At Gabe’s Pride, we talk about cleaning a lot! To our regular customers, that’s no surprise. We ARE RV and home cleaning experts. But just like your doctors have an expertise, so do Gray & Blank Tanks. That’s why we reached out to the team at Kleen Tank. We urge you to keep in mind that cleaning the black tank ISN’T like cleaning of the toilet, shower and sinks.

First and foremost, it’s important to understand that this is a holding tank, not a septic system. That means there’s no need to keep beneficial bacteria balanced. HOWEVER, you do need to be careful what gets flushed into your black tank. 

Harmful chemicals such as bleach can damage the seals. Once damaged with bleach these tanks can leak all kinds of foul odors. That’s inconvenient enough. If bleach has been used, when mixed with urine and other organic waste, your tank can leak chloramine gas. And that is a serious health hazard!

Believe it or not, your real goal with a black tank is not to “clean” it but to keep it from clogs and odor. It does help to have it professionally cleaned occasionally by a company such as Kleen Tank but in between there are things you can do. 

WATER, WATER, WATER. 

Water is probably the most important maintenance item. Using plenty of water keeps the waste from solidifying creating clogs. In fact, using plenty of water dilutes the waste which minimizes odors. It also helps speed the process of waste removal for solids when you dump. Remember, more water equals less odor and stuck-on waste.

How to get this stinky job done? We’re SO glad you asked!

• Always try to keep water in the bowl of the toilet. This will create a “water seal”. This prevents odors from escaping the black tank and the rubber seal from drying out.
• Fill the bowl halfway before using it. Flush and then refill the bowl halfway again. Flush that. The goal is using 1 full bowl of water for every use.
• Starting a good habit would include refill the bowl halfway for the next person. 
• For kids or RV guests who don’t understand “RV Potty etiquette” we suggest you fill the toilet bowl twice after flushing. That would mean: 1 Half-bowl to start and 2 Hal-bowls after your guest use it. A total of 1.5 bowls of water.
• Take longer showers.
• In general, keep your tanks CLOSED! 
• Fill your tanks to at least 75% full before dumping. This helps prevent any issues with the sewer or septic system from affecting your RV!
• If you are ACTIVELY doing laundry or have multiple people taking showers back-to-back, it’s ok to leave tanks open. Once laundry or showers are complete, close the tank valves.

The Key to Emptying the Tanks is… More Water!

• Keep tanks closed as much as possible. If left open the liquid will run out, leaving the solids to collect on the bottom of the tank. Keeping it closed will also reduce the occurrence of sewer flies.
• Making P-traps in the “sewer slinky” is not a sure-fire way of keeping bugs out of your tanks. Some types of cockroaches live in sewer systems and can swim underwater. As if they weren’t gross enough already.
• Wait to empty tanks until they’re three-quarters full to full.
• After the tanks are empty, use your on-board tank flush. Rinse out any leftover waste. And while it’s best to rinse your black tank thoroughly after each dumping, there are exceptions.
• If you didn’t rinse the tank after your most recent dumping, you'll want to rinse well at your next site.
• When filling your tank, stay focused and don't get distracted! It's very easy to forget what you're doing and overfill your tank! A water meter is a great tool to keep you on track. You should use a timer only if you know the flow rate of the water.
• If you have been boon-docking, you’ll probably be conserving water. If that’s the case, use twice as much water at your next full hookup. This will ensure everything you want moving, keeps moving.

EVEN MORE WATER! 

• On a regular basis, back flush water into the system. Using a reverse flush device like the Valterra Flush King or Camco Rhino Blaster makes this easy. These devices add water to the system from a different direction than the inlets or tank flush. This helps to break up any stuck-on waste. 
• Flush one tank at a time. 
• Kleen Tank recommends doing this at least monthly or after every short trip.

Using Additives

A lot of cleaning is “applied chemistry”. Questions like needing an acid cleaner or an abrasive surface are straight-forward if you know the answers. However, there are times when the answer is an opinion. At Gabe’s Pride we’re very clear on that because in our opinion, a LOT of the corporate cleaning industry is not.

Tank cleaning companies such as Kleen Tank use a Calgon base solution to coat the tank sides, so waste doesn’t stick. The theory is based on using plenty of water to keep things liquid and moving. Other companies sell additives which they claim “break down” waste. This chemical action is usually accomplished with enzymes. Some swear by these. Others believe this creates sludge, especially if enough water isn’t used.

You’ll also find Black & Gray Tank cleaning products. Some manufacturers will claim that when used periodically, these products remove sludge and odors from the tank. Instructions say to fill the tanks, add the product and allow it to sit for a period of time. Others suggest driving to agitate the tank mixture.

Should you choose to use a tank treatment it’s suggested to use the same one consistently. Frequent changes in these may create a chemical reaction. And as with every cleaning product be sure to read the instructions and use the product accordingly. 

Remember, whichever process you choose to use, water is your friend so use plenty of it! When you’re looking for other cleaning tips and tools for your RV or home, check us out at Gabe’s Pride. Our Eco-Friendly cleaning materials are made right here in the USA.