This article does not provide medical advice. The information on site is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, your child’s pediatrician, or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding your or your child’s health.

Baby wipes are a popular household product and an essential for most parents. Their primary purpose is to help clean babies and small children during diaper changes (and for sticky hands!), but they can also be used for surfaces and products (we always recommend fragrance-free baby wipes, also known as no-fragrance baby wipes).

Much of the popularity of baby wipes comes from their convenience; they are easy to use and can be disposed of quickly when compared to washing a cloth or towel. There is, however, one question that remains–are baby wipes flushable?

While some manufacturers claim that their wipes are safe to flush down the toilet, it's essential to understand the potential consequences of flushing them before you do. At Coterie, we take our eco responsibilities very seriously, so we looked at the risks of so-called 'flushable' wipes and the alternatives you can choose to ensure the best choice for your baby and your family.

What Are 'Flushable' Wipes?

As you have likely seen, the baby care market is awash with so-called 'flushable' baby wipes, which manufacturers claim can be easily flushed away down the toilet without a second thought. The truth, however, is that most of these 'flushable' wipes are not actually flushable and can cause serious problems for your plumbing and the planet.

Why Flushing Baby Wipes Is a Bad Idea

Some of the main issues that can arise from flushing wipes include:

Clogs

Clogging your toilet is one of the most likely outcomes to arise from trying to flush baby wipes, and this can be an expensive mistake. In most cases, even so-called 'flushable' wipes are not made from biodegradable material, meaning they will not break down quickly as they travel through the pipes. Over time, this can build up and cause blockages in the pipes, leading to slow-draining water and overflowing toilets.

Sewer Damage

Flushed baby wipes can also stick to the sides of sewer pipes, leading to damage over time. This damage can eventually become so severe that costly repairs have to be undertaken–an issue that not only affects you by having to shut off your water, but that can also increase costs.

Environmental Concerns

Flushing baby wipes can also have a negative impact on the environment. In many cases, these wipes end up in waterways and can take a long time to break down, potentially harming marine life and water quality the longer they are left in place.

How to Properly Dispose of Baby Wipes

The best way to dispose of baby wipes is to throw them away in the trash. This way, you can avoid any potential plumbing or environmental issues. Simply wrap the wipes in a plastic bag and place them in a trash can or diaper bin.

In Closing

The bottom line is that you should be fairly skeptical of manufacturers who claim to have invented the ultimate ‘flushable’ wipe (the same goes for other claims–no, baby wipes are not antibacterial).

In many cases, flushing this product down your toilet will cause far more issues than it solves. Instead, throw your wipes in the trash! For the highest quality wipes that are made of 99% purified water, Coterie has you covered. Check out The Wipe today!