Are Cleaning Products Harming Your Septic System? 5 You Should Skip, Plumbers Say

Septic systems are responsible for handling and treating the wastewater from your home, and for these systems to operate efficiently, it's important that you avoid flushing harmful products down the drain. The wrong products can not only clog your system, but harm your septic tank's bacteria, which are responsible for breaking down waste and killing infectious germs.

To ensure that you're using septic-safe products, we consulted industry experts to provide you with an overview of which cleaning products do and don't harm septic systems.

Septic systems are home to millions of bacteria, tasked with breaking down and treating the waste and wastewater exiting your house. Toxic cleaning products carelessly sent down our drains can disturb the bacterial ecosystem in your septic system, which creates a dangerous ripple effect.

When harmful chemicals enter your system, they kill the healthy bacteria in your septic tank, which prevents those bacteria from killing germs in your wastewater. This can clog your system over time and eventually may introduce pathogens to the surrounding waterways, presenting severe risks to the health of the environment and the humans within it.

"All products that go down your drains and toilets should be septic-safe—not just the ones designed specifically for septic tank maintenance," says Danny Pen, President of New Era Plumbing & HVAC. "You should completely change your cleaning habits if you have a septic tank."

Unfortunately, powdered laundry detergent may not be as septic-safe as you assumed. Powdered detergents contain surfactants and phosphates which can harm your septic tank.

"If it's a powder, it probably contains fillers like clay that can cause a clog in the pipe over time and create a layer of sludge on the septic tank surfaces," Pen says. Eventually, the damage done to your septic system can leech out and into the surrounding waterways, causing even more problems.

Although your septic system can withstand chlorine bleach and other intense disinfectants occasionally and in small amounts, too much of this product will kill the healthy bacteria in your septic system.

"Avoid putting harsh chemicals down the drain and instead use septic-safe cleaners in minimal amounts," says Matt Kunz, President of Mr. Rooter Plumbing.

To help you steer clear of cleaning products with harmful chemicals, avoid those containing ammonia, lye, and acids like sulfuric acid, sodium hypochlorite, or hydrochloric acid.

If you've ever tossed a paper towel down the drain assuming it will degrade like toilet paper, avoid doing so in the future.

"Non-biodegradable items like wet wipes, feminine hygiene products and paper towels can lead to clogs and system damage because they don’t break down easily," says Kunz.

To protect your septic system from clogs, and other long-term damages, always dispose of paper-based and non-biodegradable products in the garbage.

Although antibacterial cleaners are highly efficient, they like chlorine bleach and other disinfectants can hurt more than help your septic system by killing beneficial bacteria along with harmful pathogens. "Antibacterial soaps are not compatible with septic systems, and you should avoid them," says Pen.

That said, antibacterial soaps and cleaners used in moderation are tolerable for septic systems.

Many drain cleaners use lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, as their primary active ingredient. Lye can cut through grease, which makes it very effective at removing drain clogs. However, once this chemical reaches your septic system's bacteria, it will cut through and kill helpful flora as well.

Instead, try an enzyme-based cleaner or, if you're dealing with a more severe septic system issue, contact your local plumber.

There are a number of toxic cleaning products on the market that will seriously harm your septic system, but there are also numerous alternatives that won't.

"Biodegradable cleaners like vinegar and baking soda are safe for septic systems and effective for cleaning," says Kunz, who suggests that homeowners ask a plumbing service professional for recommendations on bio-friendly cleaners as well.

Listed below are some natural disinfectants and non-toxic cleaning solutions you can use that are safe for septic systems.

Nevertheless, both Kunz and Pen recommend using these products sparingly.

"Even with septic-safe products, less is more," says Pen. "Don't clean your bathroom, toilet, and drains more than once a week. Using septic maintenance products once a month is enough to keep your system healthy."