If your home relies on a septic tank to dispose of waste, you know that everything you flush or pour down the drain ends up in your tank. Septic systems are designed to break down organic matter, so artificial or chemical materials can end up clogging its pipes or upsetting its delicate biome. To help you care for your unit and prevent costly repairs, here’s a guide to what you should keep out of your tank.

What Not to Flush Into a Septic Tank

1. Baby Wipes

Unlike toilet paper, baby wipes and adult wet wipes don’t disintegrate when they get wet. Even brands labeled as "flushable" can snag in pipes and clog them, or accumulate in your septic tank and cause overflow. 

2. Feminine Hygiene Products

As with baby wipes, tampons, pads, and other feminine hygiene products can clog your pipes and lead to expensive plumbing emergencies. Since cotton doesn’t biodegrade, these products will sink to the bottom of your tank, where they can accumulate over time. This will force you to schedule septic pumping more often than necessary, which can be costly.

3. Medication, Bleach, & Cleansers

A septic tank uses bacteria to break down solids, consume toxins, and make wastewater safe for release into the environment. Medications, bleach, and harsh chemical cleaners such as bleach and ammonia can kill these bacteria, interfering with your system's ability to process solid waste. To ensure your septic unit works efficiently, never flush or pour chemicals down your drains. 

4. Cotton Balls & Q-Tips

Made of cotton, plastic, and inorganic materials, these also don’t break down in water, even if their small size makes them appear harmless. When wet, cotton products tend to absorb liquids and swell, taking up unnecessary space in a tank or clogging pipes and drain fields. 

5. Hair & Dental Floss

Stringy fibers of hair and dental floss can adhere to the inside surface of your pipes and snag other passing debris. Over time, this can form large balls of crud that clog plumbing and slow drainage. To prevent septic repairs, avoid flushing these items or letting them fall into your drains. 

If you need septic tank maintenance or pumping to address one of these issues, contact Holler Drilling & Plumbing in La Crosse, WI. Serving La Crosse County for over 40 years, this family-owned and -operated business specializes in water well drilling, water pump service, plumbing repairs, and septic tank installation to ensure the water systems of your home are always functional. See what they do for septic tanks online, or call (608) 781-2342 to schedule an inspection.