As someone whose biggest pet peeve is a clogged toilet, I wouldn’t dare flush anything that won’t dissolve, let alone some baby wipes that could jam the loo. I think the word “pet peeve” doesn’t even give justice to how disgusting it is to deal with a blocked toilet. Still, despite the risk of clogging the toilet, many have yet to shake off the habit of discarding cleansing wipes in the loo.
Can Baby Wipes Be Flushed?
Baby wipes, when flushed down the drain, can accumulate, and clump up together inside the sewers. The result? A toilet that’s out of order. Wet wipes aren’t biodegradable, which means they can’t be broken down or decomposed by microbes. Thus, they can’t be dissolved and will cause massive plumbing issues if left unattended.
Some baby wipes labeled “biodegradable,” can still clog your toilet as they’re not as flimsy as toilet paper. They are made durable to withstand friction or resist tearing when cleaning or ridding your baby’s bum of poop–which means they’re impervious to decay, leaving your toilet clogged and in disrepair.
Why Does Maintaining Your House’s Drainage System Matter?
Disposing of wet wipes down the toilet or any foreign items will not only wreak havoc on your house sewer but also on the whole community as well. Damaging the neighborhood’s drainage system due to the improper, negligent disposal of non-biodegradable materials shows a lack of empathy and consideration.
We must be reminded that any damage to the community’s sewage not only causes disruption and unwanted expenses but will adversely impact the health of people in our neighborhood.
How to Dissolve Baby Wipes in the Toilet?
If you’re aiming to dissolve baby wipes in the toilet using strong chemicals, you might as well skip it. It’s just not worth the trouble, not only because baby wipes are often made of plastic materials that can’t be broken down, but also because you may end up wrecking your toilet’s material, including the drain pipes, causing chips or cracks– rendering your toilet compromised, utterly beyond repair.
Nonetheless, if you insist on flushing down wet wipes in the loo, you may want to use Pura Natural Sensitive Baby Wipes. We still prefer that you avoid flushing wet wipes down the loo. But if you can’t dodge it, you might as well use baby wipes that break down far more efficiently in landfills than other brands.
Pura Natural Sensitive Baby Wipes
It’s one of the best eco-friendly baby wipes we can find that decompose in the environment. It’s also good to note that it’s safe to use for a newborn with sensitive or eczema skin, thanks to its gentle, eco-friendly formulation—it’s made without the usual chemicals found in some baby wipes such as fragrance, chlorine, alcohol, and parabens.
So, what makes Pura able to disintegrate more quickly than other brands? It’s 100% plastic-free and made from biodegradable plant fibers that dissolve once it comes into contact with microorganisms.
The downside? Pura baby wipes are flimsier than other brands, so you may end-up using two or more for a deep clean. It’s made thinner, so it can decompose quicker once it’s flushed down the drain.
How Can I Prevent My Toilet From Clogging?
Prevention is better than cure, as people often say. We can apply the same idea if we want to keep our toilets clogged-free at all times. Given that, here are some tips to ensure you get to dodge the dreaded “out of order” signage on your toilet door when families and friends drop by for a visit.
- Avoid flushing foreign items down your toilet such as wet wipes, paper towels, cotton swabs, or any non-biodegradable material. And though toilet paper is allowed, avoid flushing a large amount, especially if you’re already contending with a weak flushing toilet.
- The toilet is a magnet for kids as they love splashing around in water. Keeping it locked will not only prevent your little ones from throwing stuff into the toilet, such as a thick clump of toilet tissue, toys, and other items– it will also help mitigate accidents as toilets are a drowning hazard for the kids, not to mention jamming their tiny fingers against the toilet’s lid. Thus, you may want to childproof your toilet by securing the lid with a latch using the Baby Toilet Lock by Wappa Baby.
Installation is easy and it’s convenient to use. Lock by Wappa Baby is one of the most highly rated toilet locks on Amazon. However, a flat toilet lid is required, and the adhesive might not hold well for toddlers with strong grip. A tip one dad suggested is not to use the lock for 24 hours to ensure it will adhere more securely.
- If you’re perennially constipated, you could end up clogging your toilet due to the accumulation of hard feces getting stuck in the loo. Resolving constipation issues is crucial to ensure poop will flush more easily. Sticky poop can also block the drainage pipe, especially if you have a weak flush toilet or if the water pressure is low.
- Clean your toilet as often as needed. Keeping your toilet clean is not only crucial to maintaining a cleaner and healthier home environment but also keeping your loo in working order at all times. Keep the rim jets under your toilet bowl clean and free of mineral deposits and gunk to avoid bacteria buildup and blocked toilet scenarios. Dirt and hard water deposits can block the flow of water resulting in clogged toilets.
- If you have a slow-moving septic system, expect your toilet to be prone to clogs. A slow septic means the drainage flow stalls quite often, causing blockage. To resolve this issue, have your septic tank pumped regularly and cleaned between one to three years.
And if you’re constantly dealing with a clogged toilet, you may want to consider checking the following:
Clogged drain line
Low water pressure ( resulting in a meager amount of water in the tank)
Hard water build-up
Old or collapsing pipes that may need repiping
A low-flush toilet ( you may need to upgrade to a newer model)
To keep our restroom in good working condition, we must address common toilet issues head-on. Remember, the more we procrastinate resolving the problem, the less manageable it becomes.