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Can I Flush Household Chemicals into a Septic Tank? - Septic Tank Maintenance Advice
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What common household cleaners or chemicals are OK to flush into the septic tank?

What household cleaners or other common household liquids should NOT be flushed into the septic tank?

What do bleach, epsom salts, liquor, whiskey, wine do to the septic tank and drainfield?

Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/appointment.htm.

Is it ok to flush common household chemicals & household cleaners cleaners into the septic tank? What typical household chemicals and substances are safe to flush down the toilet and into a private septic system? What may damage the septic tank or leach fields? This document explains how to extend the life of the septic system by being careful about what goes into it.

Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Technical review, content suggestions, critique are welcomed and are listed at "References." This document is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS - Effects of Household Chemicals Flushed Into a Septic System

Household Chemicals Commonly Put Into Septic System or Down Building Drains

Ammonia - in normal dilute quantities such as from mopping a kitchen floor, should not be a concern. Don't dump bottles of un-wanted ammonia or any other chemicals into the building drains or septic system.
Bleach - in normal quantities, modest household usage is so dilute in the septic tank as to not be much of a concern; but if you're doing a lot of wash using lots of bleach, consider using an oxygen bleach product (sodium percarbonate) as an alternative.
Bleach at large quantities such in an attempt to subvert a well test or septic dye test, can damage the septic system and should not be poured into it.

Drain Cleaners & Septic Treatment Chemicals , such as used to unclog building drains, of all types, caustic or organic, should be ok provided that you follow the manufaacturer's instructions.

Regular, daily, weekly, or monthly use of drain openers, drain cleaners should not be needed in residential septic systems and some products that are caustics may be harmful to the system and to the environment when used often or in larger-than-recommended quantities.

Septic treatment chemicals are generally not needed, sometimes contaminate the environment, and are illegal in many jurisdictions in the U.S. and all of Canada. See SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS.

See BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS for a detailed step by step guide to un-blocking clogged drains. Articles at that page also assist in diagnosing the location and cause of drain blockages. Also see CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS.
Thanks to David Peterson for suggesting clarification on drain cleaners and septic systems.

Epsom salts, such as used to bathe feet, at normal use should also be OK.

Household detergents & household cleaners at normal levels: Small and normal quantities of household cleaner such as water used to mop a floor or clean a counter, are unlikely to damage a septic system by their volume, concentration in the septic tank, nor by their chemical content.

Normal levels of household cleaning, detergents, fabric softeners, shampoos, and bath soap, at normal levels of household use are sufficiently dilute when they reach the septic tank that they should not be a problem for a conventional septic tank and drainfield system.

However clothes washing machine and dishwashing machine detergents commonly contain phosphates and surfactants which are environmental contaminants. See Dishwasher & Laundry Detergents Containing Phosphates & Surfactants for a discussion of the effects of phosphates & detergents on the environment.

Liquor or Whiskey: how to get rid of un-wanted whiskey or liquor: pouring a small amount, say a bottle or two of unwanted liquor down the drain and on into the septic tank is not likely to be harmful. Frequent pouring of liquor into a septic system or pouring large amounts, say a case at a time, is probably a bad idea. It'd be better to give the liquor away. Look into a charitable gifts foundation if your whiskey bottles are in good shape.
Photo chemicals: But if a building is hosting non-residential activities such as a photo lab or other activity that sends a concentrated dose of chemicals into the system it's likely to be a problem either for the septic system or for the environment.
While liquids are not going to clog a pipe, they can, especially if in high concentration, damage the bacterial action in the septic tank or in the leach fields where the biomat is needed to process pathogens and thus to make the effluent safe to discharge into the environment.
Even a chemical which does not directly damage the biomat may be nonetheless neither filtered nor neutralized by the septic system process. So if you're dumping large amounts of photo chemicals or cleaners down your drains you may be discharging these into the environment, and contaminating it.

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Thanks to reader David Peterson for suggesting text clarification on drain cleaners 04/2009

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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME

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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic

Additives & Chemicals: Septic System Maintenance - Are they even needed? Are they even legal?
Biomat Formation in the Septic System Drainfield Absorption System - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems - what to do when buying a home with a septic tank
Cesspools Home Buyer's or Owner's Advice
Cheating on Water Tests - (Chlorine in Wells and Septics) Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - Water Test Cheating Warnings for Home Buyers and Home Inspectors
Clogged Drain Diagnosis - is the problem the septic system or the Building drain system?
Drywells Home Buyer's or Owner's Advice
Contamination in Buildings how to test buildings for bacterial contamination from Sewage and Septic backup, remediation, & references
Leach Field Inspection Procedure Septic Leach Fields - how to inspect and diagnose septic drainfield failures - what causes septic field failure?
Maintenance: Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance Book - online textbook: how to inspect, maintain, repair septics
Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
Sewage & Septic Backups and what to do about sewage spillage in buildings
Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for Septic Tanks: When, How, What to Watch For when pumping or cleaning septic tanks
Water Usage: Capacity: Determining Needed Septic Capacity - Typical residential water usage for people, appliances, and activities.
What is a Septic System An Engineer's View & Septic System FAQ's

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