SEPTIC Q &amp; A: PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

Jacqueline Sommers is the founder of Better Than Septic

As a septic professional, I'm often asked

what products are safe for septic use

Get answers to common septic system questions from Jacqueline Sommers, a certified wastewater professional and owner of Better Than Septic

Wastewater contains a variety of constituents, including human and food waste, pharmaceuticals, pathogens, nutrients and chemicals

Today we're going to discuss personal care products that are intended to be rinsed down the drain during normal use

PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

Q (to Jacque): What are "personal care products"?

A: Personal care products (PCPs) include hand and body soaps, hair products, toothpastes, sunscreens and lotions, deodorants, cosmetics and even fragrances.

Q: Are PCPs safe for septic systems?

A: Generally speaking, any product that you would use on your body is not going to harm your septic system.

Personal care products are used on your body

Q: What types of soaps are best?

A: Mild hand and body soaps with no or low fragrance are the best. Soaps labeled "antibacterial" are the most harmful to septic systems.

Q: Should antibacterial soaps be used?

A: I don't recommend the use of antibacterial soaps. There is no evidence that antibacterial soaps help to avoid illness or infection. In fact, use of these products can actually kill the healthy bacteria in a septic system.

Q: Do you recommend liquid or bar soap?

A: Both. There is no distinguishable difference between regular bar and liquid soaps... just be sure to steer clear of products with MICROBEADS!

Many states have banned microbeads

Q: What are "microbeads"?

A: Microbeads are micro-sized plastic particles that have been added to thousands of toothpastes and face and body scrubs. These tiny plastic beads are too small to be removed by a septic system, so they pass freely into the soil and aquatic environments.

Q: Any other washing and bathing suggestions?

A: The use of strongly fragranced products, bath and body oils, and salts, like Epsom, can detrimentally effect a septic system, so I always caution homeowners on the use of these products.

Q: And your final words?

A: ALWAYS follow the directions and use all PCPs in moderation, and remember that it's NEVER a good idea to dispose of unwanted products down the drain.