How to Choose Septic-Safe Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets

For a home with a septic system, selecting washing machine cleaner tablets starts with a product’s described use and directions. Some manufacturers describe their tablets as “septic safe,” but that should be checked for the exact formula.

These tablets are appliance cleaners used in an empty washer, separately from laundry. Their purpose and directions differ from those of laundry detergent.

Environmental claims also deserve consideration. A comparison should check the exact formula’s septic-use directions, ingredients, fragrance and any certification claimed. Environmental certification does not replace those directions or guidance from the household’s septic-service provider.

The exact product name matters, especially when a brand offers several formulas. Shoppers can look for ingredient disclosures connected to that version, as well as information about fragrance and intended use.

Uproot Washing Machine Cleaner Pro is an example targeting detergent buildup and fabric residue. Published ingredients include sodium percarbonate, sodium carbonate, citric acid, lipase, and protease. Pro doesn’t have fragrance added, and Ultra has a light fragrance. Uproot’s guide to cleaner formulas and septic considerations explains what to look for when comparing these differences.

An ingredient list provides a starting point for questions about a formula, but it cannot establish a finished product's environmental impact on its own. Consumers who prefer no added fragrance can use that preference to narrow their choices and check the other product information.

Uproot describes its washing machine cleaner as safe for use in septic systems and compatible with front-load, top-load, and high-efficiency washers. These are manufacturer statements regarding the cleaner’s suitability. Review them in the context of the cleaner’s directions and the washer’s manual.

For example, the Uproot directions say to place one tablet in the empty drum, run the specified cycle and then wipe away the remaining residue. The directions are for washer maintenance and are separate from washing clothes. Uproot says the interval for this maintenance is every 2 weeks or whenever musty odors occur.

A septic-system statement does not permit a higher dose or more frequent use than what is directed by the manufacturer. If a user has concerns regarding a septic system, they should contact the service provider for their system.

A named standard helps customers identify which claims have been assessed. EPA's Safer Choice program evaluates each chemical ingredient relative to its health and environmental criteria. The program also assesses product performance, packaging, pH, and other requirements.

Products are required to meet category-specific performance standards, and EPA conducts annual audits. Shoppers can check the program’s product directory for the exact product, rather than assuming that recognition of a product under one brand extends to other products of the same brand.

The program is voluntary, and therefore the absence of the program’s label on a product does not mean the product is unsafe. Uproot’s ingredient disclosure and septic-safe statement are voluntary statements made by the manufacturer. Those statements do not mean Uproot is certified by the Safer Choice program.

Fragrance is another consideration. The Safer Choice program provides a fragrance-free label to products that qualify. Brands’ own no-added-fragrance statements should be viewed as product information, without assuming they carry that separate designation.

Laundry contributes to the wastewater entering a septic system. The EPA’s septic system care guidance recommends spreading out the use of washing machines throughout the week. Concentrating all laundry into one day can result in more water entering the system than it can treat.

The load setting on the washer should be selected according to the load being washed. Appropriate inspection and pumping of the septic system are still necessary. A washing machine cleaner is not a treatment for a septic-system problem and does not replace that maintenance.

Washer-cleaning tablets are also different from additives sold to increase the performance of a septic tank. The EPA does not recommend these tank additives for the treatment of domestic wastewater. The purpose of a washer cleaner is different; how it should be used is determined by the washer cleaner label.

A household can compare the exact formulas, fragrances, septic statements and doses before switching. Any certifications should be confirmed as well. Keeping this information with the washer manual should help others doing the laundry to use the washer and follow the new routine.