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Pouring ammonia into a toiletChemicals to keep Out of the Septic Tank
Q&A on Dumping Chemicals Down the Drain

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about the effects of household chemicals, soaps, etc. on the function of a septic tank and drainfield

Questions & answers about what typical household chemicals and substances are safe to flush down the toilet and into a private septic system?

This article series identifies which household chemicals may damage the septic tank or leach fields and at what levels of usage are they harmful? This document explains how to extend the life of the septic system by being careful about what goes into it.

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FAQs on Household Chemicals Flushed Into a Septic System

Photo of household cleaners under a sinkThese questions and answers about flushing various household chemicals or products down drains and into a septic tank or private septic system were posted originally

at CHEMICALS & CLEANERS into the SEPTIC TANK?. Be sure to see the advice given there.

Note: these questions and answers are about keeping some household chemicals out of septic tanks - part of

our TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST.

A completely separate topic is the deliberate use of septic tank or drainfield chemical treatments - generally not recommended and discussed separately

at CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS.

On 2018-11-04 by (mod) - home-use of hair dye won't harm the septic

No, Olivia,

At normal household usage levels hair dye will not have a harmful impact on septic systems.

The situation may be different if you were talking about a septic system serving a beauty salon.

On 2018-11-04 18:52:14.478160 by Olivia Schmidt

Does hair dye have any effects on septic systems?

On 2018-08-15 01:03:22.328315 by (mod) -

Lynn

At the volume or concentration that would be typical of household use, fish tank treatments ought to have no effect on a septic tank.

They should be very dilute by the time they're in the much-larger septic tank, diluted further by daily normal wastewater use.

On 2018-08-11 05:19:40.544555 by Lynnd

What about freshwater fish tank meds such as malachite green, formalin, and meth1alyne blue?

On 2018-06-12 17:38:52.183423 by (mod) -

The dose makes the poison.

A few gallons of bromine treated water is not going to hurt a septic tank but large quantities make your own off too much of the septic tank bacteria needed for proper septic tank operation.

The answer is going to depend on the quantity, the concentration of disinfectant, the frequency of use, the size of the septic tank, and the average daily Wastewater volume flow.

On 2018-06-11 17:04:51.447535 by Karen

Can water treated with bromine be put into septic tank?

On 2018-06-11 17:04:06.688570 by Karen

Can water treated with bromine be put into septic tank?

On 2018-04-27 19:48:44.756584 by (mod) -

Becky

Polident or other denture cleaners in normal usage won't harm the septic system. Whatever disinfectant may be in the denture cleaner will be diluted by 1000 gallons or more of wastewater, so will be so dilute as to be harmless.

Thanks for asking.

On 2018-04-26 04:10:42.674463 by Becky

if using polident for dentures, will it harm the drainage system?

On 2017-08-16 17:03:34.390986 by RJBarber

Oil-Eater claims to be a biodegradable and non toxic degreaser. It is the best degreaser I have ever used and I use it for all scenarios in my house where I need to remove grease, oil, and greasy/oily dirt.

The bucket of diluted cleaner is normally diluted 1:3 OE to water and the residual is dumped down the drain. I recently moved from sewer system to septic system.

If the biodegradable and non-toxic attributes are really true, is there any harm in allowing this degreaser into the septic system? Will the degreasing action break down any useful aspects of the bio-mechanical and biological system in the tank?

On 2017-05-27 11:33:39.707977 by McCabe

I just had my septic tanks pumped out yesterday. I'm thinking of putting some kind of cleaner into all the traps( toilets/ sinks) to clean out build up . My question is, would this affect septic system by giving the first holding tank ( solids) a time to mix cleaner with waste?

On 2017-02-22 19:13:02.366297 by (mod) -

Saria

What "seat" are we discussing ? If you mean a toilet seat, any household cleaner or disinfectant should be fine.

On 2017-02-22 11:57:26.710031 by sarita chopra

What cleaning agents can be used to clean the flush and the seat

On 2017-02-20 by (mod) - fear of bacteria in sewer pipes?

