Septic systems are quite sensitive. There are many cleaning products that should really never go down the drain or be flushed down the toilet if you have a septic system. Many cleaning products, including most toilet cleaners, contain harsh chemicals that can make a septic system function less effectively and potentially lead to sewage backups in your home. They can even cause solid waste to flow out into the septic drain field and clog it. What happens is that the chemicals can quickly kill off much of the bacteria inside the septic tank.
This poses a serious issue. The bacteria constantly work to break down all the waste inside the tank so that the solids take up less space, ensuring there’s room in the tank for additional waste. When harsh chemicals kill much of the bacteria, the solid waste will quickly build up and the tank will become full much more quickly. The best way to avoid this is to make sure that any toilet cleaner and other cleaning products you use are safe for septic systems. Here are the main things to look for to ensure your cleaning products are actually septic-safe.
All-Natural and Biodegradable
If your home has a septic system, it’s important that you carefully read the label when choosing a toilet cleaner or any other cleaning product. The best options are always all-natural cleaning products, as these are generally always biodegradable and free from any chemicals that could harm the bacteria in your septic system and make it work less effectively. You may be surprised to learn that there are now many plant-based toilet cleaners and other cleaning products available that can work just as well as chemical cleaning agents without risking any harm to your septic system.
Third-Party Certifications
The only issue with natural products is that there’s very little regulation in terms of labeling. Many companies claim that their products are “green” or natural when they still contain harmful chemicals. This is why it also helps to look for products that have been certified or verified by a third-party environmental organization, such as the Environmental Working Group or Ecocert. If a product has this type of certification, you can be certain that it truly is all-natural or at least doesn’t contain lots of chemicals that could harm your septic system or the environment. Any products that contain the US Environmental Protection Agency’s “Safer Choice” designation are also certain to be less harmful to your septic system.
Free of Chlorine, Ammonia, and Petroleum-Based Solvents
When purchasing any cleaning product, you need to make sure that it doesn’t contain chlorine bleach, sodium hypochlorite, or hydrochloric acid. Chlorine is an extremely strong disinfectant, which is why it’s the main chemical used in municipal water treatment systems. Most toilet and bathroom cleaners also contain some type of chlorine compound that allows the cleaner to instantly kill nearly 100% of all germs and bacteria in the toilet bowl. Unfortunately, this also means that it will kill lots of the bacteria in your septic tank and prevent the system from functioning properly.
You should also avoid any products that contain either ammonia or any type of petroleum-based solvents, such as mineral spirits. Petroleum-based solvents are especially bad for a septic system and are commonly found in kitchen degreasers, tub and tile cleaners, and glass cleaners. Not only will they harm the bacteria in the septic tank, but they’ll also remain in the septic system for much longer than other chemical agents since they’re not water-soluble. You should avoid pouring any cleaning product that contains pine oil down the drain or toilet for the same reason.
Effective, Chemical-Free Cleaning Alternatives
All-natural, biodegradable cleaning products are a great option, but there are also ways you can clean your toilet and everything else in your home just as effectively using items you likely already have. Distilled white vinegar is great for cleaning and disinfecting without harming the bacteria in your septic system. Vinegar and baking soda together can be even more effective, as the vinegar will disinfect while the baking soda acts as an abrasive to help you scour away stains. Borax is an effective and safe option for cleaning toilets and drains, too.
Avoiding chemicals as much as possible will go a long way toward keeping your septic system functioning effectively. This can help to prevent expensive repairs and also ensure you don’t need to have your septic tank pumped as often. If you do need septic pumping, repair, or any other septic service in the Hutchinson area, Hutchinson Septic Service is always ready to help. We’re proud to be a top septic service in the area, so give us a call today for any and all of your septic system needs.
