7-30-2017

Flushable wipes? It turns out they’re not so flushable. Formerly used only for babies, disposable wipes have started to clog pipes and other sewer machinery all over the world. These clogs are no joke. They cost New York City an extra $10 million a year. This led The Guardian to term them “the biggest villain of 2015.”

What can you do? Don’t buy disposable — use reusable cloths or the standard soap-and-water method of washing instead. Wipes are not a reliable disinfectant, anyway. Or, if you must buy them, don’t trust their labeling: simply toss them in the trash. Still skeptical? Check out this video from Consumer Reports — their researchers gave up on waiting for the wipes to break down as promised: