What is the best toilet paper that is safe for septic systems?
Owning a home with a septic tank means that life is a little different. One of those things is what you flush down your toilet isn’t the same as what you would do if you were on a city sewer system. Septic-safe toilet paper being the most important thing. Here are the best septic safe toilet papers that you can use with a septic tank system.
- Septic System Safe
- 3x stronger & thicker,
- 2x more absorbent per sheet vs. the leading value brand.No Fragrance added
- Strong, 1-layer toilet paper
- Biodegradable bath tissue – clog-safe, sewer-safe, septic-safe
- Made with water & renewable plant-based fibers
- Sustainably Sourced from responsibly managed forests
✅ After going through all of the best spetic safe toilet papers, this is the one we rank as number 1.
The best toilet paper for septic systems
When we start looking at the best toilet paper for septic tanks, it’s important to understand that you may need to switch toilet paper brands. While many toilet papers are septic safe, getting the right kind of TP means that you are giving your septic system the best possible chance at a long useful life. While at the same time protecting the microbiome that exists inside your septic tank.
Luckily, there are many brands of toilet paper to choose from.
Cloud Paper
These are made from bamboo . They are eco-friendly and sustainable and are 100% septic-safe toilet paper
Each box includes 12 rolls of our eco-friendly paper towels. Sheets are made in half sizes for less waste, not only that but they package it with 100% recycled material making sure to avoid any plastic going into landfills. They also offer subscriptions so you can be sure you are getting your monthly toilet paper on time each month.
Use code CLOUD10 for 10% Off your first order or subscription!
Cottonelle Ultra CleanCare Toilet Paper
This one tops our list as the best septic safe toilet paper. It is a single-ply rating, but it is 3 times stronger and thicker and twice as absorbent as the next brand. Cottonelle Ultra Clean Care Soft toilet paper has over 40,000 ratings and a nearly perfect 5-star rating with that. You can read the reviews here.
This makes it one of the best toilet papers that is septic system friendly. It is made from water and renewable plant-based fibers, giving it the biodegradable properties that you would want in a bath tissue.
It is clogged safe sewer safe and septic safe. Its 24 mega roll is equal to 128 rolls making it a great value for the number of sheets you get and a reasonable price.
Scott Rapid Dissolving Toilet Paper
Scott Rapid Dissolving Toilet Paper is biodegradable and suitable for septic tanks, RVs, and boats. It breaks down four times faster than other bath tissues and is still soft and absorbent. This is important in an Rv toilet paper because you want it to dissolve quickly when it hits the water.
Add in the fact that this is rapidly dissolving and compatible with RVs and boats means that it has factored in a lot of things that a normal sewer system wouldn’t have to be concerned about. Rv toilet paper is usually a good sign that it is safe on septic systems.
As a soft toilet paper that is absorbent and also septic safe, this is a great toilet paper brand of choice.
Amazon Brand Presto! Ultra-soft tissue paper
This is an Amazon Choice product. It is a two-ply paper that is both RV and septic safe. Presto is made with pulp from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources.
It has over 61,000 ratings giving it a very high trust factor when it comes to septic safe toilet paper. Plus, Amazon brand Presto’s mega roll pack has four times the amount of shape than a regular toilet roll.
There are many glowing reviews on Amazon regarding this septic-friendly bathroom tissue. You can read them here.
Seventh Generation White Toilet Paper
Another one of Amazon Choice products. However, this one has considerably fewer ratings, with just under 9000 at the time of this writing. Seventh Generation has taken the climate-friendly pledge, and this tissue is made from 100% recycled paper.
It’s a 2-ply toilet tissue paper that has no dyes or inks and is compatible with RVs campers and low-flow toilets. Of course, it is a septic system safe and a rainforest alliance-certified paper.
Ratings on this one seemed to range from either love it or leave it. If you are looking for a new toilet paper to try, this may be one to give a shot.
Solimo 2 (an Amazon Brand)
This Amazon Choice product has over 50,000 ratings, with 4.5 out of 5. Solimo 2 is septic safe. It is made from pulp from responsibly sourced trees.
The bonus is that they offer a full refund if you are unsatisfied with its quality. If you are looking to try out a new toilet paper that is both septic system friendly and offers a full refund, this is a great one to try out. You can read the reviews here.
Quilted Northern Ultra Plush Supreme
Quilted Northern Ultra-plush is a 3-ply toilet paper that is septic and sewer system safe. Quilted does specify a standard septic system, so you may want to check to make sure your septic system is a normal septic system and not an anaerobic system or another type.
It’s an absorbent bathroom tissue that is both flushable and safe; with over 30,000 ratings and 4.8 out of 5 stars, this one is definitely in the top 10. You can read the reviews here.
Angel Soft Toilet Paper
Angel Soft Toilet Paper is an Amazon Choice product. Angel Soft Toilet Paper is a 2-ply bathroom tissue that is flushable and safe for septic systems. It is a nice soft alternative.
With over 10,000 ratings and a 4.7 star out of five, it’s definitely one of the more favorable toilet papers that is safe for your septic system. Read the reviews here.
Caboo Tree-Free Bamboo Toilet Paper
Caboo tree-free bamboo toilet paper is septic safe and biodegradable. It is a 2-ply bathroom tissue made from bamboo and sugarcane softest fibers. It is hypoallergenic lint-free and fragrance-free, as well as a non-GMO project.
There’s no chlorine or bleach, making this one of the more eco-friendly toilet paper solutions. If you are looking for a sustainable, eco-friendly toilet paper alternative, this is a great choice.
