Kaboom is a brand of household cleaning products owned by Church & Dwight, Co., Inc.

The brand boasts of the ability to remove stubborn stains like soap scum, calcium, grease, hard water build-up, lime stains, and grime.

Kaboom has rebranded to OxiClean but the products are the same.

The Kaboom product line includes:

• Kaboom BowlBlaster Toilet Bowl Cleaner

• Kaboom Foam-Tastic Bathroom Cleaner

• Kaboom Mold & Mildew Stain Remover

• Kaboom Disinfectant Bathroom Cleaner

• Kaboom Shower, Tub & Tile Cleaner

• Kaboom No Drip Foam Mold & Mildew Stain Remover

These products promise to clean different areas of your home, including the bathroom, kitchen, and other surfaces.

Are Kaboom Products Safe for your Septic System?

According to the official Kaboom website, their products are septic-safe.

However, you shouldn’t take that as gospel truth because many products are marketed as septic safe when they are actually not.

The best way to know for sure is to check the composition of the product because for a product to be septic-safe, it must be made of ingredients that will not harm bacteria in the septic tank.

A closer look at the ingredients of Kaboom reveals that the product may not be as safe for septic systems as advertised.

Granted, it may be a safer alternative than most other commercial cleaners but there is still some cause of concern.

Here are the reasons why:

The pH value

A septic tank should have a pH value of 6.5-7.5 to support a healthy bacteria population.

Products that lower or raise these levels are therefore not septic safe.

 Unfortunately, most Kaboom products have a pH value that is way outside this sweet spot.

For instance, Kaboom Foam-Tastic has a pH of 12 and their Tub and Tile Cleaners have a pH of 3-3.5.

If the pH value is too low, the pH of the septic tank will be too acidic and that will make the environment too toxic for bacteria to survive.

Similarly, if the pH goes too high, the bacteria growth will be inhibited and fungi will be favoured.

As a result, the waste in the septic tank will accumulate instead of being liquefied by bacteria.

Harsh Chemicals

Products that contain harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia can kill the bacteria in a septic system and are considered not safe for septic systems.

Kaboom products have different ingredients but some of the common ingredients across their product line include sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, surfactants, fragrances, dyes, and sodium hypochlorite.

These ingredients may be too harsh for bacteria and will pose a threat to their population in the septic tank.

In fact, Kaboom products have a listing of “aquatic acute 3,” which means they are too toxic to aquatic life.

Biodegradability

Septic-safe products need to be biodegradable.

Unfortunately, there is no clear information available on whether Kaboom cleaner is biodegradable.

Some websites like WonderChem state that the product is biodegradable while others like EWG argue that it’s not.

 Since the manufacturer’s website doesn’t have information on this, it is best to play safe and avoid it altogether.

Are There Any Other Toilet Bowl Cleaners That Are Safe For Septic Systems?

There are lots of toilet bowl cleaners that are septic-safe.

The most important thing to look for when shopping is biodegradable products that are made from natural products.

Most chemical-based products are made from harsh chemicals that are too toxic for bacteria.

As such, you should only go for cleaners that use natural ingredients.

For instance, you can use an enzyme-based cleaner that relies on enzymes to break down dirt and stains instead of harsh chemicals.

Final Verdict

In conclusion, Kaboom may not be as safe for the septic system as claimed on its website.

This is because it is made from harsh chemicals that may harm the helpful bacteria in your septic tank.

As a rule of thumb, always check the ingredient list of the cleaning products to know if they are safe for the septic tank.