What should I look for in septic-safe cleaning products? I’m getting conflicting information.—Talia Duke, Loon Lake, Ont.
“That’s a common question, and it doesn’t always have a simple answer,” says Rob Davis, the owner of EcoEthic in Sunderland, Ont.
Cleaning products can come in varying degrees of terribleness for your system, both because they destroy the good bacteria that it needs to function properly, and because they don’t biodegrade. So, we can certainly tell you what’s septic unsafe.
Say no to dedicated toilet bowl cleaners. “They’re either bleaching stains out or dissolving them with strong acids,” says Davis. For that matter, say no to anything with bleach (sodium hypochlorite). Also steer clear of products with a very high or very low pH (the bacteria in your tank will be happiest swimming in a pH between 6.5 and 7.5). And, no surprise: products with hazard symbols are bad.
Okay, so you know what to avoid. Here’s what to embrace. “Go with products that are clear, colourless, scent-free, and biodegradable,” says Davis. “You’re pretty much safe if they have those characteristics.” These kinds of products are now readily available. “Grocery stores or health food stores have a pretty good selection, unlike ten or twelve years ago.”
Also safe: baking soda. “It’s a highly underused product,” says Davis. “It’s great for scouring.” Food-grade citric acid works as a toilet bowl cleaner; lemon juice and vinegar are good stain removers.
When it comes to soaps, don’t be tricked into thinking that they need to foam or bubble to be effective. (And don’t be tempted to use more soap than necessary in an effort to get that satisfying bubbling action.) “A lot of soaps—dish soaps, for example—have boosters in them, but it’s strictly for optics,” says Davis. “Bubbles don’t clean. People clean. Hands clean.”
There’s more good news on the cottage cleaning front, for all the Tidy Heidis out there: Davis is currently working alongside a few cottager associations to compile a list of septic-safe Canadian products. “There are actually some that are quite good,” he says. Not just good. Quite good. Awesome! Hook us up with that list when you get it, Rob!
This article was originally published in the August 2025 issue of Cottage Life.
Related Story Cottage Q&A: Will the septic pump freeze?
Related Story Cottage Q&A: Why is my septic tank filling up so fast?
Related Story Cottage Q&A: What’s causing our smelly septic?