The Effects of Common Household Cleaners on Septic Systems

It’s well known that garbage disposals create issues for septic systems, but have you heard about the effects of common household cleaners?  The impact of household cleaners is much harder to notice at first when compared to garbage disposals, but over time, they can have a major negative impact on your septic system.

Household Cleaners and Septic Systems

Everything that washes down your sink and shower or flushes down your toilet makes its way through your septic system. This is why it’s important to better understand what products you use to wash dishes, clean surfaces, and disinfect. While they might be effective at cleaning around the house, they can cause issues by harming the natural bacteria in your septic tank. This, in turn, slows down the process in which solids break down. 

With fewer bacteria in the tank, you risk your tank filling quicker than normal. While not every household cleaner is harmful to your septic system, there are definitely some to avoid.

Can you use antibacterial soap with a septic system?

While it won’t immediately harm your system, antibacterial soap disrupts the septic process over time. If you’re currently using antibacterial soap, try buying a more mild soap or dish detergent. It still gets the job done without doing harm to the crucial bacteria living in your septic tank. Many soaps don’t advertise themselves as “septic safe”, but many of the organic or eco-conscious soaps are safer than their harsher alternatives. 

What other cleaners should I avoid?

Sinks aren’t the only contributors to bacteria-killing products. For instance, large amounts of bleach in your washing machine involves a potential impact on your septic system. If you use bleach when washing clothes, either use no more than the recommended amount or try a chlorine-free bleach. Drain cleaners are another common offender to look out for.

Laundry detergent, especially when used very frequently, is another potential bacteria killer. Check out this list of septic safe detergents to find one that works best for you. 

How can I improve bacteria levels?

In addition to reevaluating which products you use and how often, there is one way to boost your septic systems’ bacteria levels. Septic system additives boost the levels of bacteria in your tank and Wind River Environmental offers two kinds. One is poured down your drain on a regular schedule and the other is administered by a technician following a septic service. 

There are also alternative ways to clean around the house without harming bacteria levels. For example, did you know mixing baking soda and vinegar is a septic-safe option for cleaning your drain? The perfect ratio of baking soda to vinegar to clean drains is about a 1/4 cup of baking soda with a 1/2 cup of vinegar, plus 2 tablespoons of lemon.

Reach out to us for more information on the best option for you.  

Sign up on our website to schedule septic, grease, drain cleaning, or pipelining services – or call us at 1-800-499-1682. If you have any questions about monitoring the health of your septic system or adding or adding septic system additives to your maintenance, don’t hesitate to contact WRE today!