Fabric softner in Black water tanks

[gjob2012]

I was told by another RV'er that she use fabric softener in her black water tank. Does this work and how much softener would you put in a 45 gallon tank?

[dclark1946]

EsoxLucius wrote:

D & M wrote:
I will give you the last word.

Why? I already lost the argument when I asked you if you love to pollute or if you are ignorant. Sorry you feel I called you a name. I guess I'm just not as subtle as you were in questioning my logic.

Water softener, detergent, and bleach adding up to a quart, and/or copious amounts of added water instead of an ounce of Happy Camper and normal water use. Makes sense to me. Water may seem free, but it is still a resource that should not be unnecessarily wasted.

I appreciate your input on an alternate black water treatment product. While referring to other posters as ignorant was a term I would not have used, you do appear to be well informed. In my opinion, those who choose to block your inputs are as intolerant as they accuse you of being.

[gatorcq]

It's a tank, not a system. fabric softer keeps the water soft. Perform a once a month flushing - at least 10 to 30 minutes. Put a wand / hose down the toilet. Do this and your system will remain trouble-free.

[sowego]

WoodGlue wrote:
Sowego, what brand of dish detergent do you use?

Thanks,

WoodGlue

I use what ever brand I have onboard, mostly Blue Dawn, not antibacterial but have now switched to Great Value hand rejuvenation (pink stuff). I reckon any brand would work...I just steer clear of anything "antibacterial"...too hard on skin.

[WoodGlue]

Sowego, what brand of dish detergent do you use?

Thanks,

WoodGlue

[sowego]

We don't use the Geo method nor use bleach or any tank treatment additive.

The main factor in keeping a tank working ok and smelling the best is to use plenty of water when flushing (just enough but not way way too much) but, use all you want, it just means you have to dump more often; allowing it to fill in-between dumping then use a power tank washer. Once in a while we add about a 1/3 cup dish detergent then use the power tank washer after dumping.

It must be working. We had the tank repaired once and the guy said it was the cleanest black tank he'd ever seen!

[Old-Biscuit]

EsoxLucius wrote:

NO treatments are needed as they re just holding tanks not septic tanks.

Sure seems to be a lot of holding tank treatments on the market and homegrown methods as well. Whether or not they are any good is obviously debatable. Holding tanks are still subject to build up of waste material due to the lack of breakdown of material, and odor due to the proliferation of anaerobic bacteria. So even the short term holding of waste material can benefit from a product that breaks down and liquefies waste and eliminates odor by employing aerobic bacteria, and employs selected minerals that lubricate the tank interior and sensor to ease dumping and keep the sensor clear. Happy Camper is such a product.

Each individual system has its own peculiarities. I've read on these forums that many people have success with using nothing but generous amounts of water (like yourself). But there are a handful of posters who report that doesn't always work for them. As far as I'm concerned the GEO Method is over the top. It seems to work and likely makes people feel good because it just uses household cleaning agents. Using nothing but water likely makes people feel good because they don't have to use any additional treatment. However, one can get the same or better results using a small and inexpensive amount (two tablespoons and 70 cents) of Happy Camper treatment and much less water. So for those who don't want to throw up to a gallon of water softener, detergent and bleach costing several dollars and/or many more gallons of water at a simple problem they can choose to use much less water and very little of a cheap natural catalyst, conserving water and making what water is used work better.

There-in lies your misunderstanding.....
'Copious' (your word from an earlier post) amounts of water are not needed whether or not just dumping/flushing with water OR using the Geo Method.

Regular normal amounts of water using either method.
Funny thing is when dumping I just see brown water flowing...seems that the poop & tp have dissolved. Imagine that!

I'm happy Happy Camper works for you.....but I'll save my 70 cents and continue to use nothing.
Folks that choose to use 'any' extra ingredients are free to do so....yourself included.

[d3500ram]

... Why do you think the Clean Water Act was enacted? Why do you think every municipal wastewater treatment plant in the country has systems to remove those constituent pollutants from the wastewater going down the pipe....

Hmmm... I am not positive as I have not read it, but I would gander a guess that the CWA prolly somewhere in its many pages addresses what and how one properly can and cannot do to dispose of poo....

I wonder if dumping poo in a wastewater system is permitted?

[hershey]

The Geo Method has been around for years and years and very popular with many RVers. In my experience, it does help. I no longer subscribe to its use because I just treat my black tank like a black tank and I have not expectations of it smelling nice when I dump nor do I waste any time trying to make the level controls work. Just not necessary in the last 9 years of fulltiming.

