Kim Gale  |  April 18, 2018

Category: Consumer News

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Charmin flushable wipes flushing toiletHas your home suffered from a flushable wipes clog? Charmin Freshmates Flushable Wet Wipes are advertised as safe to flush down sewers and septic systems, but consumers and sanitation workers report otherwise.

At least one consumer filed suit against Charmin’s parent company, Procter & Gamble. California plaintiff Jamie Pettit said she usually purchased Charmin brand toilet paper. She claims she saw the Charmin Freshmates pre-moistened wipes on a store shelf in 2014 and took note that the packaging said the wipes were “flushable,” so she bought a the wipes.

Jamie said she bought them several times in 2014, and “on several occasions, the wipes clogged her toilet when flushed.” The flushable wipes clog allegedly required several flushes to clear the toilet bowl.

Jamie later learned that a flushable wipes clog problem allegedly “has damaged home plumbing systems and wastewater treatment facilities in municipalities all over the country.”

Jamie said she would not have purchased the Charmin wipes if she had known they were not truly flushable. She also said she would never have paid a premium for the “flushable” aspect of the wipes that made them appear superior to wipes that would not flush, but rather would need to be thrown in the trash.

Flushable Wipes Clog Made Headlines

In 2013, a London sewer situation made headlines when a “fatberg” made of wet wipes and grease created a huge 15-ton flushable wipes clog.

An NBC News story said that residents complained about toilets that would not flush. Eight Thames Water Company workers with shovels and water jets pounded apart and moved the massive ball of wet wipes that were stuck together with cooking grease, which is another item that should not be flushed down the sink or toilet.

Even though a wipe will swirl down away from the toilet bowl, critics say it will retain its composition in the pipes and sewers. Unless the Charmin wipe disintegrates quickly, the chances of the wipe clogging the home septic system or municipal sewage treatment plant are much higher than that of toilet paper, which breaks apart within one or two minutes after being flushed.

Craig Rance, press officer at Thames Water, told NBC News that wet wipes have been pulled from sewage clogs weeks after being flushed and are still in sturdy condition. The problem is that even though the wipes are labeled “flushable,” they may still cause problems in drain pipes.

Flushable Wipes Clog Complaints On Charmin Website

Charmin’s own website includes poor reviews of the Freshmates’ “flushable” claim.

One consumer wrote in November 2016 that he paid $6,000 to fix his home because a flushable wipes clog stopped up his sewer and flooded his house. He said they only used one or two wipes at a time, per the label’s instructions. Still, when they cleared the sewer, he alleged all they found were Charmin wipes that appeared to have been there for more than a week.

Another consumer in April 2017 said that he worked in the wastewater field for more than 20 years and has talked with many people who have experienced a flushable wipes clog. He wrote, “If it is not toilet paper, it has not business going in a toilet. I have used Charmin for years, but I know how to use your products. Try to be more honest.”

If your home has suffered damage because of a flushable wipes clog from Charmin Freshmates, you could be eligible for compensation through legal representation.

Join a Free Charmin Flushable Wipes Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased Charmin flushable wipes that damaged your sewer or septic system, you may be eligible to join a free flushable wipes class action lawsuit investigation.

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47 thoughts onCharmin Freshmates Blamed for Flushable Wipes Clog Problems

  1. Tyisha Sandra Sheppeard says:

    My toliet is still not flushing right bacause of this

  2. Elida Cirrincione says:

    It clogged our toilets so bad we had to have rotor rooter clear it out and install a special piping. $10,000 later. No more wipes, all a lie it does not break down.

  3. Cynthia Betts says:

    Please add me. Out toilet kept backing up so we ended up hiring someone to come in and take a look at our septic. After he was done and after an expensive bill, we were told to never use wipes, but if we do, “DO NOT'” flush them down the toilet. Those things do not break down.

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