Are baby wipes OK to flush down the toilet?
No, and that includes wipes labelled "flushable". Wipes are made to stay strong when wet, so they don't break down the way toilet paper does. They snag in pipes, catch on tree roots and joints, and bind together with fat into blockages. They're one of the most common things we pull out of blocked toilets and sewer lines. Here's why, and what to do instead.
Why wipes cause blockages
They don't break down
Toilet paper falls apart in water within seconds. Wipes are designed not to, so they travel down the pipe in one piece.
They snag
Old clay pipes have joints, cracks and roots that wipes catch on. One wipe catches the next, and a blockage builds up.
They bind with fat
Wipes combine with fat and grease from the kitchen into solid masses in sewers and treatment plants.
"Flushable" isn't the same
A wipe may disappear down the toilet, but that doesn't mean it breaks down in the pipe. Sydney Water's advice is to flush only the three Ps.
The three Ps
Only pee, poo and toilet paper should go down the toilet. Everything else goes in the bin, including:
- Baby wipes, make-up wipes and "flushable" wipes
- Paper towel and tissues (they're made to hold together when wet)
- Cotton buds, cotton balls and dental floss
- Sanitary products and nappies
- Hair, cat litter and medicines
Keep a small bin with a lid in the bathroom so there's an easy alternative.
Already flushed them?
Signs of a wipe blockage include a toilet that drains slowly, water rising in the bowl, gurgling, or the overflow gully outside spilling. See toilet water rising. We clear wipe blockages with a high-pressure jetter and can check the line with a camera, with a fixed price before any work starts. See blocked toilets.
In southern Eastern Suburbs homes
Many older homes in Matraville, Maroubra and Botany have clay sewer pipes with root-filled joints. Wipes catch on those roots and turn a partial blockage into a full one. We clear plenty of them, usually from homes with young children.
Why locals call us
- Local to Matraville and the southern Eastern Suburbs
- Free on-site quotes, with a fixed price before any work starts
- Lifetime labour warranty on our workmanship
- 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Licensed plumbers and gasfitters (Lic. 398171C)
Common questions
Can you flush baby wipes?
No. Baby wipes don't break down in pipes and are a common cause of blocked toilets and sewers. Put them in the bin.
Are flushable wipes really flushable?
They may go down the toilet, but they don't break down like toilet paper and can still cause blockages.
What can I flush down the toilet?
Only the three Ps: pee, poo and toilet paper.
How do I know if wipes have blocked my toilet?
Slow draining, water rising in the bowl, gurgling, or the overflow gully outside spilling are all signs.
Related help: blocked toilets, toilet water rising, blocked drains, where does sewage go? and our blocked drains guide. Local pages: blocked drains Matraville, blocked drains Maroubra, blocked drains Botany and blocked drains Pagewood. Browse all our plumbing guides.