After using baby wipes to clean your baby’s bum, it may seem like the wipes are flushable. However, studies have shown that these wipes can cause clogs in your wastewater system. Many people assume they are flushable but even if you use cloth or paper, there is still a risk because of how well the wipes dissolve in water and how easy it is for them to pass through septic systems. In this article, we will discuss why baby wipes are not flushable.
In short, Baby wipes are a great product, but they should not be flushed down the toilet, sink, or septic system. Just throw them in the trash. The packaging should provide directions for routine disposal in a trash container or recycling bin.
What are Baby Wipes?
Baby wipes are wet disposable wipes used to clean a baby’s bottom when changing their diaper. These wipes contain moisturizers and chemicals that make the product soft, safe, and gentle on a baby’s skin. Most people think that because they are only used on babies.
What are Baby Wipes made of?
Baby wipes are often made of polyester if they are non-woven or polypropylene if they are woven. The material is moistened with water or other liquids (e.g., isopropyl alcohol) depending on the application. Wipes are usually sold in a tube containing from 18 to 36 sheets and can be found in supermarkets (usually near the diapers) in plastic containers with plastic lids holding anywhere from 24 to 200 wipes.
Are Baby Wipes Flushable?
Even though baby wipes are safe for babies, they pose a lot of risk to septic systems. In the United States, many people do not realize that wipes are not flushable because they think they are made of the same material as toilet paper or paper towels.
Although these wipes may seem safe to dispose of in the toilet or sink, the truth is that wastewater treatment plants do not want anything in their system connected with baby wipes because they contain residue from lubricants and moisturizers used in production.
How do baby wipes cause a clog?
According to the University of Maine’s Sustainable Engineering department, baby wipes are not safe to be flushed down the toilet or sink because they can cause a clog. Baby wipes don’t dissolve in water so they can’t be flushed down the toilet, or even in a container for that matter.
What about sinks?
Baby wipes can be disposed of in a sink with problems because they are not meant to dissolve and break down like toilet paper or paper towels. They don’t degrade quickly so they can’t break down like regular household waste.
Are baby wipes flushable in septic tanks?
Baby wipes are not flushable in septic tanks. Wipes are not biodegradable so they do not break down, even in septic tanks. Even if all of the other material is broken down, the wipes do not dissolve, so they can form clogs on their own. Baby wipes are designed to clean babies’ bottoms and nowhere else.
What happens if you flush one baby wipe?
If you flush one baby wipe, it may seem like nothing is going to happen, but the wipes can clog the pipelines and cause your toilet to overflow. If you have a septic system and you flush baby wipes, it can cause the solid waste to back up and even lead to contamination of surface water. That can result in extra plumbing costs for you
Where do you put dirty baby wipes?
Put dirty baby wipes in a trash or waste receptacle with a lid (e.g., diaper pail, trashcan) because the wipes can be used as a breeding ground for disease-causing bacteria and parasites. Use the toilet for human waste only and never flush diapers, wipes, or sanitary napkins down the toilet. When you are done using baby wipes it is recommended that you just throw them in a trash or waste receptacle with a lid.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that baby wipes are not flushable. They can cause clogs in your septic system and contaminate other systems in your neighborhood. Please dispose of wipes in a trash receptacle, not down the toilet. There you have it, the real scoop on baby wipes!
As a mother of four very energetic children, Emilia knows how chaotic motherhood can be. She’s learned a lot of lessons along the journey so far and loves sharing the tips & tricks she’s picked up over the years with anybody else on the same life path.