In an age of increased virus awareness, wipes are everywhere. Between standard wet wipes primed for travel, makeup removing wipes, disinfecting wipes, and baby wipes, there’s seemingly a damp and disposable cloth for your every cleaning need. According to a report on the U.S. wipes market, the industry was valued at $5.58 billion and is expected to reach $8.03 billion by 2027.

Unfortunately, while the disposal of said wipes may be convenient, it’s not necessarily sustainable. And when it comes to those that claim to be sewage-safe, one has to wonder—are flushable wipes really flushable? 

What Are Flushable Wipes?

An unfortunate truth: Flushable wipes are really just regular old wipes by another name. The term itself—along with the time it takes for them to deteriorate—is largely unregulated. In fact, 90% of the wet wipes on the market are made from plastics like polyester or polypropylene that can cause potentially long-term damage to the environment and your local waterways. 

Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable?

Despite their name, flushable wipes shouldn’t actually be flushed, as they have the potential to get stuck and combine with other materials to block up your pipes and clog up area water sources, causing expensive sewage damage.

As all wipes are designed to attach to oil and grease build-up, picking up the gunk in your underground systems which can form solid waste material known as a fatberg. This sediment clogs pipes and requires costly professional intervention to be removed.

In short? Even if the packaging says flushable wipes are safe to flush, researchers and plumbers themselves have experiences that prove otherwise.