Cleaning products to use with a septic tank

My understanding from friends in Arboleas is that Mercadona stock a full range of 'septic tank friendly' cleaning products including the toilet paper that dissolves, (or don't put it down). Also you could ask in Longos to be sure.

We lived in a rural property in UK which had a septic tank. The main problem was actually fat and grease going down the sink, depositing on the pipes and furring them up. Also affecting the soak-away. It was quite a nightmare at times. So watch that chip- pan..Lots of residents, I understand,  use washing-up water on their gardens.

Best Wishes,

Bob and Sandra

Thanks for that.. Great advice

Hope you will be very happy in your new home.

Sincerely,

Bob and Sandra

Mojacar and Puerto Lumbreras

If you are sure it is a Septic Tank and not a Pozo then any cleaning product can be sent down with the flush. We have ours emptied every two years and always use dissolving toilet paper. Otherwise anything goes, obviously no nappies, wetwipes, tissues etc. But any bleach etc is fine.

Hi there, BobL always gives answers that are spot on. However, can I give you a tip?

If any of you are taking antibiotics, these will kill off the natural bacteria that breaks down the waste in your septic tank. The easiest remedy is to eat yoghurt which will then finish up in the same tank and reinstate the bacteria which is necessary for its correct functioning. Or simply, just buy some cheap yoghurt and throw it down the loo. It does work, as long as there are no obstructions. I always use any type of cleaning product but will keep a look out for the tank friendly variety from now on.

By the way, olive oil seems to be more eco-friendly than vegetable oils.

Good luck,

Janice

Hello All.  Can anybody actually list the Mercadona cleaning materials and toilet cleaning material for the loo that is suitable for septic tanks.  Also the name of the most suitable toilet paper from Mercadona.  Everyone mentions yes, Mercadona stock them all, but could anyone actually list the names.  This would be so so helpful for us all.

Many thanks All

be aware. never mix bleach with an acid. it will produce deadly chlorine.

TOO MUCH cleaning agents and loo sanitising bleach will also slow bacterial function

Hi Pam I am not on septic tank here BUT I did have one in the UK. I had it drained every year, but the company who did it told me that if it was working properly it should never need draining as it had a soak away. Not sure is septic tanks here run on the same system though, and I was always happy to get it drained as it was an opportunity to inspect it and see the condition of the walls, whether any repairs were needed etc. AS regards cleaning it, again the expert advice I was given is that no cleaning products should be used as it would interfere with the natural bacteria doing the job....hope that helps.

Septic tanks need bacteria to work properly. Anything organic will rot and produce bacteria. As long as the cleaning products to not out weigh the bacteria then all will be fine. Some tanks never need emptying as the bacteria build up is good that everything just rots away and becomes a liquid that filters out into the surrounding soil.

In the old days people used to put things like dead rats into their septic tanks to top up the bacteria count.