Are baby wipes flushable?
Even though baby wipes are labeled as flushable – many actually aren’t suitable for either your plumbing or the environment. Although wet wipes have many uses, from wiping away baby mess to cleaning a child’s sticky fingers, they can cause problems in your toilets and pipes at home.
Baby wipes are also great for beauty needs, such as removing eye makeup and cleaning household dust. They are also very handy when out on the go to have a quick clean-up of hands and faces.
Wet wipes take around 500 years to fully break down so they can get clogged and disturb your plumbing system.
But it’s important not to forget the damage they can pass on to the planet, and to always dispose of your flushable wipes properly.
Although baby wipes are very convenient to wipe away wee and poo, they can also contain chemicals that could irritate your baby’s skin. There are lots of biodegradable flushable wipes to choose from and alternatives you can use.
The truth about flushable wipes
Even though your eco-friendly biodegradable wipes may be labeled as ‘flushable’ they are likely to include a mix of cotton and rayon fibers, plastics and polyethylene.
Often these parts of baby wipes break down and causing clogs in the sewer system causing ‘fatberg’s which are harmful to marine life and plumbing systems.
Although there are now wipes that claim to be flushable, you may want to read on and find out some alternative ideas to implement into your nappy changing arsenal.
You can also find out about what sign to look out for ensure your baby wipes are actually flusable wipes.
How can you tell if a baby wipe is safe to flush?
Look out for Water UK’s Fine to Flush symbol on the packaging. Wipes that include this symbol have all passed stringent Water UK testing ensuring that they won’t be harmful to sewer systems.
So always look out for the flush logo and note if the product is plastic free.
Why is it bad to flush baby wipes?
Flushed baby wipes can cause huge damage to your sewer system and marine life.
It is said that flushed baby wipes cause round 93% of blockages in the UK sewage systems and are a huge cost for water companies and plumbing systems.
Environmental damage
But even biodegradable wipes end up on our river beds and waterways, causing harm to marine life and fish.
Many wet wipes contain tiny microplastics which can be ingested by fish causing injury and death. So it’s important to think twice before throwing that wet wipe down the loo.
But it’s not just wet wipes that cause problems in our sewage system. Other items flushed down the loo cause problems too such as toilet paper, tampons, paper towels, dental floss and period care products.
Some people even try and flush nappies down the loo causing huge problems with their drains.
How do I dispose of baby wipes?
The most simple way to get rid of your wipes and save your drains is to pop them in a waste bin. It’s easy to keep a bin by your loo along with other debris so that wipes and be disposed of properly and do not clog up your pipe.
Of course the best answer to this question is to not use disposable baby wipes at all and avoid any flushing problems completely.
Many parents use reusable cloths from material that will make a real difference to the environment and your purse strings. And just imagine the good you will be doing for the environment.
Cloth wipes can be bought from companies on line or you can create your own at home.
You will of course end up washing your re-suable wipes but you will doing your bit for the planet.
Are there any baby wipes which are flushable?
There are some brands of wet wipes that can be flushed down your toilet. It is worth checking as new products are always being developed.
Best biodegradable baby wipes UK
There is a wide range of brands on the market that now offer biodegradable wipes. Some brands are a real hit with parents and you may find asking your friends to find out which ones they use. For example, some brands of wipes are made from bamboo which is very environmentally friendly.
But in the meantime, we have rounded up some of the best biodegradable baby wipes in the UK.
They are listed in no particular order. Most of these wipes are available with an Amazon account and you can search for special offers with your first order.
Mum & You 100% Biodegradable Baby Wet Wipes
Key features:
- 100% biodegradable
- 100% recyclable packaging
- Hypoallergenic
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Read our full review here
Mama Bear Ultra Sensitive Baby Wipes
Key features:
- 100% biodegradable
- 0% perfume
- Dermatologically tested
- Suitable for sensitive skin
The Cheeky Panda Biodegradable Plastic-Free Baby Wipes
Key features:
- Made from 100% natural bamboo
- Fragrance-free
- Dermatologically tested
- Vegan
Jackson Reece Herbal Baby Wipes
Key features:
- Organic ingredients
- Hypoallergenic
- Perfume- and fragrance-free
- Dermatologically approved
Eco by Naty Flushable Baby Wipes
Key features:
- Dermatologically tested
- Flushable
- 0% plastic
- Cruelty-free
WaterWipes Baby Wipes
Key features:
- 99.9% water
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- No artificial fragrance
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Read are full review here
Reusable Cloth Wipes
If you make the decision to try cloth wipes you will have complete control over the materials and any ingredients that are on your little one’s skin. This can be of great benefit if your baby has sensitive skin or nappy rash. You often find that parents who use re-usable baby wipes also use cloth nappies and aware of the environmental benefits.
For newborns, you can use cotton wool and warm water on their gentle skin.
You can make a simple home made spray of baby bath liquid soap in a spray bottle with water and use this to moisten the home made cloth. You can even add a few drops of lavender to the spray. With a bit of organisation you can still take this spray bottle and cloths out with you – just keep some zip lock bags to hand that you can pop the wipes into and bring home to wash. You’ll be doing your plumbing systems at home a real favour.
