Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-25-2013, 08:47 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 10
Unhappy Chemical smells making me sick

We bought our used camper last week and we are preparing for our first trip soon. I admit that I'm a city girl but I've been very excited about trying this camper thing here's my problem; smells bother me and when I was cleaning the toilet today it smelled like chemicals and I started gagging! Is there something I can use in the RV to mask the chemical smell? I don't even know if it is chemicals but there is a smell. I'm beginning to question this whole thing! Sorry this is so weird!
mcfadden5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2013, 08:52 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millington
Posts: 173
I'm new to this as well, but someone will come along and give you some tips.
__________________
2014 Ford F-250 Lariat Crew Cab 4X4, 6.2L gasser, 3.73
2013 Jayco White Hawk 28DSBH

2012 Ford F-150 Lariat Supercrew 4X4, 3.5L Ecoboost, 3.73 (traded)
2005 Jayco 1207 (second PUP)
1976 Coleman Brandywine (first PUP)
katgar05 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2013, 09:06 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Denise's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mostly the US
Posts: 10,002
Sorry to hear.... Used Rv's usually burn off those 'chemical' smells after being used a few times. How old is your 'new' rv? Can you tell us more about your new "used camper" to help the members here know how to help you further? Thanks.
__________________
Denise, DH, grandkids, and two rescue pups
-2016 Jay Flight 29QBS Elite
-2016 Ford F-250 XLT 4x2, 6.2L EFI V8, 4.30 Elec Lock, Heavy duty Alt
Denise is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2013, 09:10 PM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 10
It's a 2004 Feather. It was joy used hardly at all and is immaculate, but the bathroom just sells so chemically.
mcfadden5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2013, 10:14 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Tail_gunner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: da U.P.
Posts: 352
Try flushing the black tank out real good. I've heard that a good cleaning trick is to fill the black tank about halfway with water and dump a couple of large bags of ice cubes down the toilet. Then go tow it around for a while. The sloshing action of the water as well as the sloshing of the ice cubes with soften and knock loose a lot of residual matter clinging to the tank walls. Then go to a dump station and drain the tank.

BTW, when you flush the toilet, are you allowing about an inch of water to cover the sliding valve after flush completion? That water acts as a vapor barrier and helps keep the smells in the tank and not in the rest of the camper.

On edit: also there are toilet chemicals that have sort of a pine scent to them, somewhat less offensive than other chemicals. I used to sell the stuff when I used to work for a RV dealer part dept. Can't recall the name though.
__________________
Kent
FAA licensed A&P aircraft mechanic, ex-RV dealer parts dept
Retired B-52 Gunner/Flight Examiner, B-52 Crew Chief

2016 Jayco Eagle HT 29.5 FBDS w/ 15,000 BTU AC, 50 amp service, upgraded counter top, thermal pane windows, elec. stab jacks, outside grill, backup camera and MORryde pin box.
2011 GMC 2500HD DURAMAX/ ALLISON
Tail_gunner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2013, 11:55 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Twin Falls
Posts: 930
Honestly... forget about using the chemicals, you don't need them, I use calgon in the black tank, about 2 cups everytime after I dump the black tanks, it helps to make the walls of the tank slick, dumps easier. Chemicals are meant to help break down the solids in your tank, water does the same thing, some people use a cup of tide detergent in both the black tanks and the gray tanks, just to improve the possible smells.

The key to keeping your black tank from stinking is when you dump, make sure you have a way to flush/rinse the tank. There are several methods, one is a tornado flush system installed inside the tank, one is a turbo wand, another as mentioned is dump your ice chests into the toilet to help knock junk off the walls of the tank. You can also buy a clear elbow for dumping that has a water attachment to it, it sprays water back into you black tank, you do this till it runs out clear water (visible via the clear elbow).

There are plenty of methods to try, don't give up yet, what ever you do, don't give up on RV's yet, there is way too much fun to be had.
__________________

2011 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins
2012 Starcraft Autumn Ridge 297 BHS
Flyrotor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 04:56 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Lsuduke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 196
I too am a bit of a newbie , when we got our new trailer last year we got some chems that are natural and smell like oranges. I'd flush the black tank as suggested with water then add a better smelling chem and flush again, the ice cube trick would probably help knock the junk off the wall. Then fill the toilet with the 1-2 inches of water and leave it, with repeated use the smell will dissipate and you should be able to tolerate it easier. If you still can't stomach the smells, try something to absorb the smell or remove it, like something to remove the skunk smell from a sprayed animal, just a crazy thought I had. Good luck and congrats on your new to you Jayco.
__________________
2010 Saturn Outlook
2013 Jayco 228BH
Husband and father of 2
Dogfather to Yoshi our rescue German Shepherd
and Alley our husky mix rescue
Lsuduke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 06:08 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
tinlizzie23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Luray, VA (central Shenandoah Valley of VA)
Posts: 1,430
X2 on the above, especially the ice cube trick and some kind of tank flusher/rinser.

