What goes in the toilet?
Human waste and toilet paper, and nothing else. The EPA says never to flush wipes, even ones sold as flushable, or diapers, feminine hygiene products, condoms, dental floss, paper towels, cat litter, coffee grounds or cigarette butts.
A tank is a settling tank with bacteria in it. Things that do not break down pile up as sludge, or travel to the drain field and clog it.
Are flushable wipes safe for a septic system?
No. The EPA includes wipes labeled flushable in its never-flush list, and Penn State Extension lists wipes among items that quickly clog pipes. Put them in a lidded bathroom trash can. If wipes already caused a clog, a pumping the tank clears the tank, though not always the line.
What about cat litter and pet waste?
Keep both out. The EPA lists cat litter among items never to flush, and Penn State names pet waste among solids that fill the tank early. Bag both and put them in the trash.
Is any paper other than toilet paper safe?
The EPA allows toilet paper and lists paper towels as a never-flush item. If a product is not toilet paper, it belongs in the trash, whatever the package says about breaking down.
What stays out of the kitchen sink?
Cooking grease and oil. The EPA says never to pour them down any drain, and Penn State says fats, eggshells and pet waste fill the tank early. Let grease cool and put it in the trash.
Food scraps belong in the compost or the trash. Penn State names composting as the better choice for food waste.
Why is grease the worst offender?
It cools and sticks. Grease that reaches the tank adds to the scum layer, which is one of the layers the pumper measures, and any that leaves the tank can coat the soil in the drain field. A coffee can kept by the stove is enough to catch it.
What about laundry and cleaning?
Laundry is a water problem. Penn State says too much water at once pushes liquids through the tank too fast for solids and oils to separate, and they reach the absorption field. Run full loads and spread them over the week, as the EPA also advises.
Ordinary cleaning in ordinary amounts is the usual household case. The EPA warns against large amounts of toxic cleaners, and Penn State lists bleach and drain cleaners among chemicals that can harm the bacteria. Chemical drain openers are on the EPA’s avoid list. For a clogged drain, use boiling water or a snake.
What about medicines, paint and other chemicals?
Keep them out of every drain. The EPA lists pharmaceuticals, household chemicals, oil-based paint and solvents as things that should never go into a septic system, and Penn State adds antifreeze, motor oil and pesticides. They can harm the bacteria in the tank.
Take unused medicine and leftover chemicals to a collection program. Collection days and sites vary by county, so check with your county or city first.
- Cooking grease and oil: cool, then trash
- Wipes, diapers, floss and cat litter: trash
- Slow drain: boiling water or a drain snake
- Medicine, paint, solvents and chemicals: a collection site or hazardous waste program
What about disposals, softeners and additives?
The EPA says a garbage disposal means more frequent pumping, so limit its use. See how often to pump for what that does to the schedule.
The EPA also says additives are not needed and can harm a system, and Penn State says they are no substitute for pumping. Dunn Rite gives customers the same answer. Yeast, milk and similar home remedies are not a recommended treatment either. Penn State did not address water softeners, so ask a septic professional before relying on one.
Why does it matter?
Solids that leave the tank clog the drain field. Penn State describes them forming a biomat that pumping the tank does not remove. A clogged field shows up as the signs in our guide to septic warning signs.
Water use counts as a load too. The EPA says indoor use can reach 70 gallons per person per day, and one leaking toilet can add up to 200 gallons a day. Keep roof drains and sump pumps pointed away from the field, as covered in protecting your drain field.
What about guests, rentals and teenagers?
The rules do not change when the household does, but habits slip. Post a short note in the bathroom and above the kitchen sink, written in plain words. A house that sits empty for weeks and then fills for a weekend also puts a sudden load on the tank, so spread out laundry and showers.
If something already went down that should not have, tell the technician at the next inspection or pump-out and say what it was.
Common questions
Can I use bleach and household cleaners normally?
Small amounts from normal cleaning are the usual household case. The problems the EPA names are large amounts of toxic cleaners, chemical drain openers, solvents and paints. If you are unsure about a product, keep it out of the drain and ask your septic company before using it regularly.
What should I use for a clogged drain?
The EPA says to avoid chemical drain openers and use boiling water or a drain snake instead. If several drains are slow or water is backing up, the clog may be in the tank or line, and a plumber or septic company needs to look.
Is toilet paper all the same for a septic system?
Toilet paper is one of the two things the EPA says belongs in the toilet, along with human waste. Paper towels, tissues and wipes are not the same product and are on the do-not-flush list. If you are unsure, check that the label says it is made for toilets.
Can I put food scraps down the disposal?
You can, but the EPA says a disposal adds solids and calls for more frequent pumping. Scrape plates into the trash or compost, and keep grease and coffee grounds out of the sink. Composting food scraps is Penn State’s suggested alternative.
Will a septic additive let me skip pumping?
No. The EPA says additives can be ineffective or harm the system, and a tank already contains the bacteria it needs. The only way to know when to pump is to measure the solids, which a professional does with the lid open.
What do I do if wipes or grease already went down?
Stop adding to it, spread out water use for a few days, and tell your septic company what went in. If drains are slow or backing up, a pump-out and a look at the tank can show where the material collected.