black tank cleaning made easy

[John in Santa Cruz]

I just picked up this toy,
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FD4SVR4/

its a plastic thing that fits around the stem of a black tank cleaner, like either of these...
https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-A01-.../dp/B000BGHYDO
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZPJTKMH

drain your black tank as normal, leave the black tank drain open, shut off the water to your toilet, fully open the toilet flusher flap and insert the red plug as far as it goes in the toilet, then turn on the water to the flusher wand and go to town on your black tank, moving the wand up and down and rotating it back and forth. The red plastic cone thing not only keeps your flush valve open, it keeps the tank wand from splattering.

I also just got that 2nd wand with the brass spinner on the end, and wow, that works *great* with this thing, washes out the whole inside of the blank tank in minutes.

[Lanark Camper]