photo credit: ~~~Weltenbummler~~~

Are wipes flushable? When are wipes not flushable, when they are flushable wipes.  Flushable wipes are clogging sewage systems, causing sewage overflows and clogging.  They are designed to break down but do not.  Kleenex has the same problem.

“Kimberly-Clark, maker of Cottonelle and Scott flushable wipes, does extensive testing to make sure the wipes won’t clog a properly functioning sewer system, spokesman Dave Dickson said. Like other manufacturers, Kimberly-Clark advises customers to flush only one or two wipes at a time.

Dickson said it’s possible that people are putting too much down in a single flush or that the wipes are getting caught up with other materials, such as baby wipes that aren’t designed to break down. Still, he would not advise ignoring Raleigh’s plea. People need to follow guidelines and perhaps other items are also causing problems in the sewer line. They go on to say that bagging wipes and tossing them out as trash is better.

So toss rather than flush those wipes.  It is better if you do not use them in the first place.  Perhaps wetting some layered toilet paper can achieve the same results.