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03-08-2011, 08:39 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 17
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Waste Tank Chemicals
Just got our first travel trailer, it will be parked on a lot and left. I see many products available for treating waste in the waste holding tanks. Have even read some water softener/ laundry soap/bleach home treatments. What is a good ecomonical additive for waste treatment? Is biodegradable toilet tissue neccessary? Thanks much.
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03-08-2011, 08:54 AM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 10,530
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...and congrats on your new rig!
You'll find a lot of debate on this topic but many/most full timers use either nothing or, like I do, put 1/4 cup of Dawn dishwashing liquid in the tank with a few gallons of water following dumping. As for TP, I think it's all biodegradable but you probably want to look for something which is septic safe. Many folks suggest single ply but I use 2 ply.
good luck...
rick
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Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
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03-08-2011, 09:05 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Surprise Arizona
Posts: 1,994
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Been rving for over thirty years and have tried most of the stuff. Found none of it is necessary, just do a good flush. RV toilet paper is the biggest repoff of all. Just use what you use at home. All TP is biodegradable unless it is made of synthetic fibers. The secret, if you want to call it that, is to use plenty of water. After dumping put about 5 gal. of water in the tank before using.
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Harold & Linda
2009 CT coachworks siena 35V
W22 Workhorse 8.1L. Explorer Sport toad,
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03-08-2011, 12:36 PM
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#4
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Administrator in Memoriam
Newmar Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
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No chemicals.
Special RV toilet paper is not necessary.
Most toilet paper marked "safe for use in septic systems" is OK.
Just wet a piece of your favorite paper. If it starts to come apart, it's OK.
I use Scott.
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Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP
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03-08-2011, 01:41 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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I will second Rt-66, Special paper not needed,, In fact I recommend against the most common brands of "RV-TP" (Tethford)
Scotts is very good, as is Angle Soft,, you may wish to avoid "Quilted" brands... Tetford (The RV type most often found in stores) is a nice grade of sandpaper. And I might add one of the slowest disolving in many of the tests that have been done. No reason to spend extra money on TP.
And even the worst Qulited brands break down faster than I can zip up, go out and pull the valve.
Now: Chemicals.... The very best chemical to use is good old Hydrogen Hydroxide.. Perhaps you know it by anoher name.. WATER.
The various treatments sold in the stored really do not do much good, HOWEVER if you are going to be a long time between dumps (more than 4 days) you might try one of the Biologicl products (Waste Digester types) They may also help with cleaning of sensors.
For a good cleaning of the tank read up on the GEO method which is fully described in several places on most every RV forum in existence. It uses Dawn Dishwashing liquid Calgon Water softener and water, yes water, my favorite chemical.. on and driving.
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Home is where I park it!
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03-08-2011, 04:35 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: LA.
Posts: 27
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wa8yxm said it.
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I have much to say why my reputation should be rescued from the load of false accusation and calumny which has been heaped upon it.
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03-08-2011, 04:57 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Bolivia, NC
Posts: 1,401
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So I am on the other side of this no chemical debate. Just thought you would like to hear from the other side of the coin. We use the little indivual bags that we buy at WallMart. It is in a blue & white box, don't know the name brand. We tried the Geo Method for about 6-8 weeks & we were not happy with the results. We dump our black tank about every 3 weeks. I cleaned the tank & was very vigiliant about following the Geo method. It did not work for us, we still had some odor, so we went back to the chemicals & add water for 2 min from the flush & hose after dumping.
For TP we use scott or angel soft.
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Dan Sees, , 2013 Winnebago Journey 42e, 2014 Featherlite Car Hauler 3110 17.5', 2008 Mazda MX5,
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser,2018 mercedes Benz GLA 250
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03-08-2011, 05:06 PM
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#8
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,775
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The only time we've used chemicals was when we were at rallies for several days (in 90-degree heat & parked on blacktop, I might add) with no sewer hook ups. We've found plenty of water & cheap toilet paper work just fine any other time because we either had fhu's or were only without sewer for a day or 2 on a weekend.
We do use the Dawn dish detergent (the original blue stuff, not any of the other formulas) to clean between outtings. 1/4c with about 5 gallons of water to slosh around while driving home keeps the tanks & sensors clean...for us, anyway.
Lori-
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Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
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05-23-2011, 02:45 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1
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I have used 1/2 cup of Borax with each tank emptying. I got tired of the odors when the camper was sitting and this put an end to it. Says safe for septic systems, softens water, repels roaches and other pests. Good for what ais ya! and it is cheap too.
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