Can I Plant a Garden or Bushes Over my Drain Field?
If you have a problem with your septic tank, for example, it is getting a little bit smelly, you may decide that the best thing to do is add some cleaning products into your septic tank. However, you need to be cautious about doing this.
Septic tanks rely on healthy bacteria, and some cleaning products can throw the chemistry of your tank out of balance. Certain cleaning agents and chemicals kill the microorganisms and bacteria that are needed within your system, and this can ultimately prevent your septic tank from working effectively and it may even cause significant damage.
With that being said, the four main cleaning products that you need to avoid when it comes to cleaning your septic tank are as follows:
Drain cleaners
Bleach
Antibacterial
Certain detergents in large quantities
Out of the products that we have mentioned above, the one that we see people use the most often is a drain cleaner. It would seem natural that a drain cleaner would work effectively in a septic tank. However, some of them can cause a huge amount of damage. For example, if you opt for a solid or foaming drain cleaner, this can actually end up disabling your septic tank and causing damage, which is the last thing that you want.
Making your own cleaning products
If you are going to make your own household cleaner for your septic tank, you do need to consider the ingredients carefully. Make sure you do not cause any chemicals that are going to cause damage to your tank.
Chemicals that ARE safe
The good news is that there are some chemicals that can be used in a safe manner with your septic tank. For example, it is fine for you to use multi-purpose household cleaning products. However, the key here is to use them conservatively. As touched upon in the former section, if you use something in a large quantity, there is a chance that it is going to cause damage.
It is also imperative to make sure that the multi-purpose surface cleaner you choose is mild and that it is free of phosphate. The importance of this is because these products are not going to contain any of the chemicals that are harsh and can potentially cause damage within your septic tank.
Aside from this, cleaners that are water-based tend to be fine for use with a septic tank. After all, water is the chief ingredient, and so many of the chemicals that are contained tend to be diluted to the point where they do not cause an issue.