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We live in the country with a septic system. I use a Diaper Genie to hold only 'wet' toilet paper. I've tried a dish of cat litter in the bottom to help eliminate odor but I need some other ideas. Baking soda sprinkled in the container doesn't seem to help much. Does anyone else have this problem?

I am not sure what you mean. Do you not flush your paper??? Or are you referring to diapers?

I've lived in homes with septic systems from the 7th grade up and all but 8 years of my adult life. We flush toilet paper - wet or "soiled."

Buy toilet paper that is septic system safe - the statement will be on the packaging. I prefer Northern, but there are other brands.

If you are concerned about which breaks down first, take two jars. Fill them half full of water. Drop in a few sheets of toilet paper. Screw the lids on. And shake. Stop at 5 seconds and compare the two. 10 seconds. Etc. See which paper breaks apart first.

I'm sorry, but there's no way I would put up with a septic system that you couldn't flush the toilet paper all the time. If your system clogs easily or you don't have enough field line, it's time to call in someone to pump the tank and possible dig a new field line.

Of course, I do not flush facial tissue (Kleenex), paper towels, feminine products of any kind or any part of the feminine product regardless of what the advertising says. After a friend had the plumber to her house in city limits with municipal sewage twice and he told her not to flush tampons because the strings got caught and caused the backup - I followed his advice whether I lived in town or in the country and wrapped all that stuff in newspaper that I kept in the bathroom for that purpose, then tossed it in the trash.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KeepYouInStitches,

I've also lived most of my life using septic tanks and I've never heard of not flushing the toilet paper. You don't do the other stuff, like Sherry said. Unless the tank is too small, or it needs to be pumped, or there's a drain/field line problem, it ought to work fine.

One more vote that septic systems can handle the "usual" with agreement with the above that certain items should not be put down them. BUT, over-all, yes, a proper septic system can handle the usual wet or soiled toilet paper ~ I know, having lived my entire adult life in homes with them ~ first one was a very old farmhouse for 28 years and the second one, our current home for the last eight.

We have only had trouble twice - once, roots had grown into the line and, another time, the drain field itself needed to be aereated (no idea how to spell that) but, basically, when you have a proper septic system, it can handle most toilet paper ~ I would never put up with doing what you are doing!

Now, I am talking about ONLY toilet paper with the usual - diapers and anything else? You should use the system you have devised and, myself, I would probably dump it daily but I really don't see why it would be necessary?

A few suggestions re septic systems? Use only one-ply toilet paper, have the tank pumped out once a year (if needed - anymore than that destroys the "good" bacteria that breaks down the bad) and make sure that the drain field is clear so there aren't any back flows. Then, feel free to get rid of that "Diaper Genie" ~ who suggested that you use it, anyway?

Post back with more information if we have misunderstood your initial post...

Edited to Add: A few other suggestions which I thought were too obvious to mention and then realized that those unfamiliar with septic tanks might not know. Do try to limit the amount of cosmetic/hair products you put down the drain ~ bar soap residue can be particularly troublesome; gels are better.

And, even if the house comes with a garbage disposal in the kitchen, think twice about using it. Myself, I replaced the one this house had when we moved here with one specifically engineered for septic tanks. Ordered it through Lowes (it has a special chemical tank) but I DO NOT USE the disposal for anything other than rinsing dishes after the food itself has been disposed in the trash. Eight years later, I have yet to buy a second bottle of chemicals for the disposal. Good luck!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Idaho Resident,

2-ply TP is good. Many are septic tank safe - Northern and others.

Many areas of my county are sandy...some are red clay. 1st husband and I lucked out with sand. We built a home in 1974. I sold the house in 2004. During that entire time, we had the tank pumped out twice!!! I used Northern toiltet paper almost exclusively.

I agree with Idaho Resident's comment on garbage disposals. They really aren't that good. If I had one I would do as she does. There's just no need to dump good compost into the septic system and risk messing up the 'balance' in the septic system or filling it up only to pay someone to come pump it out.

If you really can't flush your TP, can you take it out of the house every other day or something? If you are looking for something to deodorize the room, I LOVE Fresh Wave. I use it in the laundry room where the dog lives in the winter. My mom also used it in a house she owned that had been shut up for years. She was amazed at how it handled that smell. http://www.fresh-wave.com/

I live in the country and have a septic system. In fact, thats is all I have ever had and have never heard of not being able to flush TP. I can't imagine.

We use Angel Soft and always have. It is a nice mid price paper. And it works well too. I wouldn't use some of the new, thicker papers being advertised- I think Charmin is one of them. But why would I when the one I use works fine?

If your system can't handle the use of toilet paper then something is wrong with it and it needs to be checked by a professional.

Thanks for all the replies. We are in a rental house that was recently updated by the owner. I don't know if or when the septic system was cleaned out. I'll try switching to the single or double-ply paper and down the drain it goes!!!

Grammy, I'd think that a non-functioning septic tank would be a health hazard that the health department would require the landlord to deal with. So, go ahead and use it as has been stated and if there's a problem, call the landlord.

I'm with the flush it down crowd.
I'm living in Mexico, that used to be a standard, with a small trash can next to the toilet. Now I don't know of any house that does that, it all goes down the toilet, one flush. In my current house we do have the high/low flush buttons, but it is just to save water like everywhere else.

Grammy, If you have any trouble with sluggish flushing or backup, do call the landlord!

Abolutely- if you are paying rent then you should have a working toilet- meaning paper should flush!

I am in agreement with those who say flushing toilet paper should be find for a septic tank. I have a septic tank, and we have been flushing TP for over 30 years, and have only had the tank pumped once. If your tank can't take TP, something is really wrong.

But I wanted to comment on the original question. If you have something stinky, like diapers, in the garbage, the only way to deal with the smell is to empty the garbage every single day, and thoroughly wash out the container. No deodorizer, or special container is going to be as effective as eliminating the source of the odor.