Trizenka,

You and the resident will be best served by objective data, such as appropriate tests and an environmental inspection for unsafe or unsanitary sewer piping. There is not much in your note that sounds rational.

Sewer pipes are normally coated with many bacteria as well as other pathogens.

On 2017-02-20 by Trizenka Balmied

Resident has a suspected gigantic bacterium lurking in the toilet pipes underneath her building, since 1991, and possibly a huge viral mass from 1979.

These disease germs were inadvertently washed down her bathtub drain during cleaning and soaking in cold water.

They may be from two separate giant planets--Jupiter and Saturn. The DNA from millennia of stubborn grime and rust magnified upon release from the metal artifacts. Last week resident poured a small amount of ammonia down the tub drain, to release potential clogs after a tub overflow. She was subsequently quite sick to her stomach.

The bacterium may have been the cause, reacting unfavorably to the caustic germicide. This situation is probably a government secret, hidden to avoid public panic. For further details, please read Mysterious Objects by Ada Brixill Camber, (c) 1996, or email BALMTRI24K@YAHOO.COM. BE CAREFUL.

On 2017-02-17 22:40:35.453010 by Dean Sharper

Will old booze hurt septic tank?

On 2017-02-03 14:52:06.719245 by Libsa

Will Epson salt with clay harm my septic

On 2016-10-03 19:43:52.899304 by Bridgette

I was wondering if a dishwashing liquid bleach alternative would be safe in the spetic

On 2016-09-05 15:18:58.117591 by June

Hi, we have a grinder pump behind the toilet. I put about 20 little tablets of denture cleanser to remove the limescale (which by the way, did not really work).

I then saw in my contract I wasn't allowed to put chemicals down the toilet. Would this cause irreparable damage??

On 2016-06-21 16:29:39.988527 by (mod) -

At normal household use levels hair products won't harm the septic system. But if you are running a business and thus treating multiple people, depending on the volume of products dumped, that could be a problem

. I'd suggest moving up the pump-out date for your septic tank; when the tank is pumped, ask your pumper to check the sludge and scum level thicknesses - how normal are they? Thicker could mean less biodegradation in the septic tank.

To get more technical you'd need to have the septic effluent tested by a professional.

On 2016-06-21 15:23:19.879458 by Shelley

If I do hair at home and rinse color products down the drain, how is that harming the septic? No hair goes down the drain because I use a catcher.

On 2016-05-14 19:14:42.432882 by (mod) -

Not at normal household usage levels

On 2016-05-14 14:28:38.399805 by Linda C.

Can Pine Sol poured down the toilet cause septic tank or drainage problems?

On 2016-05-13 00:27:00.458132 by (mod) -

Bob I'm confused by the question. If you mean is normal household use of ammonia as a cleaner acceptable, sure, with the precautions that are recommended by the manufacturer. Ammonia won't react with a plastic tub, if that's what you're asking.

On 2016-05-12 23:04:29.053566 by Bob

If a bottle of ammonia (kleen off) 500ml was in bathroom sink could it be drained? How would one get rid of it, i want to clean my shower but don't know if safe to put in a plastic tub,can you advise?

On 2016-04-17 14:37:15.039137 by (mod) -

Anon: at normal household use levels, no.

On 2016-04-17 02:43:31.224759 by Anonymous

Is it harmful to drain Epsom salt bath water into a septic system?

On 2015-12-21 00:22:03.982746 by (mod) -

Sure JC,

Just be sure you don't pour so much powder into the tub that clots of the stuff goop up the drain.

On 2015-12-20 19:52:44.547036 by JC

Can my wife take baths with Oatmeal powder in her bath salt or whatever they call it? It is power, not like I eat. Thanks, JC

On 2015-06-03 12:30:05.416290 by (mod) -

Try rinsing off outside in your driveway.

On 2015-06-03 04:38:46.528710 by Rosemarie Iraci

Soaked mu oven burners in ammonia where do I dump it I have a septic.Have to rinse them off.

