May 7, 2025

Can You Flush Wipes Down Your Toilet?

Wet wipes can cause serious damage to your home’s plumbing. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t dissolve, and they will clump together inside your pipes and cause major clogs. Flushing wipes down the toilet might not be an immediate issue, but the problems start when the wipes move toward the sewer system. They can also wreak havoc on the local wastewater treatment plant.

If you flush wet wipes down the toilet, you’ll most likely experience plumbing problems in the near future; damage caused by wet wipes can be costly to repair. These damages are easy to avoid, however. Learn why it’s important that you throw away—instead of flush—wet wipes.

CAN YOU FLUSH WIPES DOWN THE TOILET? HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO

4 reasons the answer is “no.”

1. Wipes Dissolve Slowly or Don’t Dissolve at All

Unlike toilet paper, wet wipes, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products don’t break down when flushed. They can take weeks, months, or even years to dissolve. This is why flushing wet wipes could result in a nasty and expensive clog.

In fact, the Los Angeles Sanitation Department posted a Tweet of a two-year-old wipe suspended in a jar of water to demonstrate the long-term dangers wet wipes pose to the plumbing system.

2. Wipes Clump Together 

Wet wipes easily combine with the fat, grease, and other gunk trapped in your pipes. These wet wipe formations can create clogs over 10 feet long and weigh more than 100 pounds—yuck!

If you have any doubts, ask Londoners. They have an entire island of wet wipes forming in the Thames River.

3. Baby Wipes Will Get Caught 

Pipes are often built out of clay, concrete, or iron. These materials are susceptible to invasion from tree roots along your sewer line. When roots enter the pipes, they form a web that can trap outgoing materials trying to pass through.

If you’re flushing wet wipes down the drain, they’ll most likely get caught and start a clog. It’s only a matter of time until that wet wipe dam completely stops sewage from flowing to the street.

4. Wipes Can Damage the Treatment Plant 

You might think, “I’ve put baby wipes in my toilet and never experienced any plumbing issues in my home!” Well, even if the wipes flush down your toilet and don’t wreak havoc on your home’s plumbing, that doesn’t mean they aren’t doing so elsewhere.

Even if the wipes make their way through your plumbing system, they can damage and overheat the industrial-grade pumps at wastewater treatment plants. These damages will cost taxpayers to repair. Some districts have even threatened lawsuits against wipe producers because of the continued damage they do.

Can You Flush Flushable Wipes? 

“Flushable” wet wipes are just wet wipes that are less fibrous and stringy than others. This might make them more likely to dissolve and less likely to clump, but the evidence suggests otherwise.

To prevent clogs and issues with your plumbing, we recommend avoiding flushing all wipes, and here’s why:

• Flushable wipes break down…slowly. Whereas some wet wipes won’t dissolve at all, flushable wet wipes will dissolve. However, the process is so slow that it doesn’t make much difference.
• They will clump with other items in your sewer line. Toilet paper, cotton swabs, dental floss…anything else that’s stuck in the pipeline will clump with the wipes.

Are There Any Wet Wipes You Can Flush?

In short—no. Whether it’s baby wipes, Dude Wipes, or makeup wipes, no wipes are safe to flush. Accidentally flushed wet wipes happen—just don’t make a habit of it. Unless you want to risk a clogged sewer or backed-up septic system—and potentially thousands of dollars in repairs—just throw them in the trash.

What Happens if You Flush Wipes Down Your Toilet?

If you accidentally flushed a baby wipe or “flushable” wipe—or if you didn’t know better until right now—monitor your drains. If you notice slow drainage or gurgling sounds, call Applewood’s plumbing experts right away. Worst case scenario: Your plumbing backs up completely. If it’s too late, get your sewer line cleaned as soon as possible to clear away any buildup that may have accumulated.

If you’ve already flushed wipes or are noticing signs of a clog, don’t wait. Our licensed plumbers can inspect your sewer line, clear any buildup, and save you from a costly backup. Applewood is open 7 days a week—with no overtime charges ever. Schedule your service today!