How to clean a fresh water tank

[RV Vagabond]

Is there a way to clean out a fresh water tank without putting bleach or other chemicals into it? And without removing the tank?

[Agesilaus]

Why would you want too? You one of these chemiphobics? And no economic way exists that I know of.

[Pusherman]

Hydrogen Peroxide works just as good. Not sure of the mix ratio, but you can google it.

[HJLowell]

So why do you think that it needs to be cleaned ?
What are you symptoms???

Have you filled with chlorinated city water and drained several times to rince it out.
You can drain it like you would to winterize and then refill, repeat several times.

What I have done over the years.
Added a quart of 3 percent Hydrogen Peroxide to a full tank and let sit overnight.
Then drain and fill again then empty.

Or
Add a box of baking soda and a gallon of vinegar To a full tank.

Let sit overnight .
Drain the next day and refill.

Both will freshen the tank if stale or bad well water was left in the tank a long time in hot weather or ??? Something else

Continue flushing with fresh city water.

Untill your Happy.

Also, change filter cartridges regularly
Maybe add more filters.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by Pusherman

Hydrogen Peroxide works just as good. Not sure of the mix ratio, but you can google it.

You"ll spend a lot to get a ratio of peroxide high enough to accomplish anything. Chlorine bleach is the gold standard for a reason... It works, it's affordable, and if done properly is safe. Oj, three reasons.

[HJLowell]

Originally Posted by richard5933

You"ll spend a lot to get a ratio of peroxide high enough to accomplish anything. Chlorine bleach is the gold standard for a reason... It works, it's affordable, and if done properly is safe. Oj, three reasons.

I have never seen that to be true Richard concerning Hydrogen Peroxide.

Nothing wrong with chlorox either.
We, and many dont want to use Chlorox.
For several reasons.

But I have never had to use it fortunately.

I have owned CL stock for some 30 years.
Thats been good for us. [emoji106]

Flushing with lots of city water and a little peroxide works well.

You can also buy a Chlorox product with peroxide.

Toothpaste with bicarb and peroxide.

[Soppy]

I found pool chlorine works real good.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by RV Vagabond

Is there a way to clean out a fresh water tank without putting bleach or other chemicals into it? And without removing the tank?

No.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by HJLowell

I have never seen that to be true Richard concerning Hydrogen Peroxide.

Nothing wrong with chlorox either.
We, and many dont want to use Chlorox.
For several reasons.

But I have never had to use it fortunately.

I have owned CL stock for some 30 years.
Thats been good for us. [emoji106]

Flushing with lots of city water and a little peroxide works well.

You can also buy a Chlorox product with peroxide.

Toothpaste with bicarb and peroxide.

Yeah, but that quart bottle of 3% peroxide will be diluted far below effective strength when added to the fresh water tank. My reading has shown that a 3% solution is necessary for sanitizing action. Do you have other information showing effectiveness at lower concentrations?

[HJLowell]

Originally Posted by richard5933

Yeah, but that quart bottle of 3% peroxide will be diluted far below effective strength when added to the fresh water tank. My reading has shown that a 3% solution is necessary for sanitizing action. Do you have other information showing effectiveness at lower concentrations?

Richard
Read the ops thread
The question is,
Cleaning out.

He says nothing about disinfecting or sanitizing.

He also says he doesn't want to use harsh chemicals.

Ill admit, he also doesnt say ( why ) he wants to clean the tank. Nor what his symptoms are.

I suggested three ways to freshen up and clean, Not sanitize? the tank without harsh chemicals .

He didnt say ( Sanitize nor disinfect. )
I didnt say any three of my suggestions would, sanitize or disinfect.

I suggested filling the tank with city, treated
Potable water and flushing repeatedly to help clean the tank of whatever he has going on.
The peroxide and or the vinegar and baking soda, from my experience help cleanse and freshen the tank a bit very cheaply.
1 gallon vinegar $2 to 3.
1 box baking soda $1. Or so
1 quart of Hydrogen peroxide $2 to $4 maybe.
Dollar store
Dollar Tree

Cosco
Dollar General

Most times sour or stagnant well water
Causes the bad tase issue.
The fix is.
Drain and fill several times with treated city potable water untill you get the results you want.
And in tge future.
Replace the filters regularly
And
Dont leave water in the tank for a year.
If your not going to use the camper. Drain the water tank out.

And dont tell us that with chlorox you dont need to drain, fill and flush several times.
Because you do if your going to drink the water from the tank.

Most people that think they need to
Disinfect and sterilize their water system is because they miss manage the holding tank water and potable water system altogether.

In my opinion.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by Pusherman

Hydrogen Peroxide works just as good. Not sure of the mix ratio, but you can google it.

It really doesn't unless you are prepared to spend a lot of money; 3% is the minimum required to disinfect, which means you buy enough 3% bottles to fill your fresh water tank.
The WHO does not even address using H2 02 for disinfecting drinking water. The CDC says 3% concentration is the minimum-no further dilution.

Besides, it too is a chemical,RV Vagabond said "no chemicals".
To RV Vagabond, the only way I know of to clean your tank without chemicals is to steam-clean it with a special pressure washer; then expose the interior to UV lamps as directed if you then wish to sterilize too.

[RV Vagabond]

Originally Posted by HJLowell

So why do you think that it needs to be cleaned ?
What are you symptoms???
You can drain it like you would to winterize and then refill, repeat several times.

To answer 2 of your questions:

My shower water has a large amount of what looks like lint or dirt floating in it. I also drink this water, although double filtered.

My fresh tank has the drain plug on the side not on the bottom so that would not get the contamination out.

Also I know that chlorine would sanitize the tank but not sure that it would clean out the gunk.

[HJLowell]

Ok
So where is the pump line that goes to your shower plumbed into this water tank.
At a lower point than the drain plug?
You have to have a low point connection on the tank to drain and winterize properly? I would think.

If not ?

Get a pump and stick a hose in the tank through the drain hole that you described.
Lay the hose on the bottom best you can.
Fill and pump
Fill and pump
I would fill and pump at the same time.
It will be work and take time.
You may have fungi growth or bacteria but its probably not harmfull.
I assume that you have not gotten sick.

Flush and flush with city treated water after
removing the plug.

You can flush most out the drain hole.
You can get a pump powered by a drill if you want. Cheap.

Then freshen with a gallon of vinegar and peroxide, Baking soda in any and all combinations to your liking.

I would repeat in a month or so.
Till your problem is totaly resolved.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by HJLowell

Richard
Read the ops thread
The question is,
Cleaning out.

He says nothing about disinfecting or sanitizing.

He also says he doesn't want to use harsh chemicals.

Ill admit, he also doesnt say ( why ) he wants to clean the tank. Nor what his symptoms are.

...

Correct. The OP never mentioned why the need to "clean out" the tank. My thought went like this...if there is need to physically clean the tank of any type of unwanted substance or contamination in the tank, be it lint or any other type of schmutz, the tank should be sanitized as well. I just don't see the point of going through all the effort to "clean out" the tank if in the end it looks clean but may still not be sanitized.

To the OP... It would be really helpful to those of us trying to give you helpful advice if you could tell us more about what you're trying to do here. Are you just trying to remove sediment or are you trying to sanitize the tank? or something else?