There’s a bit of a buzz around so-called ‘flushable’ wipes at the moment – and it’s not all good. On the one hand, they’re moist with a special hygienic cleansing solution, which for some people makes them a lot more attractive and practical than toilet paper. And the best part is that you just flush them down the loo when you’re done. What could go wrong? Well, firstly, there’s actually still an outstanding question: Are flushable wipes actually flushable?

It wasn’t too long ago when the Australian Federal Court heard a case brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) – with the ACCC alleging that one particular brand marketing flushable toilet wipes were actually responsible for one heck of a lot of blocked pipes. And that was just a year before another ‘flushable wipes’ brand was fined $700,000 for the same offence.

As ever, it’s those who spend the most time elbow-deep in toilet drains and cleaning Gold Coast sewers – professional plumbers! – who are best placed to provide the answer. So let’s clear a few things up:

1. Are flushable wipes flushable?

Sort of. Yes, they break down – eventually. With toilet paper, as long as it’s not in massive dense clumps, it’s designed to very quickly and easily break down with an intense swirl of water. But there’s no doubt about it: flushable baby wipes are not as flushable as toilet paper and they cause more sewer blockages and toilet problems. Full stop.

2. What happens when they’re flushed?

Again, while it’s true that eventually, these flushable wet wipes break down, it takes longer. So if a toilet drain is being asked to flush a lot of them, the chances of a blockage are higher not necessarily because of the wipes alone, but because the toilet paper and everything else that goes down the drain needs to potentially share space with them. And that’s what usually leads to a hopeless blockage – a combination of gunk.

Find out more here:

https://goldcoastplumbingexperts.com.au/plumbing-tips/are-flushable-wipes-actually-flushable/

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Gold Coast Plumbing Experts

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