MNHQ here: what do you think about manufacturers marketing wipes as 'flushable'?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We've been contacted by a major utilities company asking Mumsnet to throw its weight behind a campaign it's running on the marketing of 'flushable' wet wipes and 'moist' toilet tissue.

The organisation that's contacted us says that 80% of all sewer blockages are the result of sewer misuse, and that 70% of these blockages are the result of wet wipes. They want manufacturers to stop being able to label wipes as being 'flushable'.

They are going to write to the Advertising Standards Authority complaining that consumers are being misled by the packaging and claims on many of these products. They say consumers are encouraged to believe that these products break down harmlessly when flushed - whereas in truth, they don't break down after flushing and can end up causing blocks, leaks and flooding.

We know from previous conversations about tampons and sanpro that MNers tend to be stalwart defenders of the public sewage system, so we said we'd ask you whether this was a campaign you'd like us to swing behind.

As ever, it would be great to hear what you think.

Thanks
MNHQ

Ok, this might be a stupid question.... Is moist toilet tissue not actually flushable then? If that's the case I'll be really pissed off. I've seen the "no more than 2 wipes per flush" description on the packet but didn't think about t more than that

My dad used to wet a face flannel, wipe himself, rinse and wring the flannel.
This was then placed on the corner of our bath (yes, where we kids bathed), washed from time to time, and put back in the airing cupboard.
Were there special 'Dad's bottom flannels' as opposed to 'everyone's face flannels'. Alas not...
As I write this. I feel a bit but had not realised my dad was actually just ahead of his time. Wonder if he still does it...

Yea cos manufacturers desperately needing to increase sales especially during a recession would NEVER lie eh Rebecca?

You have to think about the insides of sewers, Mrs. They're not just Teflon coated long pipes that go from a toilet bowl to a sewage processing plant - and even if they were, there are serious questions to be asked about processing of solids. Standard sewers are contorted, underground and ' snaggy' conduits, in many places still Victorian built and brick lined. Items 'catch' on ledges, bends and crannies/protuberances etc and pretty soon, you start to get build ups and obstruction. The more solids you flush down, the more likely an obstruction soon is.

Is moist toilet tissue not actually flushable then?

It will flush away, but it will contribute to blockages down stream

Catsize your post reminds me of

www.democraticunderground.com/10022411211

You know if something is safe because it will disintegrate in water.

catsize I guess everyone did that before loo paper was invented/affordable.

Having been a bit scathing about those squeamish about disposing of wipes in a bin, am now squeamish about reusable bum wipes...

My Nan used to use izal. The shiny stuff that looked like tracing paper and had the absorbancy of clingfilm. I was always told she used it because they were on a septic tank. We now own our own septic tank and finding out that izal wasn't necessary was actually a major factor when we were buying the house

Ok, so perhaps I asked the wrong question. Does moist "toilet paper" not actually function and break down as toilet paper? I'll have to run a test I suppose.

I use cloth nappies and recently the "flushable liners" have been changing their names to "disposable liners" because the liners don't break down like toilet paper does. This is easy to test. When a liner goes through the wash and comes out of the washing machine intact it is definitely not flushable.

I had not applied this knowledge to moist toilet tissue. It says flushable so I flush it. Of course. Which is why I find it really frustrating; that a company can put this on their packaging seems quite wrong. If their product causes a blockage then it isn't their problem I suppose.

Tilden my grandparents used that toilet paper. No idea why. My grandad used to wrap it over a comb to make a musical instrument to entertain us with

Does moist "toilet paper" not actually function and break down as toilet paper?

It doesn't. If you think about it, it can't, think about what happens when you moisten normal toilet paper - to be sold, and be useable as moist it needs to be much stronger.

baconyum, how true. A;though I suspect 'Back in our day, we used to leave our pooey flannels on the side of the bath to go crusty next to our children in the bath' might have lost a few readers.

Over the years someone has managed to block our shared drains twice and the worker clearing it has said he sees it regularly ie so called flushable wipes blocking and causing huge expense and horrible inconvenience to residents. The manufacturers should be made to compensate people.

Please do it.

I posted the link to an Australian story earlier in the thread but I think it bears repeating. It's worth noting, I think, that a good third of the obstruction had to be removed by workers using buckets.

I'll have to post the link in a next post. My device is in a mood. 😀

wet wipes blockage

mrsnutella

Great idea for a campaign! It's bugged me, too. I used soft "flushable" liners for LO's cloth nappies because of sensitive skin. I was very suspicious of the "flushable" claim because they seemed very thick and sturdy. Turns out they lasted about 6 - 8 long cycles at high temperature in the washing machine! I reused them and made sure never to put them down the toilet.

Ha, mrsnutella! Didn't rtft. Good to know they changed the description. Was it LL viscose?

I'm putting cozietosie's epic image on the thread in case you don't click! it was here

Thanks, Raising. I forgot that there are posters who don't click.

This video of a giant fatberg made of wipes and cooking fat in SW London should convert even the most hardened wipe user:

It isn't 'Misleading' It's an outright LIE.

They shouldn't be flushed, full stop

I'm starting to feel sick at the possibility that I've caused a sewage horror for a neighbour. We're halfway up a steep hill our sewage pipe from the house goes out to the street. From there it'll go down the hill. One of The people at the bottom MUST have a main sewage pipe going through their garden or access near their house.

I binned all my 'flushable' wipes yesterday after this thread but we've been using them a few months

Yes, I would also be happy to support such a campaign.

I don't flush baby wipes, they go in the bin with the soiled nappies, and certainly not sanitary protection. However, I have been using these toilet wipes for a while and the packet says flushable. I'm now beginning to doubt it...