topic Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes in Community Chat

Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

novamc1 — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:10:37 GMT

This is a summary of a New York Times story that appears in today's Atlanta newspaper. You can access the story online if you are willing to jump thru some hoops. I'm not.

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Many Americans seem to be following recommendations of public health officials to clean and sterilize countertops, doorknobs, faucets and other frequently touched surfaces.

Many are then tossing the disinfectant wipes, paper towels and other paper products into toilets.

The result has been a coast-to-coast surge in backed up sewer lines and overflowing toilets, according to plumbers and public officials, who have pleaded with Americans to spare the nation's pipes from further strain.

Many say the woes besieging the nation's infrastructure have been compounded by lack of toilet paper on store shelves, leading some to use paper towels, napkins or baby wipes instead.

Officials say flushable wipes are not truly flushable. They might go down the drain, but do not break up like regular toilet paper.

Another bad idea is substituting facial tissue for toilet paper, unless used in small amounts and flushed frequently.

Plumbers say calls are increasing from people working from home and self-quarantining.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

SilleeMee — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:16:28 GMT

Unfortunately I paid a the Rooter guy good money to tell me that, if you get my drift. Now I don't flush anything but tp.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

software — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:16:37 GMT

During this shutdown I've learned people have no common sense anymore.

About many things, not just this

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

PINKdogWOOD — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:21:27 GMT

Apparently along with dismay of all that's going on right now, people forgot how to read.

NOWHERE on these containers does it say okay to flush in your toilet. Certainly mothers with babies who use these already knows you cannot flush these towels.

Flush these things, clog your toilet, and then JUST TRY to find a plumber to show up to fix your toilet. Good luck with that!

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

Mimi 1883 — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:28:44 GMT

@novamc1 <smh> Some people can be so stupid. 🙄

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

Gorgf — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:43:56 GMT

If you live in the country with a septic system and one learns early on what can not be flushed. I only use septic safe TP by Scott. It is thin and scratchy but worth less headaches. I am fortunate to have a supply as have only used that brand.

By the way, it must be my imagination but it seems like there are more TP TV commercials especially the Charmin bears. I guess on my mind so notice the frequency or else they are just teasing us!

I can legally burn small amounts of paper in a container or campfire pit.. Right now I have limited garbage pick up due to the road bans for big trucks on side roads with the frost coming out of the ground.It happens every year.

They are telling the Snow Birds to delay coming to summer homes and cabins fearing our small hospitals could not accommodate them if too many are ill.. Our summer population normally triples each year.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

pommom — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:47:19 GMT

@PINKdogWOOD

Unfortunately, Kimberly-Clark Corp doesn't agree with us. I'm looking at my Cottonelle Flushable wipes and on the package is a tag that reads "Designed for toilets. Tested with plumbers." Ummmm.... NOOOOO!

We don't flush ours and never have. The results would be costly.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

PINKdogWOOD — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:51:09 GMT

@pommom This is unfortunate, perhaps the material they use is different from other companies, I don't know. But like you, no way would I flush these.

Many of these are made more like a fabric, not paper like toilet paper or a napkin.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

jackthebear — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:55:17 GMT

@software wrote:
During this shutdown I've learned people have no common sense anymore.

About many things, not just this

totally

how about just using some cleaner instead

you don't need a wipe for everything

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

Pecky — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:56:53 GMT

It's just common sense not to flush these. It even states it on the container.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

pommom — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:57:12 GMT

@PINKdogWOOD

Not to mention what it does to marine life.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

PINKdogWOOD — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:58:37 GMT

AMEN @pommom

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

Moonlady — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:16:16 GMT

Public officials have "pleaded with the public" over this issue? Really? Where?

As was discussed at length in yet another thread (with pictures) about this LONGSTANDING problem, Americans have been tossing these unflushable wipes down the toilet for YEARS--with disastrous consequences for their neighbors--not just for them.

Now it's worse because they're flushing not only more of them but also everything they're using instead of TP. Still, there are no major announcements about this, and there should be, rather than an occasional filler article.

Sadly, all people have to see is a commercial with kids talking about clean, shiny heinies, and airhead adults jump on the bandwagon and suddenly can't live without that garbage.

Americans with their hangups CONTINUE to wreak havoc on the country's sewer system. And if you think a plumber can fix it, think again.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

SharkE — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:18:43 GMT

Read the thread in here about "going to the post office" I told a gal what she could expect if she kept doing this. I did my due diligence just hope she heeds my warning.

I wouldn't want all that 'stuff' coming up in my kitchen sink, tub, shower, commodes, etc. Bacteria and smell probably can't find purex out there either to sterilize all these places. Your stuck in a living nitemare.

https://community.qvc.com/t5/Community-Chat/At-My-Local-Post-Office/m-p/6119551#M1536417

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

Deree — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:15:22 GMT

The Management in my condo distributed a memo warning people not to flush those wipes.

I had somewhat of a funny thing happen in my tub. I had grabbed a couple of packages of scented baby wipes by accident. I was so nauseated by the smell and I'm sensitive to scented products that I decided to let them soak in a basin of water in the tub to get rid of the smell. When I went to retrieve them after a few hours one wipe fell out of the basin slipped down the tub drain clogging it. Thankfully this was right before the real panic and one of our maintenance staff was able to snake it out.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

Twoaces — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:29:16 GMT

In many countries, especially third world, it is not ok to flush ANY kind of paper down the toilet. A waste basket with a liner is often kept beside the toilet for paper disposal. When I am in those countries, I HATE it, but the sewer lines are preserved by following that practice. Maybe we should be ready to adopt that practice when we run out of normal TP.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

novamc1 — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 14:30:12 GMT

After moving to this part of the country, I've been shocked at the number of periodic news reports about sewage spills into creeks and other places.

Often, the backups and spills are said to be caused by excessive grease, which probably comes from careless restaurant disposal. Grease combined with wipes must make a heckuva mess!!

However, I wouldn't be surprised if ignorant citizens don't know that we shouldn't pour cooking grease down drains--or they just don't care as long as it doesn't wind up in THEIR drain.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:39:05 GMT

If the wipes say they are flushable, I'm not sure how it's a common sense issue. To me it's a false advertising issue.

That's like saying something is edible and then you eat it and get sick because it wasn't really edible.

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

chlema — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:52:20 GMT

@Lipstickdiva Yes, many containers of wipes say they are flushable. I don't know why they are permitted to say this since any plumber will tell you what happens when you flush them. $$$

Re: Americans clogging toilets with sanitizing wipes

lovescats — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:56:21 GMT

If you read these forums there are people on the boards that flush them down the toliet. I don't think local communities can afford to sue these companies that say they are flushable. If this thread makes one person stop doing it will be good.