We want to clean our waste tank while driving to our next campground, 4 hours each way. The plan is to fill each tank about 2/3 full with fresh water, add “chemicals”, and let is slosh around during the 4 hours on the road. Then we can just empty the tanks when we get to the campground.Assuming this is a good idea, what would you add to the tanks? We have heard of al kinds of things to add: Dawn, Tide, fabric softener, water softener, you name it.Does anyone know of any good videos on the web about the procedure?

I only use about 3-5 gallons of water with Dawn dish soap.

cpaulsen wrote:I only use about 3-5 gallons of water with Dawn dish soap.+1. That is all that is needed. Anything else may not be good for the tanks or especially the waste valve slide seals and also the dump station you use may not appreciate a tank of chemicals dumped into it. Be sure to add waste valve lube into the tanks after you dump and some water as well. RV dealers have it so does Amazon. Thetford makes it.

You should do a search of " The Geo Method "

A very generous amount of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, and / or / laundry soap. (a very generous amount ... an overkill), makes lots of bubbles! You can also add some bleach, or bleach by itself. You only need about 5 gallons of water. If you use bleach, make sure you rinse the tank at your destination. You don't want a strong mix of bleach on your valves longer than necessary. No need for store bought tank chemicals. Laundry soap, Dishwashing Liquid, bleach and a good drive on the road. Dump and rinse.

Fecal mater is composed of grease, DAWN dish washing soap brakes down oils and grease, do not mix detergent and bleach, that produces fossgene gas, that is toxic and poison, good 3 to 5 gallons of water plus Dawn or even laundry detergent will work.navegator

Cleaning waste tanks | Good Sam Community

cpaulsen
Explorer
Sep 18, 2016
I only use about 3-5 gallons of water with Dawn dish soap.
georgelesley
Explorer
Sep 18, 2016
cpaulsen wrote:
I only use about 3-5 gallons of water with Dawn dish soap.

+1. That is all that is needed. Anything else may not be good for the tanks or especially the waste valve slide seals and also the dump station you use may not appreciate a tank of chemicals dumped into it. Be sure to add waste valve lube into the tanks after you dump and some water as well. RV dealers have it so does Amazon. Thetford makes it.
JimVan
Explorer
Sep 18, 2016
You should do a search of " The Geo Method "
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Sep 18, 2016
A very generous amount of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, and / or / laundry soap. (a very generous amount ... an overkill), makes lots of bubbles! You can also add some bleach, or bleach by itself. You only need about 5 gallons of water. If you use bleach, make sure you rinse the tank at your destination. You don't want a strong mix of bleach on your valves longer than necessary.

No need for store bought tank chemicals. Laundry soap, Dishwashing Liquid, bleach and a good drive on the road. Dump and rinse.
navegator
Explorer
Sep 18, 2016
Fecal mater is composed of grease, DAWN dish washing soap brakes down oils and grease, do not mix detergent and bleach, that produces fossgene gas, that is toxic and poison, good 3 to 5 gallons of water plus Dawn or even laundry detergent will work.

navegator
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Sep 18, 2016
Sandy & Shirley wrote:
We want to clean our waste tank while driving to our next campground, 4 hours each way. The plan is to fill each tank about 2/3 full with fresh water, add “chemicals”, and let is slosh around during the 4 hours on the road. Then we can just empty the tanks when we get to the campground.

Assuming this is a good idea, what would you add to the tanks? We have heard of al kinds of things to add: Dawn, Tide, fabric softener, water softener, you name it.

Does anyone know of any good videos on the web about the procedure?

The question I have is why? I never did understand this way of thinking? :h

Reminds me of a story years back. I dumped my tanks and flushed the black tank with 5 gallons of water. Before we left the dump station my daughter said we had to use the bathroom. :R I never did that again.......not when it's going to get "dirty" in 5 minutes anyway.

If you're having trouble with sensors then don't use dish washing soap or anything else for that matter...........use sensor cleaner. You can buy it at an RV store.
GordonThree
Explorer
Sep 18, 2016
Turtle n Peeps wrote:

The question I have is why? I never did understand this way of thinking? :h

x2 ... I do not understand the obsession / fascination with cleaning tanks designed to hold waste ... like washing a garbage can before putting garbage in it.

I understand proper care of the tanks, like not letting the tanks dry out, not dumping at every stop, but instead when close to full, etc... but keeping them clean, why?
SoundGuy
Explorer
Sep 18, 2016
Turtle n Peeps wrote:
The question I have is why? I never did understand this way of thinking? :h

GordonThree wrote:
x2 ... I do not understand the obsession / fascination with cleaning tanks designed to hold waste ... like washing a garbage can before putting garbage in it.

I understand proper care of the tanks, like not letting the tanks dry out, not dumping at every stop, but instead when close to full, etc... but keeping them clean, why?

Fortunately it doesn't matter whether you or anyone else understands. :R We all have our preferences and as the OP clearly stated in the opening sentence of their post - "We want to clean our waste tank while driving to our next campground, 4 hours each way." That should suffice, whether you or anyone else agrees or not. If you or anyone needs an answer the best I can come up is - "Because I want to and I can" ... seems simple enough to me. And yes, FWIW I periodically do wash out our garbage cans ... that someone else may not "understand" is irrelevant.
dave54
Nomad
Sep 18, 2016
Cleaning the tank does not mean shiny new fresh from the factory clean. For us it is just making sure there is no residual solid matter or waste puddled on the bottom or stuck to the sides. Most quick campground dumping leaves a little bit in the tank. We like to get rid of that before any long period of non use, lest it dry hard and become a problem later.
jfkmk
Explorer
Sep 18, 2016
SoundGuy wrote:
Turtle n Peeps wrote:
The question I have is why? I never did understand this way of thinking? :h

GordonThree wrote:
x2 ... I do not understand the obsession / fascination with cleaning tanks designed to hold waste ... like washing a garbage can before putting garbage in it.

I understand proper care of the tanks, like not letting the tanks dry out, not dumping at every stop, but instead when close to full, etc... but keeping them clean, why?

Fortunately it doesn't matter whether you or anyone else understands. :R We all have our preferences and as the OP clearly stated in the opening sentence of their post - "We want to clean our waste tank while driving to our next campground, 4 hours each way." That should suffice, whether you or anyone else agrees or not. If you or anyone needs an answer the best I can come up is - "Because I want to and I can" ... seems simple enough to me. And yes, FWIW I periodically do wash out our garbage cans ... that someone else may not "understand" is irrelevant.

I agree.

We do use the store bought chemicals, when we're cleaning up on the last morning of a trip I dump, use the wand, and flush the tank.

The results are, we NEVER get any foul odors in the trailer from the waste tank, and the sensors (that everyone claims stop working immediately) still work.

Bottom line, your RV, treat it how you want, my RV I'll treat it how I want.

Oh, and I occasionally wash my garbage cans as well.

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