A jaw-dropping image from Australia serves as a stark reminder of why flushing baby wipes is a big no-no.
Diaper wipes are incredibly handy for cleaning up, well, just about anything. However, they can create a major headache when you try to flush them down the toilet, turning into a huge sludge that clogs sewer systems. That’s why every package of diaper wipes clearly states: “Do not flush.”
Sound familiar? Unfortunately, it seems some folks aren’t heeding this warning.
The Lower Hunter Water Authority in Australia recently released an astonishing photo that illustrates the damage these seemingly innocent baby wipes can wreak. The image captures a crane—yes, a crane—lifting a staggering 23-foot, 1,653-pound mass of baby wipes from a blocked sewer pipe. And that’s just part of the mess; workers had to manually extract an additional 661 pounds of wipes and other debris.
These “fatbergs”—the term used to describe large clumps of wet wipes, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and other non-flushable items clogging sewers—have plagued cities for years. Back in 2014, London workers spent 10 days removing a fatberg the size of a double-decker bus from their underground sewer system. A study by Kimberley-Clarke Corporation found that around 90 percent of materials in U.S. sewage systems weren’t meant to be flushed. What’s going on, people?
According to water services expert Sam Reynolds, the situation has worsened with the rise of “flushable” wipes, leading many to mistakenly believe that any type of wipe can go down the toilet. Spoiler alert: they can’t.
Most diaper wipes are not designed to break down. When flushed, they expand instead of decomposing, contributing to the formation of fatbergs that can cause sewage backups in homes and buildings. This also creates a massive workload for sanitation workers.
Sam suggests that the only acceptable destination for diaper wipes is the trash can. “The safest rule of thumb for what belongs in your toilet is the three Ps—pee, paper, and poo,” says Sam. “Everything else should stay out of the sewer.”
While it might seem tempting to flush dirty wipes away for good, doing so just guarantees that someone will eventually have to retrieve them—likely using heavy machinery. It’s not a good idea, and if you’ve been in the habit of flushing diaper wipes, consider this your friendly reminder to stop immediately!
For more insights on topics like this, check out this other post on our blog, Intracervical Insemination. And for those navigating their fertility journey, Make A Mom offers excellent resources. Additionally, March of Dimes is a fantastic place to find support for fertility treatments and planning a family.
In summary, flushing diaper wipes is not only harmful to plumbing systems but also a significant inconvenience for sanitation services. Remember, the only proper place for these wipes is the trash can!