How Long Does It Take Flushable Wipes To Dissolve? A Step-by-step Analysis

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Have you ever used a flushable wipe instead of toilet paper? If yes, then, at a point in time you must have asked yourself that how long does It take flushable wipes to dissolve? You are going to find out in this post.

At first, you’re not sure how you feel about it, but after a few more trips to the restroom, you may likely get hooked.

In recent years, products like flushable wipes have been marketed as a way to feel “cleaner” and “fresher,” but most people don’t know that they have damaged wastewater systems across the country.

Even though they might be good at cleaning and it says “flushable” on the package, are these wipes safe to flush?

According to an article in the Washington Post about how flushable wipes clog sewer systems, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, which handles sewage for 1.8 million people, recently spent more than $1 million to install grinders that will shred wipes and other debris so it won’t clog treatment plant pumps.

How Long Does It Take Flushable Wipes To Dissolve?

The District’s water and sewer agency, DC Water, said that more than 500 man-hours were used to unclog pipes and fix broken equipment. They also said that broken pumps and clogged sewer lines have increased by about 35% over the past few years.

Flushable Wipes: The Reality

While flushable wipes are advertised as being “flushable” and “septic-safe,” it stands to reason that they can be disposed of in this manner without any problems. Wrong! These wipes do dissolve, but it takes much longer than regular toilet paper.

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Flushable wipes don’t decompose as quickly as other materials, therefore they can cause backups and other plumbing problems. If you put your home’s plumbing at risk for significant blockages, you may expect to pay a lot more to get it fixed.

What “Flushable” Items Causes Blocks?

When you flush these wipes down the toilet, they can get stuck with other things in your sewer line. People often flush things like thick toilet paper, paper towels, cotton swabs, dental floss, sanitary pads, and toilet cleaning pads, which can cause clogs.

When these things are put together with flushable wipes, they make a clog called “ragging.” If this happens to you, it is best you call a plumbr right away.

Should I Flush Flushable Wipes?

Manufacturers give test results that say flushable wipes are safe to flush. However, there is evidence that shows flushing these wipes can increase the risk of clogged sewer lines and make it necessary to pump septic tanks more often. You might think wipes are the best thing ever but you shouldn’t use them. Other than “the obvious,” toilet paper is the only thing that should be flushed.

Conclusion

If you are worried that flushable wipe products are causing or have caused a problem with your system, stop flushing the items in question. Instead, put them in bags and put them out with the trash. Even if something says it can be flushed, that doesn’t mean it should.