I have tried to search this, couldn't really find anything. just wondering if its safe to wash dishes and pans on my camper sink and rinse down drain? for example, say I have BBQ sauce on my grill, can I clean that and rinse it down the drain? same with say bacon grease from the pan? is food residue safe in the gray tank, or should that be left to just soap and water? I go first time camping in two weeks and just want to know whats safe or not before I have a big OOPS..lol.. I did search around this board and couldn't find this info..thank you...

I would not put grease down the drain. Wipe it out and throw in garbage. As for food juices left on plates, I do rinse it off if there is only a little but make sure the drain catch is in. If it is not just a slight film of sauce, I wipe it off and throw in garbage. I try to prevent anything extra going in that tank! Have fun.

I would agree. Start a good habit of wiping everything off before washing dishes. Bacon grease can be frozen and thrown out. An extra roll of paper towels is a lot cheaper than potential plumbing fix.

Gray water can smell as bad as sewer if food gets into it. We wipe off our plates and try to keep as much food as possible out of the gray tank. Plus grease can build up in the traps and pipes.

actually, the more I think about it, its sooo cheap to buy paper plates,cups, utensils its probably easier to just throw plates out... and I think im gonna buy a small plastic tub and just wash any utensils or cooking grids,right under the outside shower with soap water and just find a place to dump the soapy water. im not sure if this is legal or not at campgrounds? im sure alittle soapy water dumped in the dirt isn't harming anything?

Paper towels is your friend. Wipe the grease off and remove as much food as possible.

washing dishes-is grease and food safe down sink drain?

TexasShadow
Explorer II
May 13, 2013
ditto to paper towels being your best friend. wipe the dirty pans and dishes first, then into a dishpan of soapy water.
we also use a little of whatever we're using in the black tank to cut odors..not every day, but once in awhile.
brirene
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Depending on circumstances, we often use a small plastic tub that fits in the sink, then dump that into the black tank. Any food particles won't be a problem there, the soapy water is a plus, and the black tank often doesn't fill as quickly as the greys. Do avoid putting grease in any of them though.
Chrisatthebeach
Explorer
May 13, 2013
I lived in mine full time for three years during a job relocation, while I did not pour grease down the drain I washed dishes the same as I did at home, no problems at all. I did on occasion clean the gray tank by filling with water, bleach and laundry detergent and let soak before dumping, just to keep things fresh.
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Paper towels is your friend. Wipe the grease off and remove as much food as possible.
yankeeslover
Explorer
May 13, 2013
actually, the more I think about it, its sooo cheap to buy paper plates,cups, utensils its probably easier to just throw plates out... and I think im gonna buy a small plastic tub and just wash any utensils or cooking grids,right under the outside shower with soap water and just find a place to dump the soapy water. im not sure if this is legal or not at campgrounds? im sure alittle soapy water dumped in the dirt isn't harming anything?
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
May 13, 2013
Gray water can smell as bad as sewer if food gets into it. We wipe off our plates and try to keep as much food as possible out of the gray tank. Plus grease can build up in the traps and pipes.
Kittykath
Explorer II
May 13, 2013
I would agree. Start a good habit of wiping everything off before washing dishes. Bacon grease can be frozen and thrown out. An extra roll of paper towels is a lot cheaper than potential plumbing fix.
crimmps49
Explorer
May 13, 2013
I would not put grease down the drain. Wipe it out and throw in garbage. As for food juices left on plates, I do rinse it off if there is only a little but make sure the drain catch is in. If it is not just a slight film of sauce, I wipe it off and throw in garbage. I try to prevent anything extra going in that tank! Have fun.

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washing dishes-is grease and food safe down sink drain?

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