Toilet Chemicals

rharmon · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

I want to use water softener and something else in my holding tank. I read this once before on another site and cannot find it. It might have been dish soap and water softener. They told how much to use of each product. Thanks

elh3946 · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1650 Location: Sioux Falls, SD

It's called the GEO method. While I don't have too much of a problem with the water softener and soap the method calls for, I DO have a problem with the amount of bleach he calls for!

Kirk · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject:

While that old wives tale will not harm things as long as you use plenty of water with each flush, it won't do anything either beyond making your wallet lighter.

Experienced full-time RV folks mostly just use generous amounts of water and don't waste their money on needless additives. If you feel that you must pour your money into the sewer, at least use one of the bacterial products such as that from Robics, or any number of other companies.
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missmouthy · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 19 Location: Mid Michigan

I know that the chemicals work best for extremely hot conditions. Some of the "greener" products are fine, if it is lower temps.

I mean temps over 80 will eventually cause stink.
Plenty of water.
Frankly I help things a little by not putting all of my toilet tissue in the tank.
For "gentle" wipes for women, I put the tissue in a trash can in which I have lined with a plastic liner. I empty daily or every other day as needed.
For the "heavier" jobs, (LOL) it goes down the toilet.

Terrie

Motor31 · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:05 am Post subject:

We are fulltimers. We do not use any chemicals or deodorants with the tanks. As long as you use plenty of water and drain regularly, there is no need even in 100+ degree temperatures. If you have a rig that will allow flushing of the black tank, do that each time you dump.

An occasional dose of apple cider vinegar down the drains will help keep the drain traps odor free.

If you have odors in the rig, you may have a vent problem with a blocked or open vent, dropped vent pipe or a "P" trap that is draining instead of holding water.
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tantamount · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 211 Location: roaming

Another vote from the no chemical crowd. In our 8th year fulltiming and never a problem.

.\\ark

utmtman · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject:

Been RVing one way or another for 40 years and have yet to find a problem with drains if one uses water. Even with a porta potty, just make sure you use water enough to wet everything down and it should all dissolve with little or no problem. And if I need to clean my gauges, I make a run with some bleach, dish soap and borax soap in the tank with water, and cleans them right up.
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Morris · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Tucson, AZ

I found that the blue-green stuff causes more odor than the tank did. Three years ago I switched to a formula of one cup of the cheapest powdered laundry soap plus one-third cup Twenty Mule Team Borax, or any cheap water softener. I have not found a need for the bleach. Liquid soap and softener will work, but I find the powdered is cheaper and more convenient. I mix up a batch for about 10 or 12 charges in a large plastic tub, then measure it into baggies. Just dump a baggie full into a toilet full of water, add a couple of additional toilets full of water and I am good or a couple of weeks if necessary. I reuse the baggies and refill them. Convenient, safe, and cheap. Yes, some complain that dry borax is bad to breathe, so mix it outdoors and don't breathe it too much when you use it.
Morris
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DXSMac · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 619 Location: Pacific Northwest

Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't pour the chemical down the toilet. I have some, but I just don't use it because I don't get any odors. I only use it when it's extremely hot: 85 degrees plus. Cold weather, never a problem.

JJ
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jerryriverguy · Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 57 Location: Could be anywhere

Another vote for enzyme-based additives from a 4-year veteran. They do work and besides helping with odors, they help solids break down for easier dumping.

Happy trails...
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tantamount · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 211 Location: roaming

anniepoo · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 164 Location: San Francisco Bay

I'm a fulltimer. I just put water down.

When my potable water pump went out, I was using the potty with no water for a while and ended up with a stinky, stuck mess. Lots of prying with a toilet snake until the 'mass' broke up, a promise to use proper potty water, and I'm OK again.

No to stinky potty chemicals!
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otrider · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject:

I vote for no additives. It took me about 4 months of not using enough water, and not having enough sense to make sure the valve was tight and not letting all the fluid drain out... Yes, big mess but I avoided replacing the tank! I used lots of chemicals then. Anyway, since that time I haven't had to use anything but water.

As a single (just me) full-timer, I dispose of all my tissue into the tank, dump weekly and start with about 4 bowlfuls of water after dumping. As I said, no more problems and everything runs smoothly.

When I do move "Whoa", I do add a bag of ice and that helps too.
I will try the recipe for cleaning the sensors as I've never gotten an accurate reading on the black tank.
Good Luck
Pam
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Motor31 · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:02 am Post subject:

Folks using some chemicals have caused problems in a few RV parks we have been at. If it's a "city" sewer system it's not so bad but for a park with a local treatment system (ie. septic tank system) it causes problems that stops the normal enzyme breakdown of the waste and LOTS of smells. We have already seen a couple signs at parks saying NO sewer chemicals allowed. We stayed at a nice resort where sewer smells were a problem one year because some RVer(s) dumped chemicals down the drain that killed the enzymes in the system. It took them a couple months to get the system running normally again. Normally even in the summer time (SW Texas) that park was odor free but not that year thanks to someone who felt free to contaminate the septic system.
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wgc · Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Atlanta, GA

When I get ready to leave for home, with the tank empty, I pour a cap full of Calgon softener and several bowls of water. The softener with the water sloshing around in the tank keeps the tank and sensors clean.