http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=268x1425Man, the rural and small town forum on Skins's island is a Comstock Lode of undiscovered stuff.
This bonfire was lit in March, and it's still burning.
The snobbish primitive, who lives near Vancouver, Canada, but not in Canada; the hard-of-hearing woman primitive who, I'm circa 55% certain, chews tobacco:
uppityperson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-12-08 06:47 PM
Original message
TP and septic systems
I just cruised through another top forum and it got me thinking about toilet paper and septic fields. Don't ask. We have used Scott single ply for yrs because it is what Mr.UP thinks is best for the septic, but I really hate that thin rough fast dissolving stuff. So, knowing we all have opinions and someones might have some facts too, any opinions or facts about the best TP to use with a septic? Thanks.
trotsky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-12-08 06:52 PM
Response to Original message
1. I grew up with a septic system.
My mom INSISTED on Charmin. The soft stuff. We never used anything else, and we never had a problem with our tank.
The Kali primitive, a first-tier primitive, who lives down in Texas, on a ranch near the border with Mexico:
Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Mar-23-08 12:11 PM
Response to Reply #1
13. Really? Charmin seems to clog our "system" more than any other brand.
I can handle Scott just fine, but the wimpy men in the house need softer. Usually get Northern on sale or Safeway brand. Neither seem to clog thing much.
The warped primitive:
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-12-08 06:54 PM
Response to Original message
2. All of it will break down eventually but you really want to stay away from the toilet clogging premium stuff, plus any brands that feature dyes and fragrances. Enough of it can overwhelm your system.
I used good old scratch yer butt, 1000 sheets per roll Scott. I still use it because here in the desert with ultra low flow toilets, that this stuff just doesn't go down.
Scott seems like a good compromise between the industrial stuff that really does abrade your pink parts and the toilet clogger brands.
uppityperson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-12-08 06:58 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. That is the stuff we use too.
No scented or extra bitty stuff but it just would be nice to get past "scratch yer butt, 1000 sheets per roll Scott"
napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-12-08 07:00 PM
Response to Original message
4. I've lived in houses with septic systems all my life. We USED to use Scott or whatever other package said "single ply". For the last 2 years, we've been buying our TP from Costco (their brand). It's not only single ply, but fairly soft and disintigrates rapidly when it hits the water. Great price too!
uppityperson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-12-08 07:14 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. Thanks, I've thought of buying Costco brand, it's softer? that would be nice.
napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-12-08 07:29 PM
Response to Reply #5
9. Yes and not just my opinion. My sil was visiting this summer, and she lives in a VERY EXPENSIVE house on a lake in Va. They have a septic tank too. She came into our LR and said I LOVE IT that Costco TP is so much softer than that grungy stuff we've been using, and it's single ply too! I'm switching to THAT!
pscot (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-12-08 07:14 PM
Response to Original message
6. Regular use of a garbage disposal puts a lot more stress on the system than any TP. Have it pumped every few years and keep the drain field in good working order and it should be fine.
uppityperson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-12-08 07:17 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. We have a big dog and a bunch of chickens. No garbage disposal.
Just dealing with the tp issue here. Think will try Costco brand single ply next time and see if Mr even notices.
enough Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-12-08 07:29 PM
Response to Original message
8. To be blunt, don't flush the TP unless it is actually soiled.
Put the merely wet TP into a bag and burn it. This will cut down drastically on amount of TP the septic system has to handle. We got this advice from a guy who install/services septic systems.
Vincardog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-12-08 09:37 PM
Response to Reply #8
10. we put all the used TP in a garbage bag and throw it all in the garbage. None in the septic tank.
Ah, memories of the socialist paradises of the workers and peasants, where there's a wastebasket.....
Upton Donating Member (931 posts) Mon Mar-17-08 10:03 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. We do the exact same thing
The TP was having an annoying habit of clogging up where the wastewater enters the tank.
LWolf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Thu Mar-13-08 08:14 AM
Response to Original message
11. I use the scotts.
I actually prefer it. I don't have to change the rolls as frequently. I've never had a problem with it.
A year ago, I got a house guest. She prefers the soft cushy stuff, and was been using it in the bathroom at the other end of the house. When plunging became a routine activity, I insisted that she use the scotts. No problems since.
hippywife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Fri Mar-28-08 09:20 PM
Response to Original message
14. We use Angel Soft.
Our septic tank was installed 11 years ago. We just had it pumped out for the very first time this past fall. So no problems here with TP. I absolutely hate, hate, hate Scott TP. We got some free and it's kept in the cabinet for emergency need only.
I stopped using the disposal, mostly because we compost everything. And washing laundry a little at a time through the week rather than all at once on the weekends does help, too. Keeps too much water at once from overwhelming the system.
AZDemDist6 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Apr-27-08 05:33 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. that's what we use too, and I've taken your advice on the couple loads of laundry a day instead of all on Sunday
luckily, on an average week we only do 3 loads anyway and I still do the most on Sunday when the electricity is cheaper, but have taken to doing a load or two on Saturdays too
franksolich is intrigued.
Why would electricity be cheaper on Sunday, than on any other day of the week?
Never heard of it.
After which two primitives engage in a heated argument about whether or not septic-tank cleaners are necessary.