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Can I Flush This Waste?

by Ri Industries

There is a common misconception that toilets are designed to handle any type of waste. The truth is, just because it’s rubbish doesn’t mean it should be flushed!

While it may be fast and easy to simply flush unwanted matter down the toilet, remember, it does in fact flow somewhere, which in many cases is a septic tank. This means that some matter may turn this fast and easy solution into a big, messy problem!

Septic tanks are designed to break down organic matter. When matter is unable to be broken down, it may clog or damage the system resulting in costly repairs.

Here is a list of items which are frequently flushed, but shouldn’t be:

  1. Bathroom wipes – Wait, what? It even says right on the package that they’re flushable! Yes, it’s true they are advertised as flushable, but some brands degrade better than others. There is also the issue of how many wipes get flushed. Often, it is the quantity of wipes flushed into the septic tank that causes the problem.
  2. Condoms – This is another biggie we hear about. While the toilet may seem like an easy, even natural, disposal method, it is not a smart one. Condoms do not break down and will in time clog the system.
  3. Nappies – While they are filled with waste which can be safely flushed, the nappies themselves absolutely should not be. They are made from materials which are intended to expand when they come in contact with liquid, such as ….. toilet water! The problem here may occur before the nappy even makes it to the septic tank. Most likely it will get caught on the way down.
  4. Cat Litter – This follows the same line of thinking as nappies. It might seem a natural step to flush away the cat’s waste, but along with the waste goes clay, sand, toxin, and parasites that we never want in water systems.
  5. Prescription Medications – People often assume this is the smartest disposal method for prescription medications as it eliminates the concern that the medicine may be taken by someone it wasn’t intended for. Unfortunately, by flushing the medicine, groundwater gets contaminated.

This list is by no means comprehensive. The bottom line is that septic tanks are designed to handle human waste. Anything else should be placed in the rubbish. Ri-Industries are happy to discuss the do’s and don’ts of flushing. Should you have any questions, please call us at 08 8444 8100.

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Helpful Household Cleaning Tips: Bathroom Edition

by Ri Industries

Ri-Industries has shared many helpful tips over the years. We’ve offered tips for “green” cleaning, how to care for septic systems, which items should not be flushed down the toilet and more. Today, we share more helpful household cleaning tips.

“I LOVE cleaning the bathroom,” said no one ever! Let’s face it, even for those of us that enjoy cleaning our homes, it’s really difficult to enjoy cleaning the bathroom. No matter how tidy family members are on a daily basis, the bathroom will still be germ-laden. The possibility of your hands coming into contact with something undesirable is rather high. Plus, it often seems that no matter how hard you scrub or how strong the cleaner is, there are just some areas that will not get clean.

Well, we searched the internet for helpful household cleaning tips to make your bathroom sparkle and found the following tips by the experts at Absolute Domestics:

  1. Keep your toilet clean and fresh by scrubbing the inside bowl with toilet cleaner, white vinegar or bi-carb soda.  You may want to leave this to soak for a few minutes beforehand. Give a good old scrub with the toilet brush, then flush, rinsing off your toilet brush when flushing.  Give both sides of the lid and outside the toilet a wipe over with anti-bacterial cleaner paying attention to the flush button and bottom of the toilet which often get missed.

 

  1. When you regularly use your bathroom, you’ll often end up with hard water stains on your bathroom taps. These hard water stains can be removed with lemon. Simply rub a fresh lemon over the water stains and not only will shine, it will smell nice too!

 

  1. Shower scum is made up of mineral deposits (usually calcium and carbonate) and soap scum. To get this off your shower without chemicals use White Magic Eraser or White Vinegar. Simply put white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray onto the shower door, scrub the mixture on the shower screen with and old pair of stockings or a soft bristled brush. Yes you heard right, the denier in stockings gives you that bit of added oomph rather than using a harsh scourer that can etch or scratch your glass. Rinse off with warm water. Squeegee off the excess water and dry with a microfibre cloth or soft towel.

There you go. Three simple tips to help make your bathroom sparkle!

Our other blogs at Ri-Industries contain lots of other tips, or give us a call at 08 8444 8100.

 

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How Do Bathroom Habits Differ Between Men and Women?

by Ri Industries

Ri Industries specialises in septic and waste water systems, among other things, so we often speak about things that take place in the bathroom. A frequent theme in the conversations is the difference between the habits of men and the habits of women while taking care of their personal needs.

It seems the common perception is that men are not quite as clean as women. Imagine our surprise when we came across a recent study which finds this common perception may not be true. Here are some of the findings from the recent research conducted by Initial Hygiene.

Washing hands at work:

  • 43 per cent of women believed men do not wash their hands at work while 89 per cent of men believed women do wash their hands at work. The study found that 96 per cent of men and women wash their hands with soap at work.

Wipe before sitting:

  • 77 per cent of men clean the toilet seat before sitting while only 59 per cent of women do. How about cleaning the seat after their use? 52 per cent of men and 42 per cent of women take the time to do so.

Lowering the lid:

  • 69 per cent of men lower the lid before flushing compared to 62 per cent of women.

Freshening up:

  • The perceptions on this one might be accurate. 84 per cent of women take time to tweak their appearance in the bathroom while only 70 per cent of men do so.

As it turns out, men may actually be more hygienic than women. Psychologist Emma Kenny, says it appears men have a ‘real understanding of the importance of bathroom cleanliness’ despite negative assumptions placed upon them. ‘Men are instinctually protective and territorial and these natural predilections could well be why they take care when using their own and others toilets,’ she said.

So there you have it. As a business that employs a number of men, we feel it is our duty to share this research and spread the word about the admirable hygiene of men.

 

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Does Laundry Affect the Septic System?

by Ri Industries

It’s time to do a load of clothes washing, but first there are a few things to think about. How to separate colours? What temperature water should be used? Which detergent is best?  When making these decisions, do you ever consider how to best care for the septic system? That’s right. To help keep your septic system in the best working order, there are some things you should consider when using your washing machine.

A Little Bit at a Time

This may be good news or bad news depending upon your view. To best care for your septic system, loads should be well spaced apart. If you’re someone who likes to do one load after another until the week’s laundry is done in just one day, you might want to have another think. When too much water passes through the septic tank, it does not have enough time to undergo the settlement process to properly breakdown the solid matter. The end result is that your soakage field fails, causing expensive damages.

Clean Out BOTH Lint Trays

You probably clean out the dryer lint tray already, but did you know the washing machine has a lint tray also? Laundry debris and lint can escape to your pipes causing severe blockages. These substantial backups can break down your septic system, so take this tip seriously.

Go Au Natural

Antibacterial ingredients that are found in many household cleaners can hurt your septic system because they kill the good bacteria needed to break down waste in the tank. This applies to your washing detergent as well. Powders tend to contain clay and fillers that promote clogs. Choose all natural cleaners and avoid these concerns.

Have more questions about how laundry affects your septic system? Give Ri Industries a call at 08 8444 8100