby wipes down the drain. Know more about baby wipes.