Hi all again, I want t9 clean out my grey water tank completely as I am told it can hold waste products like food scraps etc from washing up..( although we do scrape the plates before we wash up..) is there a good method in ensuring all waste product is cleaned out... I have fill the tank with clean water, and then dumped all at once...
Dougwe said
06:21 AM May 6, 2021
Morning Branchie,
I am not sure what size your Grey Water tank is but mine is 95lt and once a month I close valve and put a litre of white cleaning vinegar down the sink or shower or basin. I then make sure most water going in is just soapy or reasonably clean. Let sit for a day or drive for the day, whatever.
I then SAFELY open valve and let out. Has worked for me for nearly 7 years in the aluminium teepee now. I first used bleach but discovered how good vinegar is for cleaning. I also tried that no name nappy treatment but noticed it left a white scale around the inside of a bucket one day so stopped putting down the grey water tank.
As far as washing dishes etc, I put a basin in sink and wash etc in that then empty on a garden or wherever grey water goes. That way no greasy water or bits and bobs end up in grey water tank.
As a side note: I use Milton baby bottle cleaner to clean my fresh water tanks and see no reason why that wouldn't work in the grey water tank either. I am going to try it one day myself.
As a second side note: Just be careful of the seagulls after using vinegar
Branchie said
08:21 AM May 6, 2021
Many thanks Dou, I will definitely try the vinegar trick.... Safe travels...
Wanda said
09:17 AM May 6, 2021
Don't really see the need, maybe once in a blue moon fill it (only half or less)with some clean soapy water and drive around a bit before draining, maybe add some bleach/water sometime, again drive around before draining or let it soak a couple of days.
All of this can be done on your next trip, maybe when you first leave home, stopping at a dump point on route and draining. Most dumpoints have a water tap you could fill with clean water and then drain that night!
Ian
oldbloke said
04:07 PM May 6, 2021
I would use strong soapy water, or some draino. Will be full of fatty crap.
-- Edited by oldbloke on Thursday 6th of May 2021 04:08:07 PM
Aus-Kiwi said
07:44 PM May 6, 2021
I use degreaser and half a bucket of large ice cubes . Drive around the block a few times . Then drain . Ice works like sand blasting ! Breaking anything stuck to sides, sensors etc .
Blues Man said
08:13 AM May 13, 2021
I too am a big fan of white vigenar. Works very well.
DonVicki said
03:11 PM May 16, 2021
same as I put in toilet cassette
nappysan
when i have some water in grey tank ,I just put nappysan down all drains with water and leave in there for a while when on the road , then drain
it keeps the drains and tank clean
too easy
Don
oldbloke said
09:29 PM May 16, 2021
DonVicki wrote:
same as I put in toilet cassette
nappysan
when i have some water in grey tank ,I just put nappysan down all drains with water and leave in there for a while when on the road , then drain
it keeps the drains and tank clean
too easy
Don
I used to stop smell coming up the plug in the bathroom once. Worked great. So makes sense.
Aus-Kiwi said
05:33 PM May 17, 2021
But is it CLEAN ?
watsea said
11:42 PM May 17, 2021
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
But is it CLEAN ?
So what if it's not? It's not a "Clean Water" tank.
Also, how do you get ice cubes into your tank to clean it or were you have a lend of us? Does the ice damage the sensors?
I'm with Wanda, why such a need for a clean tank?
-- Edited by watsea on Monday 17th of May 2021 11:44:35 PM
DonVicki said
04:50 PM May 18, 2021
the tank and pipes rarely have any smell, if they do then it treatment time , so thats close enough for me
lets keep it simple
Aus-Kiwi said
06:39 PM May 18, 2021
But the subject IS asked about CLEANING the tank !! Whats point being a keyboard Warrior if you DONT know !!
oldbloke said
01:20 PM May 19, 2021
Back to subject.
I'm all for strong degreaser type detergent or soap.
It will have body fat and food type fat/scraps. So you need a strong cleaner. And go for a drive before draining.
The Tullochs said
10:05 AM May 23, 2021
Hello from Mandurah in Western Australia
We are prepping for our first trip, and this was on my 'to do' list - find out how to clean the various tanks.
I am also after some advice as far as excuses for not helping to clean the black tank out. All advice welcome!
Anyhoo, I found some great information on this site: https://www.etrailer.com/faq-clean-rv-gray-tank-in-5-easy-steps.aspx
Here's what the site recommends for cleaning the tank:
Check out some popular household RV cleaning agents, below:
Most Recommended
GEO method: 1/2 cup water softener (liquid or powder - Calgon is most common) + 1/2 cup laundry detergent or Dawn dish soap
Other Top Choices
1/2 to 1 cup Dawn dishwashing liquid (blue Dawn is particularly popular)
1 cup Calgon or other water softener
1 cup baking soda
1 cup dishwasher detergent gel
1 cup laundry detergent
Alternate Cleaners
Steradent denture cleaner
Napisan stain remover
Water: Some RVers choose to forgo cleaners and chemicals in favor of a water-only method. If you choose not to clean your tank with soaps, cleansers, or detergents, be sure to still rinse the tank thoroughly using one of the methods discussed below in the section "How Do I Rinse My RV Gray Water Tank?"
