Caring for Your Septic System - Fact Sheet

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Septic systems are biological 
systems which treat wastewater. 
The septic tank contains bacteria 
that slowly digest solids. These 
bacteria are sensitive and can easily 
be upset by commercial household 
cleaners and chemical products.
 
The soil in the drainfield contains 
microorganisms which are also 
sensitive to harmful chemicals. 
These chemicals can pass through 
the soil polluting our ground and 
surface water.
The best approach to keeping a 
septic system healthy, while protecting 
the environment, is to not let anything 
harmful go down the drain, and 
don’t neglect regular pumping and 
inspection of your system.
 
The best cleaning products happen 
to also be the most affordable:
•  Baking soda for tubs, toilets 
    and sinks
•  Vinegar for windows and mirrors
•  Lemon to make it all smell nice
Recipes for alternative cleaning 
products:
All purpose cleaner:
 
Mix ½ cup vinegar and 
 1 – 4 cups of warm water.
Natural laundry whitener:
  To whiten whites, add ½ cup   
 baking soda to each load.
Toilet bowl cleaner:
 
Sprinkle a few tablespoons of  
 baking soda and scrub with a  
 brush, add a few drops of lemon  
 for freshness.
The most harmful cleaning products 
are the ones with warning symbols 
or complex chemical names on the 
containers.
Stay away from cleaners like these:
•    Granular drain cleaner. One 
tablespoon may kill all of the 
beneficial bacterial in your septic 
tank. Catch hair, food bits and 
    other solids before they go down 
the drain by using sink screens.  
•    Powdered laundry soap. It has 
    filler in it that can clog septic pipes 
and soil. Liquid laundry soap is 
much easier on septic systems.
Alternative drain cleaner:
  Pour ½ cup baking soda down  
 the drain. Follow with ½ cup   
 white vinegar. Cover and let sit
 for 15 minutes. Flush with 2
 litres of boiling water. (do not  
 use in your toilet – it may crack)
Additional Septic Care Tips
•    Recycle or properly dispose of household hazardous products. 
    Do not pour them down the drain or put them in the garbage.
•    Do not use your toilet or drains as a trash can. Cooking grease, 
    fats, cigarette butts, disposable wipes, sanitary napkins, hair, 
    plastics, lint, metal, rubber, coffee grounds, and cat litter should 
    all be kept out of your septic system.
•    Do not use a garburator unless your system is designed to 
accommodate the additional water and organic loads created from 
these devices. Instead compost your kitchen scraps. 
•    Do not use septic tank starters, additives or similar products. 
    There is already naturally occurring bacteria in wastewater which will 
stimulate the natural biological activity in your system. 
Fact Sheet
Caring For 
Your Septic 
System

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