Instead of the commercial chemicals available, I use a homemade solution that really seems to work. In a gallon plastic jug, I mix 8 oz liquid water softener, 8 oz ammonia, 8oz Pine Sol, and 1 cup baking soda. All these are available at grocery stores. To this mixture I add water to fill the rest of the gallon. Then pour about a cup of the final mixture down each drain (kitchen, lavatory, etc), and the rest down the toilet. Has worked for me for a long time - no bad smells ever.

One other thing - when you dump your black tank, be sure that it is at least 2/3 full. If less, the solids tend to stay in the tank.

Hope this helps. Try some of these remedies mentioned by other campers, and if those doesn't do the trick, let us know, and we will try to get your problem resolved another way. But Please, please don't give up on your camper - Flyrotor really nailed it when he says there is way too much fun to miss out on.
__________________
2003 Ford F-350 V-10 Crew Cab 4WD Long Bed
2004 Jayco Designer Medallion 29 RLTS 5th wheel
Bill, Gayle, Teddy (Jack Russell terrier), and Honey (Beagle)
Retired at last !

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
tinlizzie23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 06:44 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
mcfarmall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kalamazoo, West Michigan
Posts: 1,817
What they said ^^^^^

The thing that makes me gag is a nice ripe vault toilet on a steamy Michigan summer day.
__________________
2006 23B Hybrid with 10k round bar WDH
2011 F150 4x4 SCREW Ecoboost, Max Tow, Integrated TBC, 3.73 LS axle, Firestone Ride Rite airbags.
mcfarmall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 08:05 AM   #10
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 10
Thanks everyone!!!
mcfadden5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 08:25 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Boston
Posts: 664
If smells bother you, whatever you do... don't use the common blue deodorizers http://www.amazon.com/Thetford-09852...tank+chemicals

I use a mixture I make (calgon water softener, tide, lemon pin-sol) (sry no amounts, just maybe 1/4-1/2 cup each). But I also carry and use when I'm in a rush http://www.amazon.com/Camco-41191-Ul...I1YABDNKE991D7 and that smells nice like oranges. Also if your ceiling fan in the bathroom is on when you flush, it will pull any smells up right past you while your flushing.
__________________

2013 White Hawk 28 DSBH
2011 Jay Feather X23J (traded-in)
2011 Ford F-150 XLT w/towing package
RoadMaster Active Suspension
Reese Trunnion Bar WDH w/Dual Cam sway control
jdorant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 09:34 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
troutslayer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NW AR (God's Country)
Posts: 2,051
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcfarmall View Post
What they said ^^^^^

The thing that makes me gag is a nice ripe vault toilet on a steamy Michigan summer day.
Man...you could have gone all day without saying that!
__________________
Skip

2012 Eagle Super Lite HT 26.5RKS
2005 GMC 2500 SLT HD D/A
troutslayer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 09:56 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 102
Quote:
Originally Posted by troutslayer View Post
Man...you could have gone all day without saying that!
Dude really ?!?!? I am a nurse & that made my nose twitch.
__________________
Diane & Jeffrey Wilson
Dennis (the Jackshyt ) part Jack Russell part Shytzu
Ricky aka The rotund one
Sherman ( the Pomeranian ) he runs the show!!!
2006 Jayco Eagle 322 FKS
2011 Toyota Tundra Crewmax. aka The RED Tundra !!!!
oejeffrey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 09:59 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
mcfarmall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kalamazoo, West Michigan
Posts: 1,817
Did you see the embedded mental picture as well??
__________________
2006 23B Hybrid with 10k round bar WDH
2011 F150 4x4 SCREW Ecoboost, Max Tow, Integrated TBC, 3.73 LS axle, Firestone Ride Rite airbags.
mcfarmall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 10:38 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Locky66's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 631
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcfarmall View Post
What they said ^^^^^

The thing that makes me gag is a nice ripe vault toilet on a steamy Michigan summer day.
Unfortunately it doesn't look like we are ever going to get one of those steamy days.
Locky66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 06:05 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Posts: 1,261
Quote:
Originally Posted by Locky66 View Post
Unfortunately it doesn't look like we are ever going to get one of those steamy days.
I guess in this case...good.
exjay1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2013, 07:49 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Power247's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Benson, NC
Posts: 170
We are new to the TT world as well. Great tips everyone!! Thanks for posting!!
__________________
2012 Jayco Jay Flight 267BHS - Equal-i-zer WDH
2012 Dodge Ram 2500 Crew Cab 4x4 CTD
Me (Greg), DW & DDx2
Power247 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:19 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.