Is Scrubbing Bubbles Septic Safe?

Scrubbing Bubbles is a bathroom cleaning product from S.C Johnson & Son. The company has lots of other cleaning products … Read more

Eric Thiel

Scrubbing Bubbles is a bathroom cleaning product from S.C Johnson & Son.

The company has lots of other cleaning products including disinfectants, bathroom cleaners, and grime fighters in various forms such as trigger, aerosol, and gel.

Scrubbing Bubbles products are meant to make the process of cleaning bathrooms not only easier but also more effective.

Because the product is very good at dealing with dirt and grease, it is natural to wonder if it is septic-safe.

According to the manufacturer, Scrubbing Bubbles is ok to be used in septic systems.

However, when a customer asked about the safety of the product for septic systems, he was advised not to use the toilet bowl cleaner.

So, which is which?

Well, let’s take a closer look at the active ingredients to know for sure.

Scrubbing Bubbles Active Ingredients

The exact active ingredients will vary depending on the Scrubbing Bubbles brand in question.

For instance, the active ingredients in Scrubbing Bubbles Soap Scum Remover are:

1-propoxypropan-2-yloxy-propan-2-ol and 1-butoxypropan-2-yloxy-propan-2-ol, which are the compounds remove scum

Lactic acid – for the removal of hard water stains

ethoxylated alcohol – for dissolving and removing dirt, deposits, and stains

The auto shower cleaner has the following active ingredients:

4-dione

5,5-dimethyl-imidazolidine-2

lauryl pyrrolidone

sodium polyacrylate and sulfonated fatty acid methyl esters

aryl sulfonated sodium salt

stabilizers

bleach

pH adjusters.

The mega shower foamer aerosol comprises the following ingredients:

butoxydiglycol (for removing soap scum)

Heida (also for removing soap scum)

Quaterinary and ammonium chlorides (also for removing soap scum)

isobutane (to make it easier for the gel to come out of the container)

Ethoxylated alcohol (for removing dirt and deposits)

Citric acid (for regulating the pH)

Scrubbing Bubbles Vs. Your Septic Safety

From the list of ingredients of the different scrubbing bubbles products, it would be safe to infer that the product is not safe for septic systems.

Even though the quantities may seem negligible, a little always goes a long way.

For instance, if you used one of the products daily, the chemicals in the product will accumulate over time in the septic tank and they will continue killing the helpful bacteria.

Apart from the toxic chemicals (toxic to bacteria) used in the product, the pH adjusters are also not very good for the system.

That’s because they may easily make the septic tank too acidic which is not ideal for a healthy system.

Granted, there are several septic system owners that might have reported using the product without any issues.

In most cases, the bacteria population in the septic tank is often replenished by every flush of the toilet.

This is why it might not be easy to notice the damage some of the cleaning products do to the system.

However, if the bacteria get overwhelmed at some point, the system will easily fail you, which would cost you lots of cash to remedy.

Which Cleaners Should You Use?

If you are a septic system owner, it is best to avoid most of the commercial cleaners that are made with chemicals and other toxic substances.

These cleaners are typically formulated to kill bacteria which is great for the surfaces they are designed to clean but very bad for the health of bacteria in the septic tank.

Instead of using these cleaners, you are better off using safe DIY cleaners that you can easily make at home with vinegar, baking soda, and borax.

Alternatively, you can use EPA-approved organic cleaners.

An organic cleaner is made from natural and biodegradable materials. Because of their biodegradable nature, these cleaners will easily break down in the septic tank.

In the unlikely event that they don’t get broken down by bacteria, these materials are natural and will not result in groundwater pollution.