Septic Clean – Good Bacteria at Work!
WHAT UPSETS THE BALANCE
The greatest cause of problems with your treatment plant or septic systems are cleaning products, the washing machine and medications.
CLEANING PRODUCTS
Unfortunately what we call cleaning products, your wastewater system may class as poisons. Like humans, some poisons kill us while others will just make us sick and the same will happen to the bacteria in your wastewater system. You must use environmentally friendly and no anti-bacterial products.
Your wastewater system is a living eco-system and relies on good bacteria to work effectively. Any product used that kills bacteria is harmful to your system. If you wish to use some of the harsher cleaning products, it is suggested that you use a bucket and discard the contents in the garden after use. This also applies to disinfectants, surface sprays, wipes and any chlorine or bleach based cleaners.
WASHING MACHINES
Try to evenly spread your washing over a period of a week. Avoid, where possible, washing everything in one day. It puts too much water in the system and tends to flush the good bacteria through the system before they have time to work. Liquid laundry soaps breakdown easier than granular styles do. Try not to be heavy handed with the amount of soaps you use. When working properly, your wastewater system will work efficiently with no odours or problems. It just needs a happy balance of good bacteria.
MEDICATIONS
While there are times that your family needs to use medications, these will have an adverse effect on your system. You may need to add an extra dose of Septic Science Septic Clean to counteract the effects of medications on your septic’s ecosystem. Unfortunately, Chemotherapy drugs do eventually kill the bacteria in your system however, Septic Clean can help eliminate some of the odours during your treatment and when treatment has finished, the system should be pumped out and re-seeded with 4 x weekly doses of Septic Clean to bring back the biological balance.
SUITABLE PRODUCTS
All products should be used in moderation
DISWASHING LIQUIDS
• Morning Fresh • Sunlight
• Palmolive • Eco friendly brands • Finish for Dishwashers (limit quantity)
SURFACE CLEANERS
• Jiff Cream Cleaner • Spray & Wipe (limit quantity)
• Windex • Shower Power
TOILET CLEANERS
• Jiff Cream Cleaner or any cream cleaner
– Toilet fresheners and cleaners are not recommended.
FLOOR CLEANERS
• Use hot water and detergent.
LAUNDRY POWDERS AND LIQUIDS
• Liquids tend to have less fillers (phosphates) than powders. Do not use products that advertise that they are whiteners, bleachers or anti-bacterials.
PRODUCTS TO BE AVOIDED
ANTIBACTERIAL SOLUTIONS
• Nappy Soakers & Whiteners
• Pineoclean & other disinfectants
• Blue Loo & other toilet cleaners
• Milton Tablets
BLEACHES
• Domestos, White King or any bleach
• Hair colours and lighteners
OTHER CLEANERS
• Exit Mould • Flea, Tick Wash
• Handy Andy • Bubble Baths
• Spirits/Alcohol • Draino etc.
• Caustic Oven Cleaners
Please Note:
The above list is not intended to promote or discredit the product of any company. It is provided to assist in ensuring the satisfactory on-going operation of your system
WHAT NOT TO DO TO YOUR SYSTEM
Never pour down the sink or flush down the toilet any of the following:
- Anything from your home brew kit
- Sour milk, yogurt or orange juice
- Cooking oils
- Excess food scraps (particularly from a garbage grinder)
All of these will provide too much food material for the bacteria to use. They must be disposed of in proper containers in your garbage collection.
Never dispose of any of the following items into the system
- Automotive oil
- Bleaches, disinfectants, whiteners
- Nappy liners, condoms, sanitary napkins
Automotive oil is not treatable by this bacteria; the disinfectants will take away all the bacteria’s oxygen; the sanitary items are impregnated with anti-bacterial matter, so they will never break down. The results will be – the good bacteria will die! The tank will almost certainly need to be pumped out to remove the gross pollutants and the tank refilled and re-started.
Whatever the product, always ensure that it is marked as Bio-degradable and Safe for Use in septic/onsite systems.
