Why flushable wipes aren't really flushable - Hello Charlie

Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable?

July 13 2026, by Hello Charlie Blogs, 2 min reading time

For years, the safest plumbing advice was simple: only flush the three Ps—pee, poo and toilet paper. Australia and New Zealand now also have a voluntary technical standard that allows some products to demonstrate they are suitable for flushing. That means the answer is no longer “every wipe is unflushable”, but most wipes still belong in the bin.

Quick answer: never flush baby wipes, cleaning wipes, makeup wipes or a product marked “do not flush”. Only consider flushing a wipe when its packaging clearly declares compliance with AS/NZS 5328:2022 and follow the quantity directions. Binning remains the lowest-risk option for household plumbing.

Why ordinary wipes cause trouble

Toilet paper is designed to lose strength and disperse quickly. Wet wipes are engineered to stay strong while wet. In sewers they can catch on roots, pumps and rough pipe surfaces, then combine with fats and other debris. Blockages can cause household backups, maintenance costs and sewage overflows.

What changed in 2022?

Standards Australia published AS/NZS 5328:2022 after input from water utilities, consumer groups, manufacturers, suppliers and local government. It sets test criteria and labelling requirements for products intended to be flushed.

The standard is voluntary. A word such as “flushable” on its own is less informative than a clear declaration that the product passed AS/NZS 5328:2022. Toilet paper is excluded because it is assessed through its own established use.

Flushable is not the same as biodegradable

Flushability asks whether a product travels and breaks down without materially harming wastewater systems. Biodegradability asks whether microorganisms break material down under specified environmental conditions. A product can perform differently on those two tests.

Likewise, a plant-based or plastic-free wipe is not automatically suitable for pipes. Wet strength, dispersal and size matter.

How to read the pack

Look for the AS/NZS 5328:2022 compliance declaration or recognised flushable mark.
Check whether directions limit flushing to one wipe at a time.
Never flush a product carrying the crossed-out toilet symbol.
If the information is ambiguous, bin it.
For septic or onsite systems, follow the system provider’s advice.

Baby wipes are not toilet paper

Baby wipes need strength for cleaning and should be wrapped and placed in general waste unless a current local service explicitly offers another pathway. Do not compost a wipe merely because it is described as biodegradable; check its fibres, ingredients and certified composting conditions.

Reusable cloths can reduce single-use waste for suitable situations. Store used cloths hygienically, wash them properly and never flush them.

What if a wipe has already blocked the toilet?

Stop flushing. If water is rising, turn off the toilet’s water supply if you know how and keep children away. A plunger may clear a simple local blockage, but recurring or main-line problems need a licensed plumber. Do not pour caustic drain cleaner into a toilet unless the product and plumber specifically direct it.

Hello Charlie’s Eco Baby Wipes collection includes disposable options, but the collection link does not imply that any wipe should be flushed. Check each pack and use the bin by default.