There’s nothing like a crisp white T-shirt or fresh-smelling sheets to make your day more comfortable. But unfortunately, washing these items too frequently will make things uncomfortable for your septic system. If you’re trying to gauge the right balance between clean linens and waste management, you can learn from the following guide.

How Can Doing Laundry Affect My Septic System?

Every time you do laundry, you’re essentially giving your clothes a bath, which requires a significant amount of water. Depending on your appliances’ age and efficiency, you might be using anywhere from five to 45 gallons of water per load. Once all this water is pumped through your clothes, it contains plenty of sudsy detergent, and all the sweat, dirt, and food stains in the fabric. 

Septic systems rely on the slow yet eco-friendly processes of filtering and decomposition, and they can’t be rushed. If too much of this laundry wastewater is being sent to the septic system too frequently, your tank and drain field might not be able to keep up. This could lead to leaks in your yard or plumbing system, or worst of all, sewage backups. 

Additionally, if you’re pumping significant quantities of detergent into the tank, the soap might alter the bacterial balance necessary to break down waste. This could cause solid sewage to rapidly accumulate, blocking the entrance to or exit from the tank.

How Can I Avoid These Problems?

To allow your plumbing and septic systems enough time to filter through and process your wastewater, you’ll need to spread out your water consumption. Try to do a load on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, instead of three loads on Saturday. If you’re using more water than usual—such as several dishwasher loads after a holiday meal—hold off on laundry for a few days.

Ensure that the detergent you’re using is mild, and that you’re not using more than you need to. Harsh soaps and chemicals like bleach can kill the good bacteria inside your septic tank, which decomposes waste naturally.

If you have questions about maintaining your septic system, reach out to A & J Nichols Septic Tank Co. This Byhalia, MS, team has over 50 years of experience serving residential and commercial property owners. Whether you need your tank pumped or inspected, you can rely on their expertise to avoid backups and clogs. To learn more about their offerings, visit the website, or call (662) 838-2945.