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There\u2019s no doubt that flushable wipes have become the preferred bathroom companion in households everywhere. Not only do they clean more thoroughly than toilet paper ever could, but they\u2019re also just as easy to dispose of. However, there\u2019s a darker side to flushable wipe that you might not be aware of.<\/p>\n
Although simply flushing something away gives it the illusion of making it disappear forever, flushable wipes simply go out of sight. They can linger around in your pipe system and cause\u00a0clogs\u00a0that are expensive to repair, and can even cause expensive damages to your city and state sewage systems.<\/p>\n
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In 2013, the city of London had a massive problem on their hands when they had to remove a greasy, 15-ton mass of congealed grease from the city\u2019s already overburdened sewer system. Disposable wipes were a big part of the mess, which took over three weeks for city workers to clean up. A spokesman told\u00a0The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0newspaper that congealed grease and wet wipes were the main culprits in the \u201csewer abuse\u201d crime.<\/p>\n The reason flushable wipes are such a problem for household and municipal pipe systems is that they potentially cause blockages.<\/p>\n All wet wipes, be they flushable wipes, baby wipes, or wet wipes used for household cleaning, are made of a material called non-woven cloth. This cloth is created when machines use jets of air to form and press cotton or wood fibers into sheets of material.<\/p>\n Non-woven cloth is very sturdy, which is one reason why consumers prefer flushable wipes over toilet tissue. However, the sturdiness is a double-edged sword. Non-woven cloth can easily block a pipe and prevent anything else from flowing through it. If the problem goes on for long enough, you could end up stuck with drain cleaning bills that you could\u2019ve avoided.<\/p>\n Also in 2013, city of New York environmental specialists estimated that flushable wipes had caused over $18 million in damages to the city\u2019s sewage system. New York\u2019s sewers are already under a heavy burden. In some areas, as little as one tenth of an inch of storm water per hour can cause flash flooding.<\/p>\n The added problem of disposable wipe clogs only makes matters worse.<\/p>\n The problem is so pronounced that is has resulted in lawsuits and pushes for legislation. Cities including New York are putting legal pressure on wipe manufacturers to clearly label their products as flushable or non-flushable. Wipe brands are famously vague in this area, as they aren\u2019t obligated to specify whether or not their product is pipe-friendly. If they do include \u201cDo not flush\u201d instructions on the package, they\u2019re usually hidden and written in tiny print.<\/p>\n If legislation efforts are successful, then they\u2019ll be required to clearly include \u201cDo not flush\u201d warnings on their packages.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt that flushable wipes cause more controversy the more popular they get. However if you find you simply can\u2019t live without them, then try this cost-effective flushable wipes alternative.<\/p>\n They\u2019re safer for drains, and they\u2019re also made from common household items you probably already have.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll need:<\/strong><\/p>\nCreate Homemade Flushable Wipes<\/h2>\n