topic Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables..... in Community Chat

Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

muttmom — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:59:42 GMT

Yesterday there was a segment on the local news about the tens of thousands of flushable wipes that are get caught in the NYC sewage system.

I know it's gross but if you watch this segment you will more than likely think twice before you flush one again.

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

Demitra1 — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:03:56 GMT

I don't think they are a good thing. I had a house guest for several months and I know disposable wipes were used. I was really glad I had no plumbing problems, but surprised at the same time.

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

Ellis Dea — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:18:53 GMT

Eeeeuuuuuwwwww gross!

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

sylviahomeatlast — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:24:11 GMT

never flush anything except thin TP---not Kleenex or any other ---we. have old clay sewer pipes that develop hair line cracks where teeny roots creep in and snag stuff

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

Irshgrl31201 — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:27:34 GMT

People should not flush anything down their toilet but toilet paper. Not paper towels, "flushable wipes", nothing but TP.

These type of products while marketed as flushable take a lot longer to break down and are causing lots of problems in sewer systems across the country.

Every plumber I have ever talked to thinks the only thing that should be going down the drain is toilet paper.

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/are_flushable_bathroom_products_safe_for_sewer_and_septic_systems

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

traveler — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:32:13 GMT

Exactly why I hate the commercial with the British woman selling the wipes. No,no,no

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

------ — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 00:31:25 GMT

On 6/5/2014 Irshgrl31201 said:
People should not flush anything down their toilet but toilet paper. Not paper towels, "flushable wipes", nothing but TP.

These type of products while marketed as flushable take a lot longer to break down and are causing lots of problems in sewer systems across the country.

Every plumber I have ever talked to thinks the only thing that should be going down the drain is toilet paper.

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/are_flushable_bathroom_products_safe_for_sewer_and_septic_systems

Yup.

What surprised me in the other thread was how many women didn't care about the environmental consequences of flushing sanitary products down the toilet. Cotton take ages to degrade. It's like flushing a scarf or handkerchief. I guess it's the convenience that matters. Pretty sad.

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

KathyPet — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 00:45:49 GMT

I like these wipes. I don't used them all the time but I do use them. I would think that the companies who make them had to test them before they could make the claim that they are flushable but yet I read stories that they are not. Not sure who to believe.

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

brii — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 00:52:26 GMT

I certainly won't flush tampons anymore. I never flushed wipes or Kleenex

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

RibbonsRosesRainbows — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 01:20:07 GMT

I have never flushed any wipes even though they say you can. I know it has to cause trouble in the future. My neighbors in this complex are always having trouble and I told one lady if she is using baby wipes and flushing then that is probably her problem.....they have not been back since to fix her commode.

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

gazelle77 — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 01:29:09 GMT

Our sewer district sent us a letter just the other day about this. They said the ONLY thing you should flush down the toilet is body waste and toilet paper PERIOD. No food, sanitary napkins, tampax, wipes, chemicals, pharmaceuticals.

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

FUTURE — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 03:27:54 GMT

Remember when Sheryl Crow said to only use two squares of TP? Maybe she was on to something......

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

sidsmom — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 03:59:36 GMT

Did this thread get smaller?

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

Lion — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 04:18:03 GMT

I was taught by dear old Dad not to flush any add'l "stuff" exept TP.

Good advice and I follow it, no matter what the manufacturers say.

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

Shorty2U — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 04:27:38 GMT

Gross! We only use Scott toilet paper, ever since an old plumber I had years ago told me that those thick toilet papers clog toilets.

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

circles — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 04:40:05 GMT

Gee....I always flush the wipes down the toilet...it says they are flushable...

How can those very thick rolls of toilet paper flush and a tiny wipe would cause a problem..

I don't use thick T.P.....I personally hate it choosing something thinner....

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

missy1 — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 05:26:02 GMT

Only flush TP down the toilet. (and not a lot at one time)

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

moonstone dunes — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 05:40:19 GMT

Low-volume flush toilets can cause back up problems. We flush 2x to keep things moving along to the septic tank.

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

------ — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 12:22:01 GMT

On 6/5/2014 KathyPet said: I like these wipes. I don't used them all the time but I do use them. I would think that the companies who make them had to test them before they could make the claim that they are flushable but yet I read stories that they are not. Not sure who to believe.

Would you buy them if they weren't flushable and you had to throw them in the trash? I would guess most people wouldn't because that doesn't seem hygienic. Who wants to see a used wipe in the bin?

Manufacturers want you to buy their products and will say what they need to, short of outright lies, to sell them. Sure they are "flushable" and they claim they are biodegradable and yes they are but it takes many years (if not decades) to break down.

Soak a sheet of toilet paper in water and see if it breaks down. Do the same with a wipe. That should tell you who to believe.

ETA here's another article:

http://www.today.com/money/what-bummer-flushable-wipes-blamed-sewer-woes-4B11235939

Re: Last week there was a thread about flushables.....

Krimpette — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 14:06:11 GMT

On the advice of my plumber, I only use Scott toilet paper. Nothing else goes in my toilet. I like the idea of the flushables, but have always worried about what they might ultimately do to my plumbing.