How is it possible that the gray water smells so bad when i always dump immediately after showering? We boondock exclusively and schedule our showers to coincide with areas where we can dump afterward so it never remains in the holding tank over 15 minutes before dumping. And no it is not because we are too nasty,Lol.The only other water that goes and stays in the gray tank for any length of time (2/3 days) is just from brushing teeth as we wash all dishes outside. And no our breath is not that bad,Lol.

Gray water stinks. Consider trying the Geo Method to keep your tanks a little cleaner.But, they still stink.Did you check the air admittance valves under the sink(s)?

Mine don't ! But then I'm not one of the cheapskates that's too cheap to use a little blue in the grey too.

big whitey wrote:How is it possible that the gray water smells so bad when i always dump immediately after showering? We boondock exclusively and schedule our showers to coincide with areas where we can dump afterward so it never remains in the holding tank over 15 minutes before dumping. And no it is not because we are too nasty,Lol.The only other water that goes and stays in the gray tank for any length of time (2/3 days) is just from brushing teeth as we wash all dishes outside. And no our breath is not that bad,Lol.So where does your outside dishwater go? On the ground, or in the gray tank? I HOPE in the gray tank!Regardless of how soon you dump, there is always some remaining water left in the tank, and the tank is a moist wet environment with soap, hair, body dirt, etc. Of course it's going to grow stinky stuff!

Stuff grows on the top of the grey tank. Try Happy Camper Extreme Cleaner with a near full grey tank and drive around to let tank contents splash up onto the tank top. This will break that up and let it flush out when dumping.http://happycampersworld.com/product/happy-campers-extreme-cleaner/

Our grey dumps always smell worse than the black dumps.

Stinky gray water | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

doughere
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
Why are you sniffing the grey water ?

Like many, my grey smells worse than the black.

RV tanks are "holding tanks" not a septic system. They are a closed vessel (vented on the roof), designed to keep you and their contents separated. Who cares what the contents smell like. The only time you should be near the contents is during dumping.

Don't worry about it,
Doug
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Oct 20, 2015
Why do you shower?

No really why?

Because you are dirty, have body odor, hair is sweaty, bacteria, etc.
What do you use to clean off with.......shampoo, soap, toothpaste

Guess what.....that stuff stinks.

Bottom of waste tanks always have some water and stuff left behind.
Drain line comes out the side of tank so there is a lip.
"Stuff" builds up
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
We use one cup of Borax powder dissolved in 2 cups hot water and one cup of Dawn Platinum dish detergent after every dump and we don't have any odor issues anymore in the gray tank.
punomatic
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
joebedford wrote:
Our grey dumps always smell worse than the black dumps.

X2
joebedford
Nomad II
Oct 20, 2015
Our grey dumps always smell worse than the black dumps.
EsoxLucius
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
Stuff grows on the top of the grey tank. Try Happy Camper Extreme Cleaner with a near full grey tank and drive around to let tank contents splash up onto the tank top. This will break that up and let it flush out when dumping.

http://happycampersworld.com/product/happy-campers-extreme-cleaner/
coolmom42
Explorer II
Oct 20, 2015
big whitey wrote:
How is it possible that the gray water smells so bad when i always dump immediately after showering? We boondock exclusively and schedule our showers to coincide with areas where we can dump afterward so it never remains in the holding tank over 15 minutes before dumping. And no it is not because we are too nasty,Lol.

The only other water that goes and stays in the gray tank for any length of time (2/3 days) is just from brushing teeth as we wash all dishes outside. And no our breath is not that bad,Lol.

So where does your outside dishwater go? On the ground, or in the gray tank? I HOPE in the gray tank!

Regardless of how soon you dump, there is always some remaining water left in the tank, and the tank is a moist wet environment with soap, hair, body dirt, etc. Of course it's going to grow stinky stuff!
RJsfishin
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
Mine don't ! But then I'm not one of the cheapskates that's too cheap to use a little blue in the grey too.
gbopp
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
Gray water stinks.

Consider trying the Geo Method to keep your tanks a little cleaner.

But, they still stink.

Did you check the air admittance valves under the sink(s)?

Forum Discussion

Stinky gray water

19 Replies

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Stinky gray water

Gray water

Question about gray water...?

Identify water heater

Gray water dump