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PonyGrrl's avatar
PonyGrrl
Explorer
Oct 02, 2016

remove "flushable" wipes from black tank?

Just returned from another great trip dry camping in the '05 Yellowstone (class C Ford E450 chassis, 27'). We took my mom, who had 'elk rut at RMNP' on her bucket list, so 4 adult women using the toilet for 5 days.

While we stopped off for RV paper en route, apparently I didn't explain clearly enough that "flushable" is a marketing term...so now I have sensors showing full on a black tank I've drained. Twice.

I suspect that the plastic sheeting ("flushable" wipes) introduced into the tank are the problem.

Any ideas as to HOW in the heck I can get this tank back to providing data on levels?

I thought about letting it freeze and throwing in 5 gallons of hot water, but I'm in a bit of a hurry. SWMBO is planning to caravan--with our newly licensed 16 yo at the wheel of the smart car--to a 3 week tournament later this month. If that tank overflows I will never hear (or smell) the end of this!

TIA for any ideas from bitter, stinky experience. I prefer to learn from others when I can.
  • Just don't worry about it is my advice. I've never seen plastic anything advertised as flushable. Maybe it's harder with a family, but I know about how many times I can use the head before the black tank needs to be serviced... hasn't let me down yet. The gray tank is a bit trickier... usually when the drains slow down it's time to service the tank.

    I use Scot brand flushable wipes, and they're simple paper, break down even faster than TP does - as soon as they get wet, they fall apart.

    Others will share their potions of dish soap, laundry softener, ice cubes and chicken feet used to keep the tank sparkling inside and out ;)

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