Avoid flushing these if you have a septic tank

Flushing Cigarette butts

Most smokers are afraid of starting a fire by throwing the cigarette butts in the trash can. They, therefore, resort to using the toilet because they figure the water in the toilet bowl will extinguish the cigarette. As noble as it might sound, it actually causes more harm than good. For starters, cigarette butts are made of tightly woven plasticized cellulose acetate, which is a nonbiodegradable material. The butts can, therefore, end up clogging the drainfield. Additionally, cigarettes often have hundreds of additives and some of these additives contain heavy metals like cadmium which are toxic to bacteria in the septic tank.

Hint: To solve the issue of accidental fires in the trash can, place your cigarette butts in an ashtray and then empty them a day later into the trash can.

Flushing condoms

There is a general misconception that condoms are biodegradable and it is, therefore, safe to flush them in the toilet. But the truth is that even latex condoms are not made purely from latex rubber. Synthetic materials like polyurethane are usually added in a bid to make them stronger and thinner. These synthetic materials that are added are what make condoms nonbiodegradable. If you keep flushing them in the toilet, they could eventually clog up the pipes in the septic system.

Flushing expired meds

Pharmaceuticals are made of very durable molecules and so they can easily resist the liquifying process in the septic tank and end up polluting the groundwater. Furthermore, expired meds are quite toxic and can kill the bacteria in the septic tank. For instance, antibiotics have been specially made to fight and kill bacteria and they will do just that in the septic tank. This is why all unused and expired meds shouldn’t be flushed in the toilet.

Antibacterial products

Antibacterial products like handwashes, kitchen cleaners, and toilet soaps have one main principle of operation – the killing of bacteria. Since the septic tank relies on bacteria to digest organic waste, you do not want these products to get there. it is therefore advisable to completely avoid using any antibacterial product. You can use the regular soaps instead or use safe DIY products like lemon juice.

Wet wipes/ face wipes

Wet wipes are increasing in popularity but they are also responsible for clogging up sewage pipes thereby causing backups. Some of the popular brands promote their wet wipes as flushable but you still shouldn’t flush them. Research shows that wet wipes account for up to 93% of matter causing blockages in sewers. To avoid being part of this statistic, dispose of your wet wipes in the trash.

Sanitary towels

Sanitary pads and tampons are not biodegradable. When you flush them, you risk clogging up the pipes. in addition, since bacteria can’t break them down, they will accumulate in the tank and contribute to sludge buildup. This will eventually cause your tank to fill up quicker than it should which means you might have to schedule a pumping sooner than you had planned.

Paints

Paint is composed of a pigment, a binder, a solvent as well as additives. There is a general misconception that water-based paint is safe for the septic tank but this is not true. The only difference between water-based and oil-based paint is the solvent used. Oil-based paints use turpentine but water-based ones use water as the solvent. However, all the other components are the same and so all paints are still toxic. Any leftover paint from your home improvement project should be properly disposed of at a hazardous waste facility.

Cat litter

Flushing cat litter can wreak havoc to your septic system and it should be avoided at all costs. Cat litter adds unnecessary solid waste into the tank and this contributes to sludge buildup. It can also clog up the pipes in the system thereby resulting in backups of wastewater. Cat litter also introduces the Toxoplasma parasite into the septic tank. This parasite will survive the septic tank and eventually contaminate the drinking water. Toxoplasma can cause serious health complications in pregnant women and persons that have weak immunity. This parasite has been known to cause brain damage and even death.

Dental floss

Because dental floss is small you might be tempted to just flush it in the toilet. But you shouldn’t. Dental floss is typically made from nylon or Teflon and these materials are not biodegradable. Apart from contributing to sludge buildup, dental floss can wrap themselves around hair, toilet paper, and other debris and therefore cause blockages.

Paper towels

Even though paper towels look like tissue paper to the normal eye, they are not made to degrade in water. Paper towels are made from hardwood pulp and are more absorbent than they are degradable and that is why they are used for drying hands and foodstuff. Flushing them down the toilet is, therefore, a bad idea because they will just settle down at the bottom of the tank and contribute to sludge buildup.

Plastics

Band-Aids, toys, and any other plastics shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. Plastics can take up to 1,000 years to decompose so flushing them down the toilet is a really bad idea. Apart from the potential blockage that plastics can cause, they will also contribute to the buildup of sludge thereby causing the septic tank to fill up faster than usual.

Cosmetics

Some of the cosmetic products are made with toxic substances. They also contain metals like cadmium, zinc, chromium, and titanium which are not biodegradable. These metals will flow with effluent out of the tank, into the drainfield and eventually reach the groundwater, therefore, polluting it. All cosmetic products should be disposed of in the trash.

Conclusion

Pumping companies find all manner of unimaginable things when pumping septic tanks. If you want your tank to serve you for decades without any problem, you have to pay attention to the products you flush. As a rule of thumb, only flush toilet paper and human waste. Any other waste should be disposed of in the trash. When it comes to septic systems, it is always better to be safe than to be sorry.