Flushable Wipes vs. Toilet Paper: What Works Best?
Apr 22, 2009
Though flushable wipes are marketed as a safe alternative to toilet paper, many people are still questioning whether or not these innovative wipes are the best choice for their pipes. To test this question, reporters for News Channel 5 of Cleveland, Ohio, took toilet paper and flushable wipes by a couple of leading paper companies and compared them.
To see how these claims hold up, a recent Consumers Report put three wipes, along with plain old toilet paper, through a disintegration test. It simulates what may happen when flushing and gives consumers a look at how the product could affect their pipes. Toilet paper tends to break down in about eight seconds. In contrast, flushable wipes lasted well beyond 30 minutes.
Kim Leman of Consumer Reports said of the experiment, “Although they say flushable, our disintegration tests show they don’t break down easily, which could pose problems with your plumbing or septic system.”
A spokesperson for Kimberly-Clark Corporation, which manufactures Scott and Cottonelle, defended the use of flushable wipes and said in a recent statement, “The Consumer Report article does not identify which test method was used to rate the various tissue products, and the story also indicates that further tested needs to be undertaken. There are industry-standard flushability test methods, which have been peer reviewed and accepted by both tissue manufacturers and public works authorities. Kimberly-Clark has performed extensive testing of our flushable wipes products using these methods and all our flushable wipes products pass the relevant tests.”
A Charmin spokesperson also said Charmin Wipes have been tested and are flushable and compatible with functioning household drain lines and sewerage and septic systems.
So what’s your take? Are flushable wipes a better way to do your business, or is classic Toilet Paper a better choice?
Not all flushable wipes are made the same, but the wastewater industry is concerned about the use of flushable wipes. These flushable wipes can cause problems with public sewers and pumps. The flushable wipes can cause blockages and buildup in undesirable locations. Feel free to use them but toss them in the trash, not the toilet!
[...] year we discussed on the blog whether flushable wipes were safe for flushing. Disposable wet wipes are in the news again, but this time for causing allergic [...]
Hmm they both have there advantages in certain situations if you know what I mean lol
It doesn’t matter to me about the issue of is it good for your pipes. I think the issue that most americans are going to want to know is the cost comparison. I am willing to bet that the wipes are way more expencive compared to your regular toilet paper.
True, the wipes are more expensive. They offer a luxury that most people don’t budget for!
Seems to be irrelevant for Europeans, as they use bidets but…
Yeah, good old fashioned paper works well enough.
I think the prices of wipes are quite high but still it offers something that not an ordinary toilet paper can do.
Hmm they both have there advantages in certain situations if you know what I mean lol
No please not wipes. What happens is if you sewage pipe work is not completley smooth the wipes will/can snag. I have had loads of blocked pipes because of this. and trust me power jeting you pipe is not cheap. stick with the paper stuff.
Always ensure any wipes you use are indeed flushable. We get an awful lot of blocked toilet calls from people flusing wipes down the toilet.
Sounds like a nightmare!
I have had to speak to my neighbour regarding her flushing babywipes down our shared drain. Of course only mine blocks. She’s been cooperative but my/our drains are old and at 4″ diameter not built for modern products. I live in dread of the sound of my toilet bubbling. Again.
Flushable wipes are definitely more expensive but it can actually eliminate more maintenance expenses so the price will be just break even. The vendor logistics may make the difference.
This very topic actually encouraged me to make a product that can be added to normal toilet paper.It’s safer for the pipes, and much cheaper than the flush-able wet wipes.See it at mytidytush.com.
I like the wipes best. Make me feel extra clean.
I like wipes for cleaning my hands and house but I don’t think I’ve used them for my delicate bits…I could see how they might feel nice and clean, but I wouldn’t want to use them all the time, I would have assumed they wouldn’t dissolve as well as good ol’ tp!
-Lizzy-