How To Be More Environmentally Responsible When Cleaning An RV

Mike Zanche • January 4, 2022

We only have one Earth, and to keep it safe, we all have to be as environmentally responsible as possible.

We only have one Earth, and to keep it safe, we all have to be as environmentally responsible as possible.

But how can you be environmentally responsible when it comes to cleaning your RV? How can you be sure you're using a product that isn't spreading harmful toxins or wasting plastic?

It's hard to know how to be environmentally responsible, especially when cleaning. You have to know how much product to use, so you're not being wasteful, and you have to know whether the product is doing the job in the most efficient way possible.

Some cleaning products are safer than others, but they all look similar. How do you figure out which ones are the right ones for cleaning your RV?

Today we're going to show you what environmentally responsible means and how you can start being more environmentally responsible when it comes to your cleaning.

What Is An Eco-Responsible Cleaner?

Not all cleaners perform the same, and when we say eco-responsible, we're talking about a cleaner that:

Only takes a little bit of product to do the job
Reduces the amount of labor you have to put in to clean
Is significantly reduced or free of toxins and other harsh chemicals

There's a lot more to a cleaning product than its ingredients. Most cleaning products are tested for toxicity, but the vast majority of certification agencies don't test for efficacy or performance.

If you don't test for efficiency or performance, you won't know how much of your product is wasted. The more product you have to use on one cleaning job, the less environmentally responsible the cleaner is.

People always look for these terms when they think of an environmentally friendly product:

Eco-friendly
Green
Environmentally friendly
Sustainable
Natural
Nontoxic

These do describe positive things to do with helping the environment, but they're not legal definitions. So really, it's hard to understand exactly what they mean.

Did you know that many companies with eco-friendly cleaners or 'certified' products are reviewed by government agencies, non-profit environmental advocacy organizations, or private sector entities? They ‘certify’ products like all-purpose cleaners, dish soap, and laundry detergents.

These companies pay to be examined and certified to get these labels placed on their products so they can prove they're ‘green.’

So, even though the product you're buying in your local store says it's a ‘green’ product, if you need to use more to get it to work, then it isn't that eco-friendly, is it?

Using more chemicals equals creating more waste!

The team at Gabe's Pride always considers contributing to a more sustainable future. We're constantly asking ourselves, "How can we improve our environmental impact?"

We're constantly working to increase our knowledge and awareness about the environment by sourcing better ingredients and focusing on researching, testing, and optimizing our cleaning products for safety, efficacy, and performance.

Why Overusing Cleaning Products Is Bad For

The Environment

The global pandemic has given rise to the overuse of disinfectants and cleaning products. This ongoing usage of excess chemicals causes more chemicals to be released into the ecosystem. This affects the air and water!

Not only is the outside world being affected by this increased usage in disinfectants and cleaning products, but your family and your pets are also being exposed to chemicals a lot more frequently. This can cause headaches and increase chemical sensitivities leading to physical reactions like sneezing or even itchy eyes.

Some RV owners might even be creating homemade mixtures. This is known as cross blending and can be unsafe or even lethal in some cases. For example, mixing bleach with vinegar or another acidic substance can potentially be deadly to those who breathe it in.

Buying cheaper products in large quantities is also a common occurrence these days. These cheap cleaning products often contain chemicals that cause skin reactions and irritation.

Remember! Disinfecting and cleaning is not the same - disinfecting cannot and never will replace simple soap and water! For disinfectants to be truly effective, pre-cleaning is necessary.

What about wipes?

So many people are using disposable wipes throughout the day to clean small things.

These pose a significant problem for sewer systems and the environment. Many disposable cleaning wipes are marketed as 'flushable'. But many of them aren't biodegradable and end up clumping together in the sewer system.

Proper cleaning is vital during these difficult times, but it's essential to do it correctly.

Sanitizers and disinfectants aren't practical when applied to a dirty surface. So, before you start using them, learn how to clean correctly by looking at our guide on sanitizing and disinfecting surfaces.

A Little Goes A Long Way - Use Less Product, Get The Same Results

Did you know that all of the products at Gabe's Pride are biodegradable? Plus, all of our packaging and containers are recyclable!

We always try to develop our products using renewable and natural ingredients. Our products are safe to use in your RV!

We developed our fragrance profiles to be lighter, CA Prop65 compliant, and include natural ingredients. This delivers a pleasant scent with minimal impact on the senses.

In our view, being a good steward of the environment means being responsible and finding a good balancing point. It means understanding that having an environmentally friendly cleaner includes:

Your raw materials
The packaging
How much you use
How well it performs
How much is put down the drain

As the cleaning experts, it's our duty always to strive to make our products better!

At Gabe's Pride, we truly believe in creating a more environmentally conscious world. We develop our products including bio-derived and sustainable ingredients and we ensure that when we bring out a product, it will always get the job done.

If you want to reduce your footprint, consider checking out our concentrated refills. They pair up with our reusable ready-to-use (RTU) spray bottles that help you reduce the amount of packaging waste you're using when buying cleaning products.

Start contributing to a greener world by helping us reduce the number of empty plastic containers in landfills by checking out our eco-friendly products today.

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Poop Is NOT your biggest problem

August 15, 2025

At Gabe’s Pride , we really enjoy our peeps in the RV community! Because we appreciate independence and time on the road, our conversations about cleaning needs cover a lot of ground. We’re thankful for our regular customers! And we appreciate the questions and specific cleaning challenges you bring us at Gabe’s Pride. While we ARE RV and home cleaning experts, gray tanks require a particular knack. That’s why we reached out to the team at Kleen Tank . We urge you to keep in mind that cleaning your gray tank demands time, care and most of all, safety. Why Does the Gray Tank Stink? Believe it or not, gray tanks can have worse odors and be more of a health risk than black tanks – especially galley grays. While black tanks are collecting urine, feces, water, cleaning materials and whatever didn’t “agree with you” last night, gray tanks get everything else. Laundry, Dishes & Heat. Oh My! Germs, bacteria and mold. All three are living things and all three require something from their environment to thrive. Those are: Food Water Heat Shelter Unfortunately, we can find all of those in your RV’s gray tank. Food particles and a warm, moist environment inside your gray tank make this a perfect breeding ground for germs, bacteria and mold. Most people don’t think about Mold As we discussed in a previous blog, when cleaning your black , the most important ingredient is water! Mold can be trouble enough on its own. However, when mold gets dried out, it can become airborne. Once inhaled, mold can wreak all manner of havoc on your health . Headaches, congestion, cough, and many other symptoms are associated with exposure to mold spores. So what do you do? Because gray tanks generally don’t come with an on-board sprayer, using a reverse flush device is the best way for an RV owner to get extra water into that tank to help flush out food particulates. You may also consider using a water meter to prevent tank overflow. It's important to test the water meter before each use to make sure it's working correctly. To use or not to use an additive. Tank cleaning companies such as Kleen Tank do recommend using additives for cleaning your gray tank. Traditionally they use a Calgon base solution. This is used to coat the sides and prevent waste from sticking. The Kleen Tank team says “use plenty of water” to keep things liquid and moving both before and during the cleaning process. Should you choose to use a tank treatment product, consistency is important. Product formulations may be similar but are not identical. For this reason, frequently changing these may create a chemical reaction. Be careful and always read the instructions and use the product accordingly. When you’re looking for cleaning tips and tools for your RV or home, check us out our products and blogs . Since we’re part of the RV community ourselves, you may see us during this season’s rallies. Our Eco-Friendly cleaning materials are made right here in the USA. And we’re always happy to answer your home and RV cleaning questions. If you have a question that can’t wait, contact us here !