You may have heard that some cleaning
chemicals cause problems for your septic tank's flora. But you need
to do more than just avoid bleach. Here are five types of cleaning
products to swap out for something less threatening to your septic
system.
1. Bleach
Chlorine bleach has extremely strong
antibacterial properties, which damage the beneficial anaerobic
bacteria in your septic tank and the bacteria (both aerobic and
anaerobic) in your septic leach field. Although occasional and
limited use aren't likely to cause a problem, regular use is.
How you use the bleach also makes a
difference. If you spray a bleach-containing cleaner on your bathroom
floor and then wipe with a rag, traces of bleach will end up in the
washing machine when you wash the rag. These trace amounts are less
likely to cause problems than a capful of bleach poured into the
machine to whiten laundry or cleaners poured into your toilet bowl.
2. Detergents
Even non-bleach detergents often
contain ingredients you don't want to put into your wastewater
stream. For example, surfactants and phosphates can contaminate the
surrounding environment, including your well water.
Another reason to be careful what
detergents you use is that powdered detergents increase clog
formation in pipes, especially if overused. To avoid this, choose
liquid detergents or r try more concentrated powdered detergents with
fewer filler ingredients. Look for high-quality, phosphate-free
options and use a minimal amount.
3. Antibacterial Soaps
Common sense says that anything with
antibacterial in the name is likely to be bad for your septic tank's
bacterial colonies. And sure enough, constant use of antibacterial
soap can be damaging to the septic ecosystem. Although the colonies
can handle a little antibacterial action, using this type of soap
every day is unhealthy for them.
To avoid this problem, choose
non-antibacterial hand soap for your bathroom sink. Then use a hand
sanitizer product after washing if you're worried about germs on your
hands.
4. Auto Toilet Cleaners
You may not have realized this, but
those auto-cleaners that live in your toilet bowl and release cleaner
with every flush are also likely to have damaging ingredients in
them. As with any cleaner, check for surfactants and phosphates
before you buy one of these.
If the product has phosphates,
antibacterial ingredients (such as bleach), or high levels of
surfactants, it may damage your septic system. To be fair, a toilet
cleaner is unlikely to kill all the bacteria in your septic system
singlehandedly, but it may still do some damage; the chemicals can
really add up if the cleaner dispenses with every flush.
5. Drain Cleaners
Drain cleaners are highly concentrated
chemicals designed to cut through greasy clogs in the drain by
dissolving them. This is why they're so corrosive and toxic, much
more so than typical household detergents. Instead of bleach,
ammonia, or other typical cleaning chemicals, these cleaners often
have lye (sodium hydroxide) as the active ingredient.
Because they're so concentrated and
harsh, drain cleaners are not only hazardous to your family and pets,
but to your septic tank and drainfield as well. It only takes a small
amount of drain cleaner to damage the bacteria in your septic tank.
Call a plumber instead of using chemical drain cleaners. If that's
not an option and it's an emergency, try an enzyme-based cleaner.
These five cleaning products all damage
your septic system's internal flora. If you have these cleaners in
your home, dispose of them responsibly at a hazardous waste facility.
Septic systems may seem complicated and
finicky at first, but if you follow simple rules and enlist
professionals for any maintenance or repairs, you should be in great
shape. Get in touch with GYST
Consulting
today if your septic system is due for a checkup or
pumping.
