Many RVers swear by using a few caps of liquid fabric softener to freshen up the tank and keep the solids moving when flushed. If you're in a pinch, try adding a bag of ice cubes and some dish or laundry detergent in the black tank before you drive.
Any laundry or dish soap will work & add Calgon or fabric softener if you like, no need for expensive rv specific tank cleaners or digesters. FYI only use ``septic safe'' toilet paper, no more than 2 ply, rv specific tp is not necessary, then hold the pedal for about 5 Mississippis when flushing #2.
While a clog may not form the first time you add fabric softener, repeated uses can clog the connection between the toilet tank and the toilet bowl, reducing the flushing power of the toilet. It may also build up on the inside of the drain, causing a partial or complete blockage.
It is Calgon, Borax and Dawn dish soap. Use the cap from the Calgon and put one each of Calgon and Dawn and 2 of the Borax. We live in ours full time and I dump the black tank once a week in South Texas. Even in the heat of summer I have no odor and very little solids when I dump.
Fabric softeners, just like other household cleaners and chemicals, can have devastating effects on your septic system. The impact on your septic system is two-fold – the chemicals within fabric softener attack your system's ecosystem as well as interfere with the tank's physical functioning.
A: Thank you for your question. Our Downy Ultra Free & Gentle is septic safe.
Yes, Dawn dish soap is generally safe for septic systems. It's got quite a reputation for being septic-friendly, and for good reason. As long as you're not going overboard with it, Dawn isn't likely to mess with the bacteria in your septic tank.
You'll need a high-quality, bacteria- and enzyme-based cleaner like Unique Clear-It to break up the pyramid. If the pyramid is fully blocking the pipe that connects the RV toilet to the black water tank, then you may need a section of ½” PEX pipe, or a toilet snake, to manually break holes into the pyramid plug.
😌 Using Pine-Sol or other chemical cleaners in your wastewater tanks can lead to clogs and odor issues! 🚫 Pine-Sol kills all the bacteria inside the tank, but bacteria are crucial for breaking down waste and controlling smells. Don't make this common mistake!
Some RVers prefer to use their own homemade cleaning solutions in place of store-bought. This can be cost-saving and also give RVers complete control over what they are putting in their tanks. Some RVers use borax and Dawn dish soap, while others use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
They either dump the entire bottle directly into the toilet tank, or cut a hole at the bottom of the bottle and place it inside the tank. The idea is that whenever they flush, the toilet bowl itself will fill up with the sweet smell of Fabuloso, negating any unsavory scents that might otherwise be lingering.
Synthetic and water-resistant materials.
Fabric softener can wear down the effectiveness of water-resistant materials and synthetic fabrics such as polyester. A garment made with elastane, like spandex, can lose its ability to stretch and reshape itself.
It is widely claimed that adding aluminum foil to a toilet tank helps to achieve a clean and shiny toilet, but critics challenge these claims due to a lack of scientific evidence.
Use Fabric Softener
If you want to eliminate black tank odors and freshen the atmosphere of your RV, take a capful or two of scented fabric softener and pour it into your black tank. Pack along your favorite fabric softener on your next RV trip and use frequent capfuls to combat foul sewer tank odors.
Hey, y'all, RV tip of the day. do not put dish soap into your black tank.
Use two cups of softener for each wastewater tank in your RV. The tank's drain valve should be closed otherwise the softened water will just drain out. Then use the tank(s) normally until it is full and drain it normally. Add a cup of laundry detergent to the black (commode) water tank at the same time.
Mix eight ounces of Calgon Ageless Bath Pearls and 40 ounces of PINE-SOL® in a one-gallon jug. Fill the jug with water. Shake gently and allow any foam to settle down. Use four to eight ounces (as directed) in each tank, every time you have emptied them.
You should be dumping your holding tanks every 3-5 days or when tank levels reach two thirds or three quarters full. Dumping this often reduces the likelihood of waste buildup that could cause clogs, odors, or misreading sensors.
Clogged black tank
It's a common problem and almost every RVer has it at one time or another. If you have a clogged tank, it won't dump completely—or at all, sometimes—meaning you're left with old sewage hanging out in your tank for days, weeks, or even months on end.
RID-X® now offers the NEW RV Toilet Treatment, which is specifically formulated for usage in your RV, Marine and Portable Toilets.
The Effects of Fabric Softener on Your Septic System
The quats in fabric softener are particularly troublesome for your septic system. They are not only antibacterial, enabling them to kill off the good bacteria in your system's tank, but they also contain nitrogen.
Generally speaking, you'll want to avoid products that contain phosphates, chlorine bleach, or ammonia, as these can harm the natural bacteria in your septic tank. In addition to choosing the right detergent, it's important to be mindful of how much you use.