It is very important to remember that absolutely everything you flush, wash, or pour down the drain ends up in your septic system!
Bathroom
Do not use colored or heavily quilted toilet tissue. Both of these products take a long time to break down in your septic tank.
Kitchen towels, feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, kleenex, condoms or disposable diapers should never be flushed down the toilet.
Kitchen
Limit the use of the garbage disposal whenever possible. Vegetable peelings should not be ground up. Do not put coffee grounds, fat or grease down your drain.
Do not use any chemical drain cleaner.
Laundry
If the water is soft, it is not necessary to use as much laundry detergent as the manufacturer recommends. You will find that laundry washes perfectly with half or less of the recommended amount of soap. For bad stains, use a spot or stain remover directly on the stain. Try to do a little laundry every day, two loads a day is fine. More than that puts unnecessary strain on the septic system.
Do not use chlorine, or chlorine cleaning products. They kill the bacteria that live in and operate the septic tank.
Garage/ Yard
Never pour solvents, paint, pesticides, poisons, motor oil, or any type of chemical down the drain.
NOTE: If the house is on a city or municipal water supply that chlorinates its water or if there is a chlorine dropper on the well water system, don’t worry about it. A small amount of chlorine should not harm a properly functioning septic system.
