Black tank cleaning

[boatbuilder]

I've been looking at the wands with spinning water jets that you insert down through the toilet to clean out the black tank. Does anyone have any experience with these? If so, do they do the job? They are inexpensive but appear as though they would do the job.

[Camping Couple]

Yes they work. We have the one that has the flexible end on it. It has a clear hose with a spring inside it. It cleans our tank well because the flexibility. It will bend enough to go to other areas of the tank and flush it. Maybe other members might have other ideas or opinions?

[norty1]

I have one and use it from time to time. Next time I put something in the black tank, the indicator just shows full again. I don't even worry about it anymore.

We know that the black tank has to be dumped at least every 5-6 days.

[Derek700]

If I know we are going to a site with sewer hook up I put about 5 gallons of water and some laundry soap in the black tank and just dump it when we get to our site.

[VicS1950]

Originally Posted by Derek700

If I know we are going to a site with sewer hook up I put about 5 gallons of water and some laundry soap in the black tank and just dump it when we get to our site.

My mode has been similar on boat holding tanks except that I use very cheap brand powered diswasher soap. It has many of the same ingredients as more expensive holding tank chemical additives (sodium carbonate being one) and doesn't foam like laundry detergent and hand dishwashing soaps. Foaming is more of an issue on boats. I don't buy any expensive tank specific products. I find that dishwasher powder works against odors very well.

I'm going to add the bag of ice procedure I've read about here. The ice should safely rub some of the residue clear. It seems to be a good idea.

As an aside, if you ever have someone put hand dish soap in a dishwasher you will find that it foams and suds all over to make a real mess. To try and clean or dilute it out using more water is not very effective. Knowing the anti-foam properties of dishwasher soap I learned to just add some more proper powdered dishwasher soap to the foaming mess. It is counter-intuitive to add more soap product to that situation, but it works to knock the foaming right down in the next cycle.

I learned to do that at a bed and breakfast which I maintained, but that information has also helped some friends who had someone use the wrong soap (aging parents, children, etc.). At first they resist the idea of more soap, but it works every time. FWIW. vic

[boatbuilder]

A big thank you to everyone that responded to my question. I got some really great advice. I will buy the wand and give it a try, and also use laundry soap to clean out. Thanks again.

[tlhdoc]

I have one of the sticks that you put into your tank. I works well as long as you have decent water pressure.

[Threebutchers]

Originally Posted by tlhdoc

i have one of the sticks that you put into your tank. I works well as long as you have decent water pressure.

^^^ x2 ^^^

[Power247]

+1 I have one I made from some extra PVC pipe and a few fittings I had laying around. It makes cleaning the tank much easier.

[el.jefe]

I keep a 5 gallon bucket on hand. After I dump the black tank, I leave the valve open, fill the bucket and dump it all down the toilet. The pressure of all that water coming through at once breaks up any clogs or issues. If it's really bad, 2 or 3 times with the bucket always does the trick for me.

[TheRevJosh]

Camco 40123 RV Quickie Flush with Back Flow Preventer

I installed one of these in my tank and think it works great.

[tlhdoc]

Originally Posted by TheRevJosh

Camco 40123 RV Quickie Flush with Back Flow Preventer

I installed one of these in my tank and think it works great.

I installed one in April. I only did the mod because my htt is stationary and the black tank does not get "shook up" by towing. After I dump the black tank into a tote, I use the quickie flush until the water comes out clean. Usually 3 sessions.