Can You Flush Flushable Wipes?

You just got done wiping down your bathroom sink with a wet wipe. Your bathroom counter now looks pristine, and now you want to dispose of that nasty goop and gunk. While it feels refreshing to just flush the evidence right down your toilet, is that really the smartest move? Well, read on for our take on this.

We, Full Speed Plumbing, are one of the top plumbing companies in the Anacortes area, and we have definitely seen our fair share of clogged toilets and drains. We can definitely tell you if there is any cause for concern.‍

A Quick Analysis‍

To sum it all up, the short answer is no. Wet wipes are not good for your septic system, even if they are labeled as “flushable.” The reason that it is marked as flushable is because the wipe is able to break down. The problem is that a wipe like this would take much longer to fully break down than toilet paper would. If you flush multiple “flushable” wipes down the toilet, you risk clogging the pipe if the wipes don’t break down in enough time.

In an interview with TODAY, master plumber Rex Kinney says, “people flush them down the toilet, and they go down the drain no problem, but usually when they hit … a 45-degree elbow within the homeowner’s plumbing pipes going out to the street, that’s when they just start congregating. … Over months, over time, they’re not being drawn out into the street, and, eventually, boom, they shut the sewer. They completely block the sewer, and then people get a backup, and they call a plumber.”‍

‍What Are Some Other Things I Should Avoid Flushing?‍

The key to knowing if something is safe to flush is asking yourself the question, “Will this get caught up or tangled with other things in my drain?” Here is a quick list of some things that you should avoid flushing down the toilet, at all costs (a few may surprise you ):

• Q-tips
• Paper towels
• Diapers
• Dental floss
• Paper towels
• Food
• Fish
• Gum
• Feminine products
• COVID masks (can’t tell you how many we’ve had to pull out of people’s septic systems )

If you’re still having trouble knowing what to flush, here’s a quick guide for what to flush down your toilet, and it can be summed up in two different materials:

1) toilet paper
2) waste.

Can’t go wrong there. ‍‍

What If I’ve Got A Clog Already?‍

You’re talking to the right people! We’re one of the top plumbing businesses in the Anacortes area, and we help people unclog toilets every day.