These days, we all want to do everything we can to protect our planet and reduce the waste we produce. Enter: The flushable wipe! Surely this is the best possible solution to reducing waste in our society…right?
Keep These 6 Things Out of Your Drains
While flushable products may seem like a great idea, there are many problems that can arise from trying to use our plumbing systems as trash cans.
"Flushable" Wipes
There are many household products that are advertised as flushable — and flushable wipes take the crown for false advertising. While technically true (many things can be flushed), the reality is that flushable wipes don't break down in water the way toilet paper does, leading to messy clogs.
Paper Towels
Like flushable wipes, paper towels are simply too thick and aren't designed to break down in sanitary systems. Avoid flushing these whenever possible to avoid a blockage.
Contact Lenses
If you've ever had to put in contact lenses, you know how sticky they can be when not lubricated properly. Flushed down the toilet or down the sink, they can stick to blockages that may already be forming and add to the problem.
Dental Floss
Floss is another small thing that may seem inconsequential to flush down the drain, but that can cause big problems over time. If dental floss gets caught on the inside of your plumbing, it can get wrapped up around all kinds of gunk — leading to a messy, stringy blockage.
Makeup Wipes
Like flushable wipes, makeup removing wipes, cotton pads, and baby wipes are best left in the trash.
"Flushable" Kitty Litter
Again, false advertising takes the win! Cat litter is designed to create clumps when moisture is added. Now, imagine what cat little does in your plumbing. It may seem like you're creating less of a mess with flushable cat litter, but the reality is that you're just moving the mess further down the line (literally and figuratively).
