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.

FAQs on Household Chemicals Flushed Into a Septic System

These 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.

by Olivia Schmidt - effect of hair dye on the septic?

Does hair dye have any effects on septic systems?

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.

by Lynnd - effect of fish tank medicines on the septic system?

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

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.

by Karen - bromine-treated water safe to discharge into the septic tank?

Can water treated with bromine be put into septic tank?

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.

by Becky - effect of Polident for dentures on septic drainfield

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

by (mod) - None - no worry

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.

by McCabe - normal use of drain cleaners hurts the septic tank?

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?

by Daniel (mod) - normal use of drain cleaners should not the septic tank

Using drain cleaners as directed and modestly, such as pouring a drain cleaner into a kitchen sink or shower drain, should not hurt your septic tank because that small dose, just a few ounces of chemical, are very diluted in the septic tank. A 4-oz treatment in a trap, finding its way into a 1000 gallon septic tank is diluted by a factore of 1: 128,000.

And it's further diluted as more wastewater is run into the septic system as building plumbing fixtures are used.

by Dean Sharper - Will old booze hurt septic tank?

Will old booze hurt septic tank?

Moderator reply:

No not a botttle or three but if you have cases of old whiskey or other alcohol products to dispose-of I'd be more concerned.

by Libsa - Will Epson salt with clay harm my septic

Will Epson salt with clay harm my septic

Moderator reply:

No, not at normal residential use such as in a bath tub

On 2016-10-03 by Bridgette - dishwashing liquid bleach alternative would be safe in the septic

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

Moderator reply:

Don't use bleach in a dishwasher. We use one of many dishwasher soaps available atyour grocery or hardware store.

On 2016-09-05 by June - denture cleaner tables to remove lime / scale - OK?

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 by Shelley - hair washing, dyes, rinses: harms the septic?

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 2016-06-21 by (mod) - at commre at commercial levels that can be a concern

At normal household use levels hair products won't harm the septic system.

Watch out: 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 2016-05-14 by Linda C. - will Pine-Sol hurt the septic tank or drainfield?

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

On 2016-05-14 by (mod) - no

Not at normal household usage levels

On 2016-05-12 by Bob - ok to dump ammonia down the toilet?

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 2016-05-13 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 2016-04-17 by Anonymous - ok to drain an epsom salt bath into the septic system?

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

On 2016-04-17 by (mod) -

Anon: at normal household use levels of Epsom salts, no.

On 2015-12-20 by JC - effect of oatmeal bath salts on septic?

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 2015-12-21 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 2015-06-03 by Rosemarie Iraci - where do I get rid of ammonia used to clean oven parts?

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

On 2015-06-03 by (mod) -

Try rinsing off outside in your driveway using a garden hose and plenty of fresh water.

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

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.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• CHEMICALS to KEEP OUT OF SEPTICS
• CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS - do we need to put treatments in the septic tank?
• TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST
• 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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