Cleanse Grey Water Tank.

xina · Guru

Cleanse Grey Water Tank.

JRH · Guru

xina wrote:

Hi Guys,
My sister has a Motorhome, and wants to know how to cleanse and refresh a grey water tank. Any advice will be appreciated.
Cheers,
xina.

G'day Gail,

Whilst I have never had to clean a grey water tank I would imagine it would not be much different to cleaning any water tank and to that end you could use a solution of water and bleach, Flush the tank with clean water fill tank with the solution and let it stand for a day maybe take a drive to agitate the water in the tank, then drain, refil with clean water several times until the water being discharged is clean, flush with a hose and hopefully all will be well. You can also purchase a product called Tank Clean from caravan accessory shops.

Hope this is of some help.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.
John

Basil Faulty · Guru

Rather than use bleach I use washing soda. In domestic use, it is used as a water softener during laundry. It competes with the ions magnesium and calcium in hard water and prevents them from bonding with the detergent being used. Without using washing soda, additional detergent is needed to soak up the magnesium and calcium ions. Called Washing Soda or Sal Soda in the detergent section of stores, it effectively removes oil, grease, and alcohol stains. Sodium carbonate is also used as a descaling agent in boilers such as found in coffee pots, espresso machines, etc

Dissove about a cup full per 20 liters of the holding tank in warm water and introduce into the tank' fill the tank or let the grey water fill it and then the sloshing around will effectively clean the inside of the tank and can be dumped safely.
Wasing soda has many uses here are a few of them including one of my favourites; cleaning silver.....Other applications

Sodium carbonate is a food additive (E500) used as an acidity regulator, anticaking agent, raising agent and stabilizer. It is one of the components of kansui, a solution of alkaline salts used to give ramen noodles their characteristic flavor and texture. Sodium carbonate is also used in the production of sherbet lollies. The cooling and fizzing sensation results from the endothermic reaction between sodium carbonate and a weak acid, commonly citric acid, releasing carbon dioxide gas, which occurs when the sherbet is moistened by saliva.

Sodium carbonate is used by the brick industry as a wetting agent to reduce the amount of water needed to extrude the clay. In casting, it is referred to as "bonding agent" and is used to allow wet alginate to adhere to gelled alginate.Sodium carbonate is used to encapsulate and kill mold. When mixed with water and put in a spray bottle, it is sold for its anti-mold cleaning ability. It is also used to blast off mold from wood or other materials. Sodium carbonate is used in toothpastes, where it acts as a foaming agent, an abrasive, and to temporarily increase mouth pH.

The crystalline form of washing soda can be used to induce vomiting in dogs. A tablespoon for large breeds is sufficient to force the animal to empty the contents of its stomach.

Sodium carbonate may be used for safely cleaning silver. First, aluminium foil is added to a glass or ceramic container, and covered with very hot water and some sodium carbonate. Silver items are dipped into this "bath" to clean them, making sure the silver makes contact with the aluminium foil. Finally, the silver is rinsed in water and let to dry.

-- Edited by Basil Faulty at 16:27, 2009-01-11

xina · Guru

xina wrote:

Hi Guys,
My sister has a Motorhome, and wants to know how to cleanse and refresh a grey water tank. Any advice will be appreciated.
Cheers,
xina.

xina · Guru

Sorry Guys,
I wanted to edit the original post, and thought the change would be made on it only. Apparently this is impossible to do.
Cheers,
xina.

Cruising Granny · Guru

I use bicarbonate soda and vinegar to clean out my drains. It removes most sludge and refreshes the odour. put the dry bicarb in first, and then add the vinegar. Let it foam up and do it's job for about 15 mins, and then flush it out with fresh water and allow to drain out completely.
If it's only a grey water tank it shouldn't be too offensive. If you have a washing machine in the van use a moderate amount of laundry liquid instead of powder. Earth Choice is my detergent of choice. Similar for the shower. Use bath wash/gel instead of soap. Less soap scum to collect.
This life on the road is "stressful" enough. Don't make work for yourself unless you have a serious, sludgy, smelly problem.
Kick back, and just enjoy where you are. Pour yourself a cool bevvy, put the feet up and enjoy the view.
Cheers Granny

xina · Guru

Thanks every-body,
Cheers,
xina.

-- Edited by xina at 23:33, 2009-01-13

lencerpetro · Member

Instead of soda I can use bleach. In the household is used as a water softener in the wash. Sodium carbonate is used by the brick industry as a wetting agent to reduce the amount of water needed to remove the mud. You can also buy a product called shops.Stop tank cleaning caravan accessories and pick up 2 pounds of baking soda.