Preference Embossed Toilet Paper
This 2-ply toilet paper is made by Georgia-Pacific and is EPA compliant be made from recycled fibers. It is safe for all standard septic systems and is an Amazon Choice product.
White Cloud Toilet Paper
Another Amazon Choice product, although this one has the lowest of ratings at just over 1000. It is safe for septic systems and is a septic-safe 3-ply toilet paper roll.
It is also hypoallergenic and dermatologist-approved, making it a good candidate for people who have sensitive skin and on a septic system in their house. It comes in a giant 12 roll pack.
Charmin Ultra Strong
Is Charmin Ultra Strong toilet paper septic safe?
Yes. Charmin Ultra-strong toilet paper is septic safe as well as clogged safe, and Roto-Rooter approved this strong 2-ply toilet paper has over 14000 ratings and 4.8 out of 5 stars. It comes in an 18 roll pack.
What makes toilet paper septic safe?
For a brand of toilet paper to be septic safe, it needs to have two qualities.
Biodegradable
Biodegradable toilet paper breaks down faster and easier than its non-biodegradable counterparts. The bonds in the toilet paper that are biodegradable are looser and have dissolvable fibers instead of non-dissolvable fibers. This allows the toilet paper to break down faster and easier when exposed to water, unlike regular toilet paper.
Recycled
Recycled toilet paperwork it’s not the same as recycled paper. There are no harsh chemicals such as bleach to disturb the balance of the septic system. This is important because you do not want to disrupt the microorganisms and enzymes that are present and the septic tank. Using regular toilet paper can mean putting chemicals in your tank that will upset the bacteria in there.
Can you use recycled toilet paper on a septic system? Yes, as long as it’s bio-degradable and free of chlorine bleach.
Luckily, finding toilet paper that is septic system safe is easy to find and will help lengthen your septic system’s lifespan.
What to look for in toilet paper that is septic tank friendly
Bleach free
Bleach will disrupt the bacteria in your tank, and we want to avoid that. When you are looking for septic-safe toilet paper, look for bleach-free alternatives to traditional toilet paper.
Absorbent Layers
Septic safe paper is usually 1-ply toilet paper or 2-ply. If you increase the layers beyond that, it makes it harder for the paper to break down inside the septic tank.
The downside, of course, is that single-ply toilet paper is less comfortable to use. No one wants toilet paper that is uncomfortable.
So be on the lookout for 2-ply toilet paper if it all possible. There are some 3-ply toilet papers on this list, but if you are on a low-flow toilet or have an older system, you will want something that breaks down easily. The added layer of going from 2 to 3-ply makes it harder for the paper to break down as fast.
Why is toilet paper that is septic safe so important?
For a septic tank to function properly, a few things need to happen. The waste inside your septic tank settles and breaks down into three parts sludge effluent and a scum layer on top. For this process to happen, the bacteria needs to break down the waste so that the effluent can flow out to the leach field.
If you use toilet paper that has chemicals like chlorine and other dyes, they can harm the bacteria and slow the breakdown of the matter in the septic tank. When the effluent doesn’t break down enough, it is harder to pump out and can create drain clogs (these are the best toilet plungers if you need one) Which can lead to septic tank problems such as septic tank smells in the house and other nasty issues.
That is why it is so important to have toilet paper that is septic safe so it can break down faster and prevent clogging in your drain pipes. The reason for this is that you do not want to use harsh chemicals to unclog a bathtub drain, toilet or unclog a sink because those chemicals can damage the bacteria in your septic tank.
This issue isn’t as important for holding tanks because nothing gets broken down. Good biodegradable TP is also a positive for avoiding cesspool problems. Cesspools are a different setup as well. Here are the differences between cesspool vs. septic tank and holding tank vs. septic tank, if you want to know more.
Septic Safe Toilet Paper FAQ
Do I need special toilet paper for the septic system?
If you have a septic system, you will need special toilet paper for your system. This toilet paper needs to be biodegradable so that it does not affect your pipes and should be bleach and chemical-free, ideally 100% recycled, so that it does not affect the bacteria and enzymes inside your septic tank.
What toilet paper dissolves the best?
The best toilet paper that dissolves the fastest is 1-ply biodegradable toilet paper. This will have the best chance at dissolving quickly in your septic tank.
Can You Use 2-Ply Toilet Paper With a Septic Tank?
Yes, you can use 2-ply toilet paper with your septic tank; we do with ours. Just make sure it is biodegradable and does not contain chlorine bleach, as this can disrupt the bacteria and enzymes in the tank that break down the waste.
Best Septic-Safe Toilet Paper Alternative
If you are looking for an alternative to using toilet paper on your septic tank there is always a bidet. There are several options when it comes to using a bidet. Check out our best bidet toilet combos for more details.
What is the worst toilet paper for septic tanks?
The worst toilet paper for septic tanks is any kind of colored toilet paper. These will have dyes in them that will upset the balance of your septic tank. There aren’t many colored toilet paper styles available anymore, but it is still worth knowing that they should be avoided.
The same goes for bathroom tissue that has bleach or other chemicals in it that can disturb the bacteria in your tank. These types of toilet paper qualities make for some of the worst toilet paper you can put in your tank.
The other worst toilet paper is anything that is too thick and isn’t biodegradable. These will clog up your drain line.
Final thoughts on the best toilet paper for septic tanks.
Finding septic tank-safe toilet paper is pretty simple to do once you’ve done your research. When we buy our bathroom tissue, we check to make sure it is safe and will quickly dissolve. This is the best way to make sure you have the right toilet paper for your system. In case you missed it, this is the toilet paper that we use.
✅ After going through all of them, this is the one we rank as number 1.
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