Question: is it better to use powdered laundry soap or liquid dishwasher soap?

Do you use powdered laundry and dishwasher soap instead of liquid? I've heard that stuff will not dissolve and cause problems in pipes and septics. - Anon 11/19/2012

Reply:

In response to your query, in the article above I've added links to more information about recommended dishwasher & laundry detergents. In general, powdered detertents, used in the amounts recommended, should not clog the drain piping but used in excess amount (which is common)

or if you use bargain brands of detergents that have clay fillers, the risk of clogged drain piping and perhaps drainfields is real as is the risk of clogging a sewage pump discussed just above.

There are also other concerns about environmental contamination from ingredients in some products

Question: powdered cleaners vs liquid cleaners vs septic tank

(Nov 19, 2012) Anonymous said:
Do you use powdered laundry and dishwasher soap instead of liquid? I've heard that stuff will not dissolve and cause problems in pipes and septics.

Reply:

Anon,

Thanks for the question. IN the article above I've added links to more information about recommended dishwasher & laundry detergents. In general, powdered detertents,

PROPERLY USED,

should not clog the drain piping but used in excess amount (which is common) or if you use bargain brands of detergents that have clay fillers, the risk of clogged drain piping and perhaps drainfields is real.

There are other concerns about environmental contamination from ingredients in some products, as you'll read in the article links we've added.

For example used in too great a quantity (this is the dose size not the frequency of use) powdered detergents can cause drain line clogging.

Question: will the blue goodie you put in to make your water blue when flashing, kill the bacteria in the septic tank?

(Oct 26, 2014) theresasweetman@yahoo.com (Theresa) said:
Good day. We have a septic tank at our home. I just want to know will the blue goodie you put in to make your water blue when flashing, kill the bacteria in the septic tank?

Thanks so much
Regards
Theresa

Reply:

No, Theresa, that should be okay- the total dilution on the septic tank should mean no harm done to septic tank bacteria.

Watch out: However, watch out - some toilet bowl deodorants and disinfectants shorten the life of the flush valve flapper and lead to running toilets. That problem can flood a drainfield.

Question: toilet scrubbing bubbles and spongy pipe clogs

(Jan 12, 2015) Anonymous said:
wife cleaned toilet with scrubbing bubbles right before I pulled it to replace the wax seal. the pipes were full of a spongy substance clinging to the sides of the pipes

Reply:

I suspect a too-great quantity of scrubby bubble toilet cleaners was applied and so left a frothing mass in the drain;

this should flush away; If you are not seeing easily flushed away or have other problems let me know.

Question: Is Limeaway safe for my septic tank ?
(Jan 27, 2015) CARMEN MOORE said:

Is Limeaway safe for my septic tank ?

Reply:

Carmen

You don't indicate how much chemical you are using.
At normal (therefore modest) usage levels, such as cleaning a sink, sure.

At high levels, gallons of any chemical should not be poured into the septic system.

Question: what to use instead of bleach to clean shower mould

(Feb 21, 2015) Linda said:
I can't find anything that actually tells me what to use instead of bleach for cleaning mould from my shower tiles and grout, my grey water goes into our Bio Septic System so I have to be careful what goes into it.

I have only just bought the house and didn't install the system and no information was left for it.

Reply:

Linda

Since the proper approach is to remove the mold, not to "kill" it with bleach - which is ineffective and risky anyway-

You can use any household cleaner you like.

Used at normal levels in a home such cleaners aren't harmful to the septic system.

An excellent mold cleanup guide is at MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD


...

Continue reading  at CHEMICALS & CLEANERS into the SEPTIC TANK? or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

And see CHEMICALS to KEEP OUT OF SEPTICS

Also see CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS - do we need to put treatments in the septic tank?

Also see TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST

Also see WAXY BIOFILM SLIME CLOGS in DRAINS & PUMPS

Suggested citation for this web page

CHEMICALS & CLEANERS in the SEPTIC TANK FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

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