Does using septic safe laundry soap really matter? Yes it does and here’s why.
The tank in your home septic system works with the ground soil and organic bacteria to filter the waste water leaving your home before it returns to the ecosystem. The soil is in a sense the final filtering system that removes bacteria and pathogens from getting into groundwater, and you might be disrupting that delicate process by using harsh dishwashing detergents or laundry soaps.
Not only could you be polluting the ground water, but those harsh cleaning agents in those products could also clog the septic tank and require additional cleaning or maintenance from the local Clermont FL septic company.
The following guide on septic safe laundry soap and dishwashing liquid will not only help keep the environment clean, but it will also reduce the costs of septic tank maintenance and keep your system running smoothly for years.
Choosing the Right Septic Safe Dishwashing Detergent
With so many dishwashing detergents available in the supermarket, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your septic system.
With shelves of products all claiming to be “green” or “safe for the environment,” which one is the right choice for your septic system?
Take a closer look at the ingredients and don’t pay so much attention to the flashy and catchy advertising phrases these dish washing companies use to sell their products. What you are looking for are dishwashing liquids with mild detergents. Your septic tank is relying on bacteria buildup to break down all that waste, and according to the State of Florida’s Department of Health, those toxic soaps harm the natural bacterial action.
The next time you are in the supermarket shopping for dishwashing liquids, avoid any that read “antibacterial.” These are the most dangerous for your septic tank system because the more you wash the dishes, the more those chemicals will stunt the work of the bacteria. In cases where you are washing the dishes more than the average homeowner, those ingredients in the dish liquid could lead to the destruction of the bacteria population in your septic tank.
Choosing the Right Septic Safe Laundry Soap
Just like the dishwashing liquid you select, the wrong laundry soap can have the same negative impact on your septic tank.
One of the best things you can do when shopping for septic safe laundry soap is to choose only liquid laundry detergents. Regardless the brand, the liquid detergents have far less supplemental and filler ingredients than the dry detergents. The dry laundry detergents will eventually clog the pipes leading to the septic system, the same way sludge and debris can clog the water pipes in your home.
Most dry detergents contain montmorillonite clay as the primary filler. The clay will certainly lead to clogs in time. The dry detergent also contains sodium to clean clothes, another element you do not want disrupting the delicate balance in the septic tank.
Keeping the Septic Tank Running Effectively
Just like how you watch the toxic foods and medications you put in your body, it is time to pay closer attention to the chemicals you are putting into the septic tank if you want to avoid having to call the septic tank professionals to do an emergency repair.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, make an effort to start using the least toxic cleansers as possible that enter the septic system. Many of the strong laundry and dish washing liquids are made to cut through grease and kill any germs. More powerful means more toxic, and more toxic means more harmful to your septic system.
When the products you purchase to clean laundry or dishes are labeled “poison” or “danger,” they contain high levels of toxic cleansers. Those that read “caution” or “warning” have far fewer toxins in the product. By keeping an eye on the ingredients in those products, you can reduce the chance of them destroying the flora of the septic system, corroding the lining of the tank, or eliminating the bacteria field.
One of the best ways to ensure you are using septic safe laundry soap and dishwashing liquids, head over to the EPA website to find the detergents that top their Safer Choice list. These product manufacturers have taken the time to report to the EPA and are more reliable product options to use in your home.