But I don't Poo Poo (excuse my pun) the RVers who subscribe to the Geo Method of black tank maintenance. How much it helps??? who knows, but it certainly doesn't hurt anything.

BTW: We don't use anything in our tank. Just dump when needed and use plenty of water, PLENTY OF WAtER.

[dspencer]

Grillmeister wrote:

EsoxLucius wrote:
Why do it if you don't have to? Yes, detergent is a pollutant, and wonderful Calgon water softener is too. Bleach is a poison. They are intended for getting clothes clean, soft and bright in a washing machine, not maintenance of a RV black water system. Why do you think the Clean Water Act was enacted? Why do you think every municipal wastewater treatment plant in the country has systems to remove those constituent pollutants from the wastewater going down the pipe. Love to pollute do you, or are you just ignorant?

Another one tor my blocked list! :B

X4 you can't fix stupid as everyone here already knows.

[dsomonster]

IAMICHABOD wrote:

Grillmeister wrote:

EsoxLucius wrote:
Why do it if you don't have to? Yes, detergent is a pollutant, and wonderful Calgon water softener is too. Bleach is a poison. They are intended for getting clothes clean, soft and bright in a washing machine, not maintenance of a RV black water system. Why do you think the Clean Water Act was enacted? Why do you think every municipal wastewater treatment plant in the country has systems to remove those constituent pollutants from the wastewater going down the pipe. Love to pollute do you, or are you just ignorant?

Another one tor my blocked list! :B

X 2

x3

[EsoxLucius]

NO treatments are needed as they re just holding tanks not septic tanks.

Sure seems to be a lot of holding tank treatments on the market and homegrown methods as well. Whether or not they are any good is obviously debatable. Holding tanks are still subject to build up of waste material due to the lack of breakdown of material, and odor due to the proliferation of anaerobic bacteria. So even the short term holding of waste material can benefit from a product that breaks down and liquefies waste and eliminates odor by employing aerobic bacteria, and employs selected minerals that lubricate the tank interior and sensor to ease dumping and keep the sensor clear. Happy Camper is such a product.

Each individual system has its own peculiarities. I've read on these forums that many people have success with using nothing but generous amounts of water (like yourself). But there are a handful of posters who report that doesn't always work for them. As far as I'm concerned the GEO Method is over the top. It seems to work and likely makes people feel good because it just uses household cleaning agents. Using nothing but water likely makes people feel good because they don't have to use any additional treatment. However, one can get the same or better results using a small and inexpensive amount (two tablespoons and 70 cents) of Happy Camper treatment and much less water. So for those who don't want to throw up to a gallon of water softener, detergent and bleach costing several dollars and/or many more gallons of water at a simple problem they can choose to use much less water and very little of a cheap natural catalyst, conserving water and making what water is used work better.

[Old-Biscuit]

EsoxLucius wrote:

D & M wrote:
I will give you the last word.

Why? I already lost the argument when I asked you if you love to pollute or if you are ignorant. Sorry you feel I called you a name. I guess I'm just not as subtle as you were in questioning my logic.

Water softener, detergent, and bleach adding up to a quart, and/or copious amounts of added water instead of an ounce of Happy Camper and normal water use. Makes sense to me. Water may seem free, but it is still a resource that should not be unnecessarily wasted.

I don't use any more water than necessary and NO added treatments and my 'holding' tanks function as intended.
NO treatments are needed as they re just holding tanks not septic tanks.

If folks feel the need to treat their holding tanks with anything....that's their choice.
If some one asks I will give them info (Geo Method, Sanitizing etc.).
They can choose to use or not.
I don't need anything but just water.

To each their own..for whatever reason(s).

[EsoxLucius]

D & M wrote:
I will give you the last word.

Why? I already lost the argument when I asked you if you love to pollute or if you are ignorant. Sorry you feel I called you a name. I guess I'm just not as subtle as you were in questioning my logic.

Water softener, detergent, and bleach adding up to a quart, and/or copious amounts of added water instead of an ounce of Happy Camper and normal water use. Makes sense to me. Water may seem free, but it is still a resource that should not be unnecessarily wasted.

[powderman426]

2gypsies wrote:
First, the OP said 'fabric softener'. Calgon is a water softener...very different.

Second, if all of us who have no tank problems use all different methods, including us, who use ONLY water, who's to say what is really working? If those of you who use additives switch to only water, I'll bet you'd have the same results.

Water is the cheapest and easiest. 🙂 I think I'll stick with that.

It has always amazed me at the things people put in their HOLDING tanks. I know what definitely approved to go in there and it is human waste and water. No need for anything else so why throw money away? I would say your spot on.