Always use a high-quality product that will effectively break down waste and control RV toilet odors. The best product to accomplish this is a bacteria and enzyme blend (like Unique RV Digest-It Plus).
Open windows and use fans to circulate air and reduce odors. Use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to neutralize odors. Pour it into the toilet and let it sit for a few hours before flushing. Use air fresheners specifically designed for RVs or natural options like essential oils to mask any lingering smells.
Banish bad odors
You can do this by filling your toilet with water and flushing, repeating this process until the bottom of the tank is full of water. To ensure proper performance, it's important to use a treatment in your blackwater tank.
We use a home brew mixture of Pine-Sol Cleaner (generic brand) Downy Fabric Softener (generic brand) and Borax. We never have issues with odors of any kind. I used to add Ammonia to the above mixture until I witnessed Heather cleaning the RV toilet with Bleach. Now, I no longer add the ammonia.
Charcoal-based odor absorbers or baking soda can be placed near the source of the odor or in the affected rooms to absorb and neutralize the smell.
Use Fabric Softener
This is a nifty little hack for RV owners. 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.
Yes, sewer gas is noxious, and in high concentrations, it can be toxic or lead to a loss of consciousness.
You can absorb odors by putting down some baking soda in the holding tank to absorb moisture and neutralize odors naturally. Or, place bags of activated charcoal inside the unit to absorb odors.
Cleaners such as Lysol and Clorox have high concentrations of bleach and other harsh chemicals. Exposing your RV's plumbing systems — especially soft rubber and plastic seals — to these chemicals can accelerate their wear and degrade their composition.
Using Essential Oils
First, consider lemon essential oil. Its bright, citrusy scent is excellent at neutralising bad odours, making your toilet smell fresh and clean. For a calming aroma in your bathroom, eucalyptus lavender proves to be a solid choice.
Problems with vent pipes, such as blockages or improper installation, can also cause sewer odors by preventing proper gas escape. DIY solutions like using baking soda and vinegar or regularly running water in unused toilets can help, but persistent smells may require a professional plumber.
You can go with classics like lavender, tea tree, or eucalyptus. Or try something different - peppermint smells great, and so do lemongrass and sweet orange. These oils do more than just make things smell good - they actually help fight bacteria too. Every time you flush, a bit of the scent will come out.
You can flush the system using the RV's water pump, but you can also use a garden hose or another external water system. Run water through the system for several minutes and allow water to run in the sink, shower, and flush the toilet a handful of times.
Never put anything inside a holding tank unless you want a troublesome clog. Nothing other than quick-degrading tissue, your own human wastes, water and your holding tank maintenance additives should ever end up in your blackwater 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.
The most common chemicals used for this purpose are hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and chlorine dioxide.
In addition, urine and water can get under your toilet and cause further damage. Apply caulking to form a protective coating around your toilet base and combat bad odors.
Refill the Water Trap in Your Sink
Locate the u-shaped P-trap under your sink or shower drain. These “U” shaped pipes trap water under your sink to prevent sewer gasses and unpleasant odors from entering your home. Check for any debris or buildup in the pipes and remove it.
Tempting... but no, thank you. 😌 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.
The Laveo™ by Dry Flush is an innovative and practical way to add a highly sanitary toilet to campsites, trailers, vans and RVs without the need for hook-ups. The waterless, odorless, chemical-free, no-freeze, low-maintenance and compact portable electric toilet measures 16”W x 20”D x 18”H and weighs just 29 lbs.
It's recommended to use a liquid or dissolvable treatment every time you empty your black tank. Typical brands of RV toilet chemicals you can look for are Camco TST RV Toilet Treatment, Porta-Pak, and Aqua-Kem RV toilet chemicals.