Installing a septic system takes money and time.
As a result, you want to do all you can to make sure it operates efficiently at all times.
That means arming yourself with the information on the products that are safe for it and those that aren’t.
For instance, not all soaps are meant to be used in homes with septic tanks.
That’s right—your seemingly harmless hand soap could be damaging your septic system without your knowledge.
Today, allow me to bring your attention to the infamous Dove bar soap and its effect on your septic tank.
If you are like me (and many homeowners), you love this brand of soap for its powerful formulation.
The creamy bar has a great texture that leaves a smooth feel on the skin.
It also smells great, moisturizes the skin well, and doesn’t melt faster like many of its counterparts in the market.
Plus, it has a pH of around 6 which closely matches our skin’s mantle.
But how safe is it for your septic system?
How a Septic Tank Works (A Quick Overview)
To understand whether Dove bar soap is safe for your septic system or not, you need to know how it works in the first place.
A septic tank’s design is pretty much simple.
It is an underground rectangular watertight container made of plastic, concrete, or fiberglass.
Its purpose is to dispose of waste water safely to the environment.
It does that by breaking the solid waste in the tank using bacteria.
What results from this is effluent which is safe to be drained into the soil.
Well, the science is more complicated than this but you get the point.
Dove Bar Soap Vs. Your Septic System’s Safety
Because a septic system relies heavily on bacteria to process waste, any product that kills these said bacteria is toxic for it.
Products with strong chemicals and high pH levels will certainly get rid of these bacteria.
The worst of all is antibacterial products—most are formulated to attack and kill bacteria.
When they are used excessively, they will tamper with natural bacterial balance in a septic systems.
Most septic systems can handle small amounts of antibacterial products but when the limit is surpassed, the proper balance (or ‘health’) of a septic tank will be affected.
Dove soap bars come in different types. These include the original beauty bar, soothing care, pink/rosa, sensitive skin, antibacterial, and relaxing.
Each one has ingredients that differentiate it from another.
The original beauty bar is made with gentle ingredients. It is plant-based and mostly devoid of harsh chemicals that can render good bacteria dead. These include parabens and sulfate cleaners.
It is also pH-balanced and is thus not too acidic.
All the other Dove bars (except the antibacterial bar) are closely related to the original product.
They only employ a few other ingredients, all of which don’t change the pH and chemical profile of the soap.
However, the antibacterial dove bar soap may not be the best for a septic system for obvious reasons.
It is formulated to remove 99% of bacteria from your skin in a matter of seconds.
The bar is infused with bacteria-killing ingredients and may not be the best for a septic tank.
Heavy use will guarantee the death of many of the millions of naturally-occurring bacteria in your septic tank.
You may also want to check: Is Pine Sol Safe For Septic Tanks?
How You Use Dove Bar Soap Determines Its Safety
While Dove’s antibacterial bar soap is not the best for your septic system, it is not entirely toxic.
How you use it determines its safety or lack thereof.
If you use it from time to time, your septic tank will be just fine.
But if your home has many members who use the soap heavily, best believe it will negatively affect your septic tank.
On a good note, you have a range of other Dove soap bars to choose from.
If you are keen on using them, rest easy. Your septic system will operate under normal conditions.
Closing Thoughts
The Dove bar soap is a fan favorite. The brand has a range of soap bars for different uses.
Whether you are looking for a regular soap that moisturizes your skin, one that gets rid of bacteria, or something in between, you will find one that suits your needs.
Except for the Antibacterial Dove Bar Soap, the Dove bar soaps are safe for septic systems.
They don’t have any bacteria-killing properties.
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