Flushable Wipes Test Video
Flushable Wipes Video | Watch this video to see what happens with name-brand flushable wipes when flushed in a normal household toilet. This was part of the March 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Emergency Alert regarding COVID-19.
Flushable Wipes - Not Great for Septic Systems Not Terrible For Covered Bathroom Garbage Cans
Please read my original column about flushable wipes.
Read the complaint letter I received from the Responsible Flushing Alliance about my column.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When you watch the following video, pay very close attention to the end where Tim Carter is back on camera. He'll tell you exactly what you should flush down toilets. If you don't hear him mention a product you didn't see in the video demonstration, then that means DO NOT FLUSH it down your toilet.
Here's a photo of the test setup I used to create this video:
This is the testing setup for my video. It's a true test for what happens in your home. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
Very informative. Thank you.
Great to learn more about flushable wipes. Looking forward to learning about other home related areas.
I have been a maintenance tech for 39 years and I tell people all the time that not to flush these into toilets and other women products into toilets we had so many clogged lines backed up because of these products damaged to carpets flooring and ceilings
I thought your flushing video was very interesting. Most people today Don't have any common sense and have No idea how plumbing actually works.
Thanks
To take this a step further, the flushable wipes also create problems at the water treatment facility. The water district in my town (I live in central Connecticut) publishes a reminder in the local paper asking people not to flush these wipes. They clog the machinery that helps remove solids from the waste water as it enters the plant, which means a shutdown, unclogging, and restarting of the machines.
Great work on this, Tim. I learned this the hard way with Prep H wipes. The packaging says "Flushable and Septic Safe" yet they caused a major clog in our drain line and required expensive septic tank pumping. How can they get away with this?
I'd like to see your same test with clumpable kitty litter...
Excellent video and I hope these people that gave you a hard time accept these facts. I think an apology is in order??!!
Thanks for taking the time to do this and get this info out to people!
Thanks a ton for putting this together Tim. I wish all home owners, renters, DIYers and students watch this video and get educated on plumbing systems and contributors to plumbing problems. I can imagine the results with 60 plus year old drain pipes buried near old trees with lots of roots.
I was fortunate to view the drain pipe to the street during city survey and sewage work a few years back. Needless to say, I'm glad I had the good sense to insist on toilet paper only over the past 33 years.
Interesting. It's true that not all manufacturers' directions are correct as they say. Thanks for the important tips.
Thank you for a great film! I came to interest in building late in life and I enjoy all of your columns. Keep them coming!
Tim,
I keep track of you by reading your columns in the WaPost. You have not changed in looks -still handsome, and the flush video is your sense of humor... a real hoot!! Love from Cincy
Great info here Tim. Maybe not so PC to show it, but would've been interesting to see what happens to tampons. I assume they'd have same result as the better wipes (as in, not disintegrating)? Have been using a waste can instead of the toilet for those now for years, but would've been good for my younger self to have really understood how this works much earlier. At least my daughter's now got it! 🙂
Kendra,
The original column that spawned the video had nothing to do with feminine hygiene products. It was focused on unethically named "flushable" wipes.
One would hope that it's common sense to NEVER flush a tampon or pad or ???? down a toilet. But if you read enough of my comments, you'll soon discover common sense is on the wane.
As I said in my original flushable wipes column, just because you can flush something down a toilet - a tampon will almost always make it through - doesn't mean you SHOULD FLUSH it.
interesting stuff, tim. unfortunately, the quest for expedience and an unwillingness to do more than is absolutely required will spell job security for you and all plumber brothers & sisters. as the saying goes, "just can you can, doesn't mean you should".
We live in a small Mobile Home park and I was the maintenance man for over ten years. We have a lift station with grinder pumps to pump it up to our sewer plant and when people would have visitors we would have the grinder pumps get clogged with tampons. I wish everyone could see your video while still in school, so they could learn what not to do.
Just think about an RV black tank full of flushable wipes and how they cling to the rinse head in the black tank. Took a strong solution of cleaning chemicals, three days of down time and 20 miles of driving (Solution mixing) to get them to break down enough for the tank rinser to work again. After a lot of grumbling they no longer get flushed.
Tim, thanks for your efforts on this simulation. Are we to conclude the more a products down, the better? So I’m this instance, the cheaper TP?
I have no idea what "the more a products down" means. I believe the video shows you exactly what to do and what NOT to do, don't you agree?
I'm guessing Chris means "the more a product breaks down" or disintegrates.
Just finished watching your flushable wipes video but I was hoping you were going to include newspaper. I remember during WWII there was a shortage of toilet paper and many people, if not most, were using newspaper as wipes. What is your opinion on this?
Thanks for the video. It was very helpful to see especially since we grandkids who use tons of toilet paper every time they come over and we have had to use a plunger to clear the lines. What is your opinion on this situation?
I think I stated my opinion at the end of the video. What did I say to put into the toilet????? Watch it one more time.
Tim, I’m not sure why my message above came out garbled. I am asking if it’s best to buy the single-ply TP because it breaks down the best during a flush?
It depends. If you're on a city sewer, but the time your top-quality paper makes it to the plant it will be completely broken down. If you're on a septic tank, look at how the two TPs compare!!! Look at what has to happen in your septic tank!!!
I had my family quit putting wipes down the toilet years ago because of my concerns about them clogging up my septic system. This was confirmed by many septic issues we started to have at the office. It almost always was because of wipes clogging the system somewhere. Great test Mike. Thanks for confirming my concerns and actions taken over the years.
I am in pump repair business for municipalities. Wipes have made us a whole lot of money from the problems they cause.
Tim,
Amazing & interesting test. I see you went to a lot of effort to conduct it. FYI, as landlord I've pulled army men and other toys out of the toilet because they got stuck in the toilet.
Finally watched the video. Reminded me when I sold RV's we were always told not to use Charmin because it clogged up the tank and didn't disolve.
Tim, I wish you would use your column to espouse the benefits of using a good quality bidet toilet seat. We have one made by Toto and it is probably my favorite home improvement project ever. Our TP usage was cut by 80% or more (still need a wipe to “dry off”). You can trick out with water heating, oscillation, seat warming, night light, auto seat cover opening, etc but not necessary. You can retrofit your existing toilet or get one tointegrate into the toilet if you replace your toilet. Only downside is you wont want to “go’’ anywhere else. Game changer as well if you happen to have any medical issues.
I have used flushable wipes for years with no trouble but when I moved into my Florida home the toilets plugged up twice in one week. So after two plummers and two new toilets and nearly one thousand dollars all is well. Except for my wallet!
Awesome! Thank you so much for this video. I’m sure all your hard work has saved many a homeowner from disaster.
Great video, well planned and executed. All product test facilities should be made to document their results as you did. Thank you, Tim, for all your help to the American public. Every video and article of yours has been helpful.
I remember this video. And my family knows to never flush 'flushable' wipes!
Great simulation. Wish you would have used different Facial tissues, Kleenix. Thanks
How do I clean my pipes if I have been using flushable wipes? I want to ensure my pipes are claen after i stop using the wipes.