Kandoo are marketed as "flushable toilet wipes", ideal one would think for helping the owners of young tender bottoms to clean their own rear-ends, thus more happily completing the ever-amusing process of toilet-training. It turns out that their product description is a little misleading however! That they are described as 'toilet wipes' rather than 'bottom wipes' is not the point in question (such a minor quibble would be pedantic) - rather, the misleading part is the claim that these are 'flushable'. In fact they have a propensity to block drains... badly!
How do I know this? Well, we were settling down to enjoy New Year, with houseful of guests, when it became apparent that our drains were blocked solid! Drain opening chemicals (in huge doses) failed to shift the blockage, as did attempting to flush it with a hose-pipe. This meant calling in the professionals, who duly appeared with day-glo jackets and high-pressure jets. These blasted though the day's waste, found and removed the cause of the problem - a collection of Kandoo wipes! "B***** Kandoo wipes, the bane of my life!" cried the drain-man, who explained that they have been advising customers not to use them, and that the makers of Kandoo are suing them to defend the reputation of their product. It appears that the definition of "flushable" to Kandoo means that a single wipe can negotiate 1 U-bend in ideal factory conditions, whereas to DynoRod, "not flushable" means "wherever we go, they jam drains up and cause no end of bother!
Independent tests reported by The Times reveled that while many ordinary toilet rolls disperse within 2-3 minutes in water, Kandoo's remained undispersed at the end of the 5-day test! No wonder, that a houseful of guests, with many young children present - all with very productive digestive tracts can cause a drains problem!
I realise that recent posts here have focused on both poo and puke, but alas such is my life!
Kandoo?? Kandon't, whatever you do!
Being a father of 5 children, ages 14 months to 12 years, I have certainly benefited from this most recent posting. Thank you Oh Hideous One!
ReplyDeleteBack to bogroll then? Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year HM
ReplyDeleteI have also experienced the Kurse of Kandoo. May I, as a seasoned professional from HelpIworkWithChildren, recommend Tesco's own "Moist Toilet Tissue" on toddler's airts and pairts as they are eminently more flushable and (IMHO) better at removing Klingons
(74p verses £1.99)
Well, I'm glad I just had old-fashioned wipes to use, good to know, though, as my sis-in-law is expecting!! ;)
ReplyDeleteand it begins...just wait....
our 10yr old knocked some cat litter (unused, thankfully) into the bathroom sink, added a little water to 'wash it away', then didn't say anything. This cat litter, being an excellent brand, promptly soaked up all the water, and remains a nice thick clump in the pipes so that minimal water is draining through...the plumber has been scheduled...
Ah the joys! Years ago we had blocked drains which flooded our front garden. Totally disgusting! However, it brought an evening of entertainment to our wee street, and even attracted the likes of the local councillor. The cause of the problem turned out to be disposable nappies, flushed down the loo of a house up the street!
ReplyDeleteAn update. I posted this in Jan 2008. Since giving up Kandoo wipes, we have had NO further issues with blocked drains.
ReplyDeleteThis article on my blog continues to get remarkably high hits with people searching for things such as "kandoo toilet blockage" - suggesting it is still an issue for many people.