Dawn vs Laundry Detergent

I do not know why people want to clean holding tanks. A few gallons of water left in the tank and a few miles down the road with the water sloshing around and the tank is clean.

+1

TenOC wrote:
I do not know why people want to clean holding tanks. A few gallons of water left in the tank and a few miles down the road with the water sloshing around and the tank is clean.

Well, because I have repeatedly succeeded in cleaning level gauge sensors with water AND a small amount of liquid laundry detergent sloshing around while rolling down the road. Water just didn't do the job as well.

Not really sure why you ask why people would want clean tanks, then provide a method for doing so? I had a coworker who got a good deal on a private sale used Travel trailer. The original owner apparently didn't see the need for cleaning the tanks. For some reason the black tank had several inches of hard crusty solids, and the clean out was pretty unpleasant. Given that a half full drywall bucket of water and a shot of clothes soap can leave the tanks looking spotless, if done regularly after dumping, I'm not sure what the issue is.

Two gallons of water and a cup of Tide laundry soap.
Every time after I do that last dump before the drive home.
No clogs, no smell.
Cheap insurance.

To each his own. If some people don't think that its necessary to do anything but add water and use their facilities then fine, its their trailer. I tend to think a little bit of prevention and attention to how well my tanks are draining and I don't mind spending a little bit of my money on laundry detergent and Calgon to help my tanks drain for my peace of mind, weather anyone else thinks I am fooling myself or not. I use the GEO Method and have been satisfied with the results.

Key words "cut grease." You need your blade to slide easily when you pull it. Last thing you want is for it to stick to the rubber seal and either pull it out or just get stuck.

All these VooDoo tank cleaning schemes, might just bite you in the ...

Result of Dawn in holding tank after a rough road......:E

John&Joey wrote:
Key words "cut grease." You need your blade to slide easily when you pull it. Last thing you want is for it to stick to the rubber seal and either pull it out or just get stuck.

All these VooDoo tank cleaning schemes, might just bite you in the ...

Would you also worry about a roughly equal amount of soap and detergent that gets into the gray water tank from dishwashing, laundry, bathing, etc.?

The rubber seals on the valves are not greased, so far as I am aware; they get sticky or wear out or leak or break mainly due to age.

We use 1 cup Dawn Platinum and 1 cup powdered Borax, dissolved in bathroom sink full of water, in our grey tank. No odor, cuts grease, softens water. In our black tank we use Thetford CampaChem blue. No odors.

downtheroad wrote:
Result of Dawn in holding tank after a rough road......:E

Yea! But I bet the tank was clean! And the toilet, and the floor, and the ceiling, and the windows! (cool photo!) Common sense here though... you don't put the entire bottle in the tank, just a small amount with a bit of water, 2-3 gallons of water with a couple good liberal squirts of Dawn.

For the OP... Yes, laundry soap is perfectly fine to use too, powder or liquid types. The difference is, which do you have readily available. We very seldom, VERY seldom have laundry soap in the camper, but we always have Dawn for dishes.

Occasionally, a bit of bleach water (then drive around and let it slowsh) will do wonders to remove smells. Just be sure to drain the bleach water as soon as possible so it won't deteriorate your dump valve rubbers causing it to leak. A simple rinse will take care of that.

Basically, anything used for dishes or laundry is OK to use in your holding tanks. The secret is NOT to over-do it, otherwise the results are evidenced by that photo.