Is wd-40 safe for septic tank [ Detailed Answer ]

WD-40 is one of the most commonly used household degreasers. But, you probably didn’t even think of using it until you had a house with its own septic tank. But, is WD-40 safe for septic tank in the first place?

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Is WD 40 septic safe

If you are wondering about the safety of using WD 40 for your septic tank, the answer is simply a no. WD-40 is unsafe for septic systems since this can harm the bacteria present in tank.

What is the reason behind this, then? To fully understand why, first, you should be familiar with how a septic tank really works.

The septic system has an entire ecosystem of several living organisms that allow it to function exactly as how it is intended to. There are large colonies of enzyme and bacteria found in the septic tank and they prevent the tank from backing up through taking care of sludge and scum. The enzymes are the ones working on the scum while the sludge is decomposed by the bacteria.

These microbes are responsible for breaking down the waste and converting this into gases and liquid. In turn, the process helps the septic system in effectively pushing the wastewater to the drainfield.

But, there are certain chemicals that might cause the death of these healthy bacteria living in the septic tank. A good example of these chemicals is none other than petroleum oil. The sad news is that WD-40 happens to be made from petroleum oil.

Once WD-40 travels down the drain, this will kill off the bacteria. However, this is just half of the problem. Petroleum oil is toxic and non-biodegradable. It means that it will only take some time before the traces of WD-40 manages to find their way into your supply of drinking water.

To put it simply, avoid using WD-40 on your septic system. This is not only bad for the septic tank itself but also for the environment as a whole.

Is WD 40 flammable

The main difference between combustible and flammable has something to do with flashpoint. This refers to the lowest temperature level at which the liquid could create an ignitable combination in the air close to the liquid surface.

The flashpoint of flammable liquids is lower, which means that these could ignite at lower temperatures compared to combustible liquids. In the case of WD-40, it is combustible and not flammable. It needs higher temperature to ignite, making it safer than the flammable liquids.

Is WD 40 a lubricant

WD-40 is a multi-use product that is not actually a lubricant. Although WD means Water Displacement, this is more of a special and unique combination of lubricants that allows it to lubricate. The formulation of the product also contains some anti-corrosion agents as well as ingredients for soil removal, water displacement, and penetration.

Is WD 40 silicone based

WD-40 is actually kerosene-based combined with other petrochemicals. Using different oil-based compounds, this makes WD-40 qualified to be considered as a lubricant.

Is WD 40 a degreaser

WD-40 is a potent solvent-based degreaser that can actually dissolve oil and grease. It is an industrial-strength and fast-acting formula that can quickly clean tools, engines, equipment, and machinery to make them run smooth and look like new all over again.

Does WD 40 clean grout on septic tanks

As mentioned earlier, WD-40 and septic tanks don’t go well together. This only means that while WD-40 can be used for cleaning grout, it would be better not to use it in your septic tank. Petroleum distillates don’t degrade. It won’t take that long until that small squirt of WD-40 ends up finding its water to the drinking water supply. However, using it once won’t probably contribute dangerous amounts to the septic system.

Septic systems can be very delicate. Even two chlorine bleach gallons can cause the death of the functioning bacteria in 1,000-gallon septic tanks.

Although a tiny amount of incorrect chemicals can be harmful for your system, many all-natural cleaners are considered septic-safe. It is best to use biodegradable, non-toxic, non-antibacterial, non-ammonia, and non-chlorine natural cleaning products for your septic system to always be in proper working order.

Some of the everyday natural products you can use to safely disinfect and clean your septic system with include lemon juice, distilled white vinegar, borax, salt, and baking soda.

What does WD 40 do for your toilet

With the help of WD 40, it will just take a little effort on your part to get rid of the blemishes on your toilet. To do this, you can apply WD 40 for a minute or longer then scrub it off using the toilet brush before flushing it away. Just like that, your toilet will become as bright as a day all over again.

WD-40 contains liquid that helps soften the lime and gunk. Through this very easy and simple way, you will be able to ensure that your toilet will be deodorized, sanitary, and stain-free.

The secret here is that there is no need for you to use a lot of it in order to remove dirt in your toilet. All you have to do is spray it one or two times, wait for one to two minutes, and brush it away.

If the stains are tougher, you might need to use it twice or thrice more. Once you successfully get rid of the nasty water stains, WD-40 can be used every 2 to 3 weeks.

This is a safe product to use since this has fish oil content that you can use regular cleaners in between cleaning.

Will WD40 unclog a toilet?

WD-40 can break down clog into tinier pieces to let them flow down into the drain easier and faster to help unclog the toilet. However, this not really eco-friendly and this must be avoided, particularly for people who are using a septic system.

The WD-40 can kill off the good bacteria present in the septic tank, which means that your waste won’t get broken down as fast as it should.

In case you have a clogged toilet but you don’t have a toilet snake or plunger, you will be better off with other safer methods to unclog it.