To stop a grey water tank from smelling, deep clean the tank to remove grease and food buildup, ensure your drain traps have water to block sewer gases, and regularly treat the system with specialized holding tank chemicals.
To get rid of foul odors in your grey water tank, eliminate grease and food buildup by deep cleaning with dish soap, and maintain freshness by adding specialized deodorizer. Prevent lingering smells by always running water down your drains to keep traps filled and dry traps from venting sewer gas into your space.
Baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice are all easy to source, great cleansers and won't harm your plants when diluted and processed through a greywater system. Vinegar contains acetic acid which can destroy the cell lining of bacteria and viruses.
I use the lemon or apple scent Fabuloso for my grey. It's cheap and works better than most products that are specific to grey tank cleaning. Robert Moreno works for me too. We've been using a dishpan for washing dishes and putting it down the toilet/ black tank.
Yes, using vinegar to clean the water tank in your motorhome is safe and effective. But there's a catch – the vinegar needs to be heated to at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit to kill all bacteria.
To stop your RV holding tank from smelling, use dedicated enzymatic or bacterial treatments (like Camco TST Orange Treatment or Walex Porta-Pak) alongside 2-3 gallons of water after every dump. Alternatively, use a DIY mixture of 111 cup liquid water softener (Calgon) and 111 cup Blue Dawn dish soap.
Yes, you can put Dawn dish soap in your RV black tank, but only in small amounts and specifically for cleaning. It is a popular DIY hack to help clean tank sensors and lubricate dump valves, but it should not be used as a primary waste breakdown treatment.
Using bleach in your RV black tank is generally not recommended. While it temporarily masks odors, concentrated bleach corrodes rubber seals, destroys tank sensors, and kills the beneficial bacteria needed to break down solid waste.
The characteristic "old age smell" is scientifically known as nonenal (or 2-nonenal). It is a chemical compound produced when the skin's natural oils and fatty acids break down and oxidize as we age.
The best odor absorber depends on your specific needs, ranging from natural materials and sprays to heavy-duty machines. For most households, activated charcoal is the best overall natural absorber, while Zero Odor is highly effective for localized spraying, and an ozone generator is ideal for tackling stubborn room odors.
To clean a grey water tank, use a combination of liquid dish soap (like Dawn), water softener (like Calgon), and baking soda. These items break down organic gunk, soap scum, and grease without damaging the tank's sensors or plumbing.
In particular, avoid using vinegar on natural stone surfaces such as marble, granite, and travertine. The acidity can dull these materials over time and may even break down the sealant that protects them from stains.
If you are driving a certified self-contained vehicle, please dispose of your grey water (sink and shower) and toilet waste in a safe and environmentally sound way at an approved dump station. Campervan companies recommend disposing of your waste every 2-3 days.
You can use a chlorine-based disinfectant specifically designed for water tanks. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper dosage and contact time. Flush the tank: After disinfection, flush the tank with clean water multiple times to remove any residual disinfectant.
Yes, you can put bleach in your grey water tank in small, diluted quantities, but it is not recommended for regular use. Bleach can be highly corrosive and may degrade rubber seals, gaskets, and tank sensors over time.
UNTREATED GREYWATER
"Old person smell" can begin as early as age 40, as the body produces more of the compound 2-nonenal. This, often described as a grassy, greasy, or musty odor, is a natural part of aging caused by the breakdown of unsaturated fatty acids and declining skin antioxidant defenses. While it starts around 40, it becomes more noticeable in the 50s and beyond.
"Old person smell"—scientifically known as 2-nonenal—is caused by fatty acids oxidizing on the skin. Because it is not water-soluble, standard body washes and intense scrubbing won't wash it off. To eliminate it, you need to use soaps containing Japanese persimmon extract and green tea.
Smelling yourself through your pants even after showering is surprisingly common and usually caused by trapped sweat, bacteria, or a shift in pH rather than poor hygiene. The groin has dense sweat glands, and moisture trapped by synthetic fabrics or tight clothing causes bacteria to break down the sweat, amplifying the scent.
To quickly stop your RV black tank from smelling, start by flushing 1 to 2 gallons of water down the toilet along with a specialized enzyme or bacteria treatment. Products break down waste and target odor-causing bacteria without harsh chemicals.
Dawn dish soap is widely used in RV black tanks for routine cleaning, breaking down oils, and fixing stuck sensors. However, because it is not an enzyme-based treatment, it will not break down human waste and paper on its own, and excessive sudsing can occasionally cause issues.
Sanitize your RV fresh water tank without bleach by using 3% food-grade hydrogen peroxide or a commercial bleach-free cleaner (like Camco TastePURE or Go Blue Technologies). For peroxide, use 111 cup for every 101010 gallons of tank capacity, and let the mixture sit in your plumbing system for 4 to 12 hours before completely draining and flushing the lines.
Allow about one quart of antifreeze to enter the black tank for winterization. Leave a small amount of antifreeze in the toilet to cover the seals. If there's a washing machine connected, turn it on to the fill cycle using a cold water setting until antifreeze appears, then repeat using a hot water setting.
Looking for something to clean the toilet and general cleaning in the motorhome. Wanting to avoid cleaners with bleach is simple green an appropriate choice? It's fine. I still use what I used at home.
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.