It’s a common occurrence: stinky RV toilets and bathrooms. You’re driving down the road and… sniff, sniff, there it is again. Ugh!
The dreaded sewer smell can creep in for a variety of reasons. It might be due to high temperatures causing odors to build up, a clogged or improperly vented system, or even a dried-out P-trap allowing gases to escape into your living space.
Some RVers say it happens more when driving, while others notice it most when parked in one place for an extended period.
There are plenty of products and methods RVers swear by to combat the issue. Some use enzyme-based tank treatments to break down waste and control odors, while others rely on household solutions like a mixture of water softener and detergent. Regularly flushing and cleaning the black tank, using plenty of water with each flush, and making sure the vent pipes are clear can also help keep things fresh.
Of course, ventilation plays a big role, too. Keeping roof vents open, using a vent fan, or even installing a rotating vent cap can make a difference. Some RVers even modify their plumbing with additional venting solutions.
Does this happen to you often? Sometimes? Or are you lucky and it seldom, if ever, happens? After you vote, please leave a comment. If you never have any stinky odors, please tell us what you do and use. Thank you!
We haven’t had trouble with this since I began washing dishes in a dish pan and then pouring the water down the toilet when finished. This adds needed soapy water in the toilet as well as leaves more room in the gray tank for showers.
Maintenance is the secret.
We never had a problem with toilet odor until I used non potable water at a state park dump station to rinse my toilet. Apparently, the water got into the base of the toilet. We had to replace the toilet to get rid of the smell.
Thank you for the question, RV Travel, and accompanying survey. If ours ever does smell, and I do not think it does, then it is too weak an odor to reach me in the driver’s seat. Have a great weekend and safe travels!
We don’t put “solids” in our toilets …only liquids. We use the restrooms for that. After a BAD experience while draining our black tank in our very first camper (we are now on our 6th RV) we made a decision to never use our toilet(s) for solids again. Never have to worry about clogs or odors, and makes for a cleaner drain & flush of system
Now I’m a happy camper …and have been for the past 20 years.
No odor problem since we installed “Blue Streak” auto dispenser to the toilet.
Using the proper amount of water when flushing makes a big difference. Solids need to be flushed completely out of the way and into the tank, where they are covered. This also allows the solid waste to liquefy. You may need to empty the tank more often though.
Same with gray water. You need to use enough water to clear the trap.
Combination of cat’s litterbox and toilet in our 21′ camper. I suspect leaving the roof vent slightly ajar is also a culprit. Just keep one of the smaller deodorizers behind the toilet (even in storage).
Originally had the problem and I installed a Siphon 360 vent on the roof for the tank. Problem went away. In 2022, I had a new FlexArmor Roof installed and they installed the generic roof vent without my knowledge. A few days later, we had the sewage odor back in the coach. By then we were over a thousand miles from the installer. I have bought a new vent and if we ever get near one of the installers place, I will have them replace the crap vent with the new Siphon 360.
We had odors until we realized the bathroom sink drained into the black tank. Now we plug that sink while we’re underway. No more odors.
I use Dawn and TankTechsRx, probiotic enzymes… eats the solids right up! nom nom!
Another thing that adds to sewer smell in the RV when driving with the front windows open, you also have to open a rear window to eliminate the odor while traveling down the roads…
We use Liquified tank treatment and make sure to use plenty of water and have never had a stinky tank.
Dilution is the solution to pollution. Lots of water and lots of air.
Only when it’s Arizona summer hot!