I have wanted to try the Geo method for the Black Tank. The instructions I have found on line say to dissolve water softener and detergent in hot water and put in black tank. I heated on the stove top water with water softener pellets and laundry detergent until it was dissolved, then let the mix cool down. As the mix cooled, the sides of the pan developed a pretty thick 'build-up' of film that I think would obstruct the holding tank sensors, thereby defeating the purpose. Thinking the soap was the problem, I tried dissolving just the water softener pellets and waiting for it to cool down. gain, the heavy build-up on the sides of the coolpot. Neither solution felt 'slipery' like very soft water, as I would have expected based on the description of this method. I have NOT dumped any mix into the holding tank. For those of you with experience in Geo method, is this your experience? Are the water softener pellets (dissolved) the right water softener? Thoughts? Thanks!

I usually hear about people using 'Dawn' brand dish soap not powdered soap.

Water softener salt is out of the ordinary and not likely to do the job. The accompaniment for the soap is usually Calgon or Twenty Mule Team Borax (washing soda). This stuff makes the walls and base of the tank very slippery and therefore less likely that "something" will stick. You will truly understand slippery when you do the mixing. Use the cheapest liquid detergent you can find. Additionally a full black tank will flush better than a partially full tank and encourage the use of lots of water.

your putting a concentration designed to clean the 30gal ? tank into a panof course that small amount of water cannot hold that much chemical when it coolsBTW i tried the GEO method did not work for usit did some cleaning, but the Smell whew !does seem to work for some folks

I've seen a number of different chemical combinations labeled "Geo Method." The one we use - and that works for us - is: 1 cup dishwashing liquid and 1 cup of borax crystals (I just pour them down the toilet without mixing with anything. (With some formulas, 1 cup of bleach is included.) I then flush a couple of gallons of water down the toilet and another 1/4 - 1/3 of a tank of fresh water via the black tank flushing system. I do all this just before hitting the road on a travel day and let the washing machine do the work. Once every three or four months (we're full-timers) works for us. ours is a 45 gallon black tank.Rob

" water softener pellets"This is your problem.You want regular water softener that is used for laundryI use the cheapest I can find and if it is a powder, I dissolve it before dumping down the toilet. Usually a cup of softener and whatever water it takes to dissolve it and then add a cup of cheap liquid dish soap. That's it, no bleach or anything else. Now add 5-10 gallons of water and go for a drive. I treat after I dump and then drive to the next spot. Longer drive the better. Now dump again and flush the tank. If you are really full of it, you might have to repeat a couple of times.

Geo Method question | Good Sam Community

_en_Plain_Air_
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
OP here. Thank you all so much for your input. I'll get the right products and give it a whirl. I'm hoping our tank sensors will stay cleaner and read more accurately.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Oct 22, 2016
'en Plain Air' wrote:
I have wanted to try the Geo method for the Black Tank. The instructions I have found on line say to dissolve water softener and detergent in hot water and put in black tank. I heated on the stove top water with water softener pellets and laundry detergent until it was dissolved, then let the mix cool down. As the mix cooled, the sides of the pan developed a pretty thick 'build-up' of film that I think would obstruct the holding tank sensors, thereby defeating the purpose. Thinking the soap was the problem, I tried dissolving just the water softener pellets and waiting for it to cool down. gain, the heavy build-up on the sides of the coolpot. Neither solution felt 'slipery' like very soft water, as I would have expected based on the description of this method. I have NOT dumped any mix into the holding tank. For those of you with experience in Geo method, is this your experience? Are the water softener pellets (dissolved) the right water softener? Thoughts? Thanks!

water softener pellets are pure sodium cloride, TABLE SALT NOT water softener. water softener such as calgon is completely different chemical that acts something like what a water softener does.

AGAIN you do NOT want to use water softener pellets.
MudChucker
Explorer
Oct 22, 2016
those water softening pellets you used are salt for water softeners. you want to buy the calgon water softener product or something similar.

calgon softener on amazon

we do similar and also use a basin to wash dishes and the soapy water gets dumped down the toilet to help fill up between dumps.
brirene
Explorer
Oct 22, 2016
Charles Bruni's Geo Method page. I do it once a year or so.
Bob_Shaw
Explorer
Oct 22, 2016
I use Calgon Liquid water Softener, and the cheapest liquid detergent I can find, and occasionally, I'll add a cup of bleach. I never mix anything, just dump it down the commode, and add water. If you read Mr. Bruni's page, he warns about using the wrong kind of water softener.
dons2346
Explorer
Oct 22, 2016
" water softener pellets"

This is your problem.You want regular water softener that is used for laundry

I use the cheapest I can find and if it is a powder, I dissolve it before dumping down the toilet. Usually a cup of softener and whatever water it takes to dissolve it and then add a cup of cheap liquid dish soap. That's it, no bleach or anything else. Now add 5-10 gallons of water and go for a drive. I treat after I dump and then drive to the next spot. Longer drive the better. Now dump again and flush the tank. If you are really full of it, you might have to repeat a couple of times.
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Oct 22, 2016
I've seen a number of different chemical combinations labeled "Geo Method." The one we use - and that works for us - is: 1 cup dishwashing liquid and 1 cup of borax crystals (I just pour them down the toilet without mixing with anything. (With some formulas, 1 cup of bleach is included.) I then flush a couple of gallons of water down the toilet and another 1/4 - 1/3 of a tank of fresh water via the black tank flushing system. I do all this just before hitting the road on a travel day and let the washing machine do the work. Once every three or four months (we're full-timers) works for us. ours is a 45 gallon black tank.

Rob
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 22, 2016
your putting a concentration designed to clean the 30gal ? tank into a pan
of course that small amount of water cannot hold that much chemical when it cools

BTW i tried the GEO method did not work for us
it did some cleaning, but the Smell whew !

does seem to work for some folks
vic46
Explorer
Oct 22, 2016
Water softener salt is out of the ordinary and not likely to do the job. The accompaniment for the soap is usually Calgon or Twenty Mule Team Borax (washing soda). This stuff makes the walls and base of the tank very slippery and therefore less likely that "something" will stick. You will truly understand slippery when you do the mixing. Use the cheapest liquid detergent you can find. Additionally a full black tank will flush better than a partially full tank and encourage the use of lots of water.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Oct 22, 2016
I usually hear about people using 'Dawn' brand dish soap not powdered soap.

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