04/02/2012
Don’t Flush Those Wipes
Disposable wipes make everyday house cleaning a breeze. And of course they’re indispensable for baby bottoms! But please don’t flush them down the toilet– even if they are labeled “flushable.”
The label simply means they will go down your toilet when flushed. What you need to be concerned about is what happens next.
Unlike toilet paper, wipes do not disintegrate in water. They stay pretty much intact as they travel through the sewer pipes and can get caught on roots or other debris, increasing the likelihood of a clog..
So, throw away any cleaning/disinfecting wipes, moist towelettes, personal hygiene products, etc., in the trash, never in your toilet. Clogged sewer lines are ugly and expensive to fix. Trashing disposable wipes is such an easy way to prevent trouble.
Bald Mt. Press
Supak.com Free Stuff and Guides to All Kinds of Things
prodrying said,
04/02/2012 at 7:51 pm
This is a great article. As someone that owns a water restoration company I agree that improper disposal of wipes and other items can cause problems with the sewer, not just your own sewer lines but also with the city sewer system. Thanks for sharing.
prodrying said,
04/02/2012 at 7:56 pm
Thanks for posting this. As someone that owns a water restoration company I know first hand of the things people try flushing down the toilet that cause major sewer back up in their homes and their neighbors homes. A good rule of thumb is if it is not toilet paper then it doesn’t need to go down the drain. Of course people with their own septic systems know not to flush stuff down the toilet, but people on city sewers never seem to think about stuff like that.
Kevin Pearson
http://www.pearsoncarpetcare.com/PRODUCTSSERVICES/WATERRESTORATION.aspx
Cleaner Rob said,
04/10/2012 at 8:26 am
It’s a simple common mistake which can cause an aweful lot to fix!
As you state, most are labelled as “flushable” yet that doesn’t mean they are designed to flush well.
I made the mistake of flushing a few bathroom cleaning wipes and after a few days my toilet was blocked and I had to call out a plumber which cost me a few hundred pounds
cleaningproz said,
04/11/2012 at 4:25 pm
Thanks for the testimonial.
Bald Guy Clean (@BaldGuyClean) said,
04/10/2012 at 1:53 pm
Great post. Wipes are the new aerosol cans. Everyone loves the convenience but does not realize the impact.
cleaningproz said,
04/11/2012 at 4:00 pm
Great comment! Thank you.
Jules Thomas said,
04/13/2012 at 10:45 am
I had never thought of it like that, you are right wipes are super handy but didn’t think about the clogged sewerage, mine are going in the bin from now
Thanks
Jules
Carpet Cleaners said,
04/20/2012 at 9:10 pm
I never flush anything down the toilet – even toilet paper even if it disintegrates. I throw them all in the trash bin. Disposable wipes should be disposed of in the trash.
Local Plumber Florida said,
05/19/2012 at 11:46 am
Great post! It helps to stop drain and sewer blockages.
spring cleaning (@cleaningservice) said,
07/09/2012 at 7:38 pm
Some wipes even say flushable wipes on the pack.Yes they do flush but thats when the problem starts these company’s are very irresponsible
cleaningproz said,
07/12/2012 at 8:23 pm
That’s *exactly*the problem! Thanks for pointing that out.
Flying Domestic said,
07/19/2012 at 7:29 am
Now i know the difference. My co-worker told me about wipes. She told me to advice our costumers about bot yo flush the wipes on the toilet bowl. That’s what she talking about.
guidetoarticles said,
07/31/2012 at 2:42 am
I hate it when I see tissue and wipes on public toilets. It clogs the whole plumbing system. Ugh!
House Cleaning said,
07/31/2012 at 9:09 pm
I know now that flushing the wipes down the drain can lead to the toilet and even the pipes blocking. Thanks for sharing this useful post!
Helen said,
09/03/2012 at 3:29 pm
Nice to see some environmentally friendly advice. Wipes are great for wiping around the toilet too, more hygienic than a cloth I think as you can throw them away afterwards (not down the toilet though!).I use re-usable cloths and sponges everywhere else…
Adam Lahouidek said,
09/16/2012 at 10:03 pm
If you hate disposable wipes, I promise you`ll feel differently about these ones. These Bio-degradable wipes have a list of ingredients that is reassuringly short and as natural as possible. Plus, they smell heavenly.
In short, I can`t recommend these wipes highly enough, especially as they are a very good price.
cleaningproz said,
09/17/2012 at 4:31 pm
Please share the name of these wipes with us!
Charlie said,
09/29/2012 at 6:13 pm
Great article! When I have time I need to come back to read some more of them.
Clean Popo said,
10/08/2012 at 10:57 pm
Great tip. Most people don’t realize those things don’t break down the same way as good ole tee pee.
cleaningproz said,
10/19/2012 at 11:28 pm
Yeah. I think it’s time the manufacturers stopped calling them “flushable.” Way too misleading.
marceau067 said,
10/16/2012 at 3:06 am
Never thought about this before. I throw in garbage now. Thanks for tips.
cleaningproz said,
10/19/2012 at 11:25 pm
Yay!!
Complete Supply Co. said,
11/24/2012 at 8:05 pm
Great article. Many people do not realize that “flushable” wipes will destroy your plumbing.
alexleo32 said,
02/12/2013 at 7:23 pm
i should bookmark this blog.
Housekeeping
Carpet Cleaning said,
03/05/2013 at 9:29 am
Hi CleaningProz, great post! We’ve shared it with our twitter friends. Pesky Wipes need to be put into a bin!
Minnesota cleaning services said,
03/07/2013 at 4:21 pm
Good point that will save time and frustration later on. Thanks for sharing! You should update your blog – you have great stuff here!
cleaningproz said,
03/13/2013 at 9:41 pm
Yeh, it’s been awhile all right. Running a business seems to get more in the way these days.