Not Recommended
Bleach
If you ask a group of RVers how they clean their gray water tanks, at least a few will probably claim that bleach does the trick. However, keep in mind that bleach can damage your RV's seals and gaskets and kill off useful bacteria needed to help break down waste. In fact, many RV owner's manuals warn against using bleach in toilets and drains. For these reasons, bleach is not recommended for use in your gray water tankparticularly not when there are so many safe, simple, economical alternatives.
Possum3 said
10:08 AM May 23, 2021
Welcome to GN's Marian - Hope you enjoy the entire forum, lot's of interesting nooks and crannies to explore.
The Tullochs said
10:12 AM May 23, 2021
My sincere thanks indeed for such a sweet welcome. I am the researcher in the family - so shall ensure I search the topics here in order to prepare for the trip, based on 'real' Nomad advice!
Onedodger said
01:47 PM May 25, 2021
I use dishwasher cleaner.
Just pour it down the after closing the grey water release valve, do the normal things one does overnight. IE washing up n showers leave closed during the next days travels then empty the tank in the normal way. The sloshing around in the tank when on the move agitates the dishwasher cleaner then its all good after one empties the tank.
Hi all again, I want t9 clean out my grey water tank completely as I am told it can hold waste products like food scraps etc from washing up..( although we do scrape the plates before we wash up..) is there a good method in ensuring all waste product is cleaned out... I have fill the tank with clean water, and then dumped all at once...
Morning Branchie,
I am not sure what size your Grey Water tank is but mine is 95lt and once a month I close valve and put a litre of white cleaning vinegar down the sink or shower or basin. I then make sure most water going in is just soapy or reasonably clean. Let sit for a day or drive for the day, whatever.
I then SAFELY open valve and let out. Has worked for me for nearly 7 years in the aluminium teepee now. I first used bleach but discovered how good vinegar is for cleaning. I also tried that no name nappy treatment but noticed it left a white scale around the inside of a bucket one day so stopped putting down the grey water tank.
As far as washing dishes etc, I put a basin in sink and wash etc in that then empty on a garden or wherever grey water goes. That way no greasy water or bits and bobs end up in grey water tank.
As a side note: I use Milton baby bottle cleaner to clean my fresh water tanks and see no reason why that wouldn't work in the grey water tank either. I am going to try it one day myself.
As a second side note: Just be careful of the seagulls after using vinegar
Many thanks Dou, I will definitely try the vinegar trick.... Safe travels...
All of this can be done on your next trip, maybe when you first leave home, stopping at a dump point on route and draining. Most dumpoints have a water tap you could fill with clean water and then drain that night!
Ian
I would use strong soapy water, or some draino. Will be full of fatty crap.
-- Edited by oldbloke on Thursday 6th of May 2021 04:08:07 PM
I too am a big fan of white vigenar. Works very well.
same as I put in toilet cassette
nappysan
when i have some water in grey tank ,I just put nappysan down all drains with water and leave in there for a while when on the road , then drain
it keeps the drains and tank clean
too
easy
Don
I used to stop smell coming up the plug in the bathroom once. Worked great. So makes sense.
So what if it's not? It's not a "Clean Water" tank.
Also, how do you get ice cubes into your tank to clean it or were you have a lend of us? Does the ice damage the sensors?
I'm with Wanda, why such a need for a clean tank?
-- Edited by watsea on Monday 17th of May 2021 11:44:35 PM
lets keep it simple
I'm all for strong degreaser type detergent or soap.
It will have body fat and food type fat/scraps. So you need a strong cleaner. And go for a drive before draining.
Hello from Mandurah in Western Australia
We are prepping for our first trip, and this was on my 'to do' list - find out how to clean the various tanks.
I am also after some advice as far as excuses for not helping to clean the black tank out. All advice welcome!
Anyhoo, I found some great information on this site: https://www.etrailer.com/faq-clean-rv-gray-tank-in-5-easy-steps.aspx
Here's what the site recommends for cleaning the tank:
Check out some popular household RV cleaning agents, below:
My sincere thanks indeed for such a sweet welcome. I am the researcher in the family - so shall ensure I search the topics here in order to prepare for the trip, based on 'real' Nomad advice!
I use dishwasher cleaner.
Just pour it down the after closing the grey water release valve, do the normal things one does overnight. IE washing up n showers leave closed during the next days travels then empty the tank in the normal way. The sloshing around in the tank when on the move agitates the dishwasher cleaner then its all good after one empties the tank.