I travel 6 months in my truck camper. I like to give my holding tanks a good cleaning before leaving my TC on its jacks until next year. Previously, after dumping, I've filled them with water and added laundry detergent, bleach, and sometimes water softener. I then drive around for normal daily things a couple of days before dumping. This year I'm thinking about using Simple Green vs. the detergent. Think there is any advantage to SG?Thanks,

Friend in my opinion you make this way too complicated. All I have done for many years is use a "Flush King" in tank sprinkler after each dump. No chemicals EVER!! No need

There are two advantages to Simple Green -- it does not suds up like detergent, so it is easier to rinse out. And it is supposedly biodegradable. So if you are dumping into your own septic system, it is less toxic to the good bugs that are living in the septic field.

All I do is dump, close the valve and then fill the toilet bowl and flush 6 times. Dump again, close the valve and fill the toilet bowl and put in a packet of Thetfords waste digester, flush the toilet and store the RV till the next time. I've done this to every RV we've owned for the last 30 years. The tanks stay clean with no offensive smell.

Why do the tanks need to be cleaned at all? I can see flushing out solid debris, but cleaning WASTE holding tanks, why?

Cleaning holding tanks? | Good Sam Community

Ductape
Explorer
Nov 06, 2015
Thanks for posting though, I got a laugh reading some of the responses.
Ramblin__Ralph
Explorer
Nov 06, 2015
OK, OK I get the message. This time I'll just flush my tanks once after I dump them and then let my rig sit for 6 months. It will save me some effort, which at my age is important. Then, on my next therapist appointment, I'll ask her what childhood event might have caused me to have the "must clean holding tanks" urge. :B
weathershak
Explorer
Nov 06, 2015
I am using my tanks 11 months out of the year. Once a year I will give my tanks a good cleaning, it is usually when corn is in season.

:W
path1
Explorer
Nov 06, 2015
Why clean tanks?

My tank monitor used to always read full on gray water and 3/4 on black. I started tossing in a laundry soap pod on long travel days, and 1/4 or 1/2 full of water. Tanks readings now read correct after bouncing when traveling. Takes many repeated times though.

(:B:B:B and now have been able to get up hills faster, changed tires to lighter load range, reduced tongue weight and gained 2 mpg :B:B:B)
DavidP
Explorer
Nov 06, 2015
DavidP wrote:
paulcardoza wrote:
I follow the same process exactly. It allows me to use the tanks for food storage in between trips.

DavidP wrote:
I usually like to open the toilet valve and reach in as far as I can and give the tank a good scrub with a toilet brush, warm water and liquid detergent. I then fill and drain, repeat, repeat, repeat and then give them one final scrub. I then fill with nice hot steamy water and fabric softener and then drive 100 miles and drain. I do this after every trip. Same process on the grey tank minus the brush. When I’m done they look like new tanks and smell wonderful. My friends and family can’t believe how great my tanks look.

Good Idea
DavidP
Explorer
Nov 06, 2015
paulcardoza wrote:
I follow the same process exactly. It allows me to use the tanks for food storage in between trips.

DavidP wrote:
I usually like to open the toilet valve and reach in as far as I can and give the tank a good scrub with a toilet brush, warm water and liquid detergent. I then fill and drain, repeat, repeat, repeat and then give them one final scrub. I then fill with nice hot steamy water and fabric softener and then drive 100 miles and drain. I do this after every trip. Same process on the grey tank minus the brush. When I’m done they look like new tanks and smell wonderful. My friends and family can’t believe how great my tanks look.

LOL
paulcardoza
Explorer
Nov 06, 2015
I follow the same process exactly. It allows me to use the tanks for food storage in between trips.

DavidP wrote:
I usually like to open the toilet valve and reach in as far as I can and give the tank a good scrub with a toilet brush, warm water and liquid detergent. I then fill and drain, repeat, repeat, repeat and then give them one final scrub. I then fill with nice hot steamy water and fabric softener and then drive 100 miles and drain. I do this after every trip. Same process on the grey tank minus the brush. When I’m done they look like new tanks and smell wonderful. My friends and family can’t believe how great my tanks look.
NinerBikes
Explorer
Nov 06, 2015
DavidP wrote:
I usually like to open the toilet valve and reach in as far as I can and give the tank a good scrub with a toilet brush, warm water and liquid detergent. I then fill and drain, repeat, repeat, repeat and then give them one final scrub. I then fill with nice hot steamy water and fabric softener and then drive 100 miles and drain. I do this after every trip. Same process on the grey tank minus the brush. When I’m done they look like new tanks and smell wonderful. My friends and family can’t believe how great my tanks look.

DavidP, I'd like to congratulate you and shake your hand, right after such a thorough cleaning. You go gloveless, don't you, or just the white glove test after you are finished?

;) :B At least use some emoticons when trolling such filth out of your tanks.

Depending on where you camp, and how you camp, if doing the dirty deed good old #2 can be accomplished anywhere else but in your tank, it makes the clean up process less of a concern, as you'll have no solid mess to possibly deal with.
otrfun
Explorer II
Nov 06, 2015
There's a saying in the programming world, "%*^*x in, %*^*x out".

For those who are careful about what goes into their holding tanks, cleaning requirements can be minimal to non-existent. For those who are not, cleaning requirements go up accordingly.

BTDT :)
DavidP
Explorer
Nov 06, 2015
I usually like to open the toilet valve and reach in as far as I can and give the tank a good scrub with a toilet brush, warm water and liquid detergent. I then fill and drain, repeat, repeat, repeat and then give them one final scrub. I then fill with nice hot steamy water and fabric softener and then drive 100 miles and drain. I do this after every trip. Same process on the grey tank minus the brush. When I’m done they look like new tanks and smell wonderful. My friends and family can’t believe how great my tanks look.

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