The Dangers of Flushing Even “Flushable” Wipes Down the Toilet

Flushing a wipe (especially one labeled as “flushable”) may seem like no big deal, but it actually can cause clogs and blockages that could cost you thousands. I’m a fiber scientist at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab where I conducted dissolvability tests and found that wipes that advertise as being “flushable” or “plumbing safe” don’t break down like toilet paper does. In our testing, not one flushable wipe dissolved as quickly as toilet paper. I reached out to plumbers to hear their perspective and they all agreed with me: Never flush any type of wipe—even a “flushable” one.

Toilet paper and wipes are made from different materials and construction. While toilet paper is made from dried wood pulp pressed into thin sheets, wipes are a non-woven fabric made with wood pulp often blended with synthetic materials for a thicker, stronger material. Because wipes are thicker and stronger, they don’t break down in the same way toilet paper does. Here is an example from our dissolvability test:

Above is an example of how quickly toilet paper breaks down compared to...

... a flushable wipe which barely breaks down at all in our evaluations.

There are major consequences to flushing wipes: both environmental and economical.

Environmental risks

Wipes get stuck in the pipes when they don’t break down causing large pile-ups of this material in sewers.

After you flush a wipe, the thick material can get stuck inside the pipes, creating blockages and even “fatbergs,” which are large solid masses of congealed fats, oils, and grease that combine with non-biodegradable items, like wipes. This can ultimately lead to sewage leakage, which contaminates nearby water supplies. The wipes themselves can also leech out chemicals and microfiber shedding, which is harmful to the local environment too.

“They can clog pipes and equipment at wastewater treatment plants, increasing the risk of sewage overflows into streets and waterways,” explains Eddie Linares, American Home Shield Virtual Plumbing Expert. “Flushable wipes can even end up in the environment where animals could mistake them for food, causing health issues.”

Hidden cost

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) estimates that flushed wipes cost about $441 million to $1 billion per year in extra operation and maintenance expenses on water utility bills. Plus, if you experience clogged pipes in your own home, plumbing bills can be extremely expensive.

Linares notes, “Many toilet manufacturers actually discourage consumers from using flushable wipes—some even void the toilet unit’s warranty if they are used.” He also says that it can cost a homeowner “upwards of thousands of dollars” to replace a section of pipe damaged by flushable wipes.

For a great clean without the environmental risk, here are our top-tested alternatives to flushable wipes:

✔️ Bidets: The best alternative to wipes is a bidet. In other countries, bidets are much more common, but they are increasing in popularity in the US. The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab has tested 20 different bidets, including a great under $150 option from TUSHY.

✔️ Toilet paper foam: Pump a bit of a toilet paper foam like this one onto toilet paper and it becomes a moist wipe instantly (albeit, not as strong as a real wipe).

✔️ Tossing wipes in the trash: If you have a small garbage bin in your bathroom, just toss your wipes in the bin instead of down the toilet. This way, you can still enjoy your favorite wipes without damaging your pipes (and ultimately, the local water supply).

Because of the environmental and economical risks, you should never flush a wipe down the toilet—whether it’s listed as flushable or not. Flushable wipes will break down more than a baby wipe will, but not nearly as well as toilet paper usually does.

Emma Seymour is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab where she has been testing paper products since 2018. She has a degree in Fiber Science from Cornell University.