A Look at Common Ingredients in Household Cleaning Products Antimicrobial agents kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms that cause disease and/or odor. They are effective at the concentrations recommended for use in the home. Bleaches help whiten, brighten and remove stains. Some bleaches disinfect. Builders reduce water hardness, provide alkalinity (which helps cleaning) and help keep soil from redepositing on surfaces.

Fabric softening agents impart softness and control static electricity in fabrics. Fluorescent whitening agents attach to fabrics to create a whitening or brightening effect. Surfactants enable the cleaner to wet a surface more quickly so soil can be easily loosened and removed. They break up oily soils and keep them suspended in the wash water so they don't settle back on the surface being cleaned. continued... Back to septic system main page Illustrations: [The Septic Tank System] [Biodegradation] [Adsorption]