[Linda]

I’m hoping there are some knowledgeable septic people in the forum. I love to splurge on homemade soaps but they all have oils in them (i.e. olive, coconut). Are homemade soaps safe for septic systems? This isn’t immediate frugality but a concern for the future (not wanting to replace a septic because of this).

[Sue]

ALL soaps and detergents must have oil or a fat of some kind. That plus a caustic, often sodium hydroxide, is what soaps/detergents are made from.

Simplest, cheapest, and probably the first time soap was discovered by some cave woman, is to mix ashes with water, which makes a caustic, and apply to grease.

There are basically 2 types of ‘detergents’: Natural detergent (soap) and synthetic detergent, but all must have some type of fatty acid. (I really did learn something from bio-chem, 50+ years ago!).

[Vanessa]

Depending on your tank, bleach and the monthly tablets will help.

[Jackie]

Just have your tank cleaned out at the recommendation of your septic person.

My daughter’s person says since there’s only 2 of them that every three years is good enough.

The larger your household, the more frequently it needs a clean out.

Don’t miss: Recently started using bar soap instead of body wash – But..

[Sandi]

I would think since you are using natural, it’s safer than a lot of the toxic stuff which use crappy oils. We put in about a cup of yeast into our toilets and flush once a month it’s good for the septic tank.

[Barbara]

I believe that the most important thing to keep your septic system in good shape, is do NOT flush toilet paper, wipes or any feminine products.

NO grease or food waste down the drain. Been living with the original septic tank in a 1974 home for 20 years.

[Jean]

I’ve had the same concern with my septic…once a year I buy the “septic” cleaner, and flush in toilet before going to bed,,and don’t flush any toilets in the night.

I also, every 2 months, use up old baking soda, vinegar, sprinkle on drains, then dump a very large pan of boiling water, fast, swoosh!, to flush it all out, down.

I do all drains same day. It reduces the black drain gunk for sure.

Our septic is in very good shape. (Some people use salt and baking soda,,I’ve used both)

[Jennifer]

Doing your dishes is also going to send oil into your septic no matter how good you wipe them off before you wash. When you shower your sending body oils into your septic.

There’s no way around it.

[Jessie]

Are you asking about bar soaps or liquid? If it’s liquid, they use liquid oils, so it’s gonna be fine. Bar soap probably doesn’t, but knowing what I know about homemade shampoos and liquid soaps, my guess is they use beeswax or something similar to solidify the bar and not something like coconut that is hard when cool. But the problem remains, something can solidify in your pipes if it’s solid at room temp.

Just to err on the side of caution, I opt for liquid soap. I make it from castile soap, water, some essential oils if I’m feeling it, and just a tiny bit of a hydrating oil like avocado or fractionated coconut oil. It’s much cheaper than even the generic body washes in the store, and a lot better for your skin. I put it in a foaming pump and it lasts forever.

[Author]

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