raydf_1
Miami FL
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An RV technician told me the other day that instead of buying expensive chemicals for sanitizing the black water tank in my new RV, I could use instead standard household bleach or chlorine and pour a gallon of it down the toilet after emptying the black water tank. He told me that this should take care of breaking down the solids and eliminating odors.
Would you say this is a good approach? I'm a bit apprehensive about chlorine, given the effect of a single drop of it in my clothes (leaves a discolored spot, impossible to remove.)
Thanks for any advice you may shed on this!
Ray
Ray
2009 Fleetwood Pulse 24A
Miami FL
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trop-a-cal
Palm Coast Fl
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Yes, some people put ice cubes in with Clorox and water, then drive around so it scours the tank. The solids on the bottom of tank are then removed and entire tank is cleaned. It requires a stop at a dump site and a rince. Baking soda also gives it a chemical cleaning with the bubbling action. Don't add Clorox to any other chemicals (including baking soda) as you can produce gases that if inhaled are dangerous. Always turn on vent and open window or roof vent, when opening toilet for cleaning.
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Pawz4me
North Carolina
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Why do you feel the need to sanitize the black tank?
Flush it well--yes. But sanitize? 
Personally, the only time I use bleach is once or twice a year to sanitize the fresh water tank.
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DrScud
On the Road
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I see no need to "sanitize" the black tank.
Use plenty of water, rinse it after dumping, then put in a bit of dish soap and a gallon of water. As you are going down the road, the sloshing should clean up the sides. If your black tank smells you are probably not properly vented.
All those chemicals (bleach/phosphates) are a waste of money and potentially harm sewer systems and septic tanks.
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raydf_1
Miami FL
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Thanks for the advice and comments. As a newbie on this, I'm really not sure why I would want to sanitize the black tank, but I thought that you should add some chemicals to it every time you flush it, no? Anyway, that's what the RV 101 movie I bought indicates as typical after flushing the black tank. The comment the RV technician did was about adding chlorine to the tank after each flush instead of the standard chemicals sold at Camping World or Wal-Mart for that.
Thanks!
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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I just throw in some cheap green stuff to cut down on stink. it is just a holding tank, not a septic tank. I dump early and often and use a tank sprayer mounted on the wall opposite the drain. also used a sewer solution and now a macerator pump.
bumpy
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ShapeShifter
Buffalo, NY
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raydf_1 wrote:An RV technician told me the other day that instead of buying expensive chemicals for sanitizing the black water tank in my new RV, I could use instead standard household bleach or chlorine and pour a gallon of it down the toilet after emptying the black water tank.
A gallon!?!  That seems really excessive, and far more expensive than the commercial chemical products where you only use a few ounces. It doesn't sound like good advice to me.
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wayne_tw
South Dakota/Georgia
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Go to Walmart, and get some of the chemicals for the black tank. Follow the directions on the label. The chemicals are just to keep the odor down. During the cold months, I use no chemicals. The secret to black water holding tanks is to use lots of water. The RV toilets use very little water, and between excessive use of paper and the natural solids we deposit there, very often there is not enough water to adequately drain when we empty the tank. When first using the toilet after dumping, add chemicals and about 1/4 to 1/3 of the tank's capacity of clean water. After emptying the tank, refill it with clean water several times to flush it out. Tell all users to use the paper sparingly. Sorry ladies, but you do not need 20 sheets of paper wadded up to make one little blot to be sure you are dry.
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campercajun
Central Texas Hill Country
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If you pour undiluted chlorine bleach directly into the toilet, try not to get it on the toilet's blade valve seal. Straight chlorine bleach can sometimes deterioate seals and certain plastics.
If you have odors left after you clean the black tank, you might try what I do to eliminate them. Years ago, I discovered that the toilet odors left after I thoroughly cleaned the black tank were actually coming from the lower toilet chamber, below the toilet blade valve, and the pipe that connects the toilet to the tank. So I invented a procedure which is different than the GEO method or the "status quo", to eliminate it. I have a Flush King to backfill the tanks, and a sewer dump in my RV garage, which makes it easy to use this procedure.
With my wife's help outside the trailer, to turn the water hose on and off, and open or close the blade valve on the Flush King, I thoroughly rinse the black tank with a spray wand until the water runs clear through the Flush King. I then backfill the tank a time or two with the Flush King to make sure only clear water is running out through the Flush King.
I then have my wife (outside the trailer) close the Flush King blade valve, turn on the water hose, and I pour a bottle of formaldehyde into the black tank through the toilet (running water through the toilet while pouring will prevent the blue dye from staining the toilet). I hold the toilet blade valve open, and let the water fill the tank until the treated water enters the lower toilet chamber and the "blue water" is within 1/2 to 3/4 inch below the toilet blade valve. Don't let the "blue water" get on the top of the blade valve, or it will be stained blue. (You MUST hold the toilet blade valve open while the water rises in the connecting pipe from the toilet to the tank and into the toilet's lower chamber. If you don't, the water will compress the air in the chamber, and when you open the blade valve, it will explode into your face. Don't ask me how I know this! )
The odor is caused by bacteria, and formaldehyde kills everything it comes into contact with. I leave the treated water in the tank and the lower potty chamber for a day or two, then drain it. The bacteria are all dead, and there is no stinky odor left in the tank or potty.
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rscraig
Denton, TX
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raydf_1 wrote:Thanks for the advice and comments. As a newbie on this, I'm really not sure why I would want to sanitize the black tank, but I thought that you should add some chemicals to it every time you flush it, no? Anyway, that's what the RV 101 movie I bought indicates as typical after flushing the black tank. The comment the RV technician did was about adding chlorine to the tank after each flush instead of the standard chemicals sold at Camping World or Wal-Mart for that.
Thanks!
I think there is simply a semantic problem here. You add chemicals to the black tank to control odor and help break down solids--not to "sanitize"--at least the way that most RVers use that term. Sanitize usually refers to the drinking water system where humans are actually going to consume the water. That needs to be sanitized periodically with a clorox solution to kill the germs, but thats only the fresh water tank. You dont need to sanitize the gray or black water system--just flush it out periodically. Some people dont even use any chemicals at all in the black water tank and this may be fine, especially when its cooler weather and you flush each time with plenty of water.
Steve
2007 Wildcat 29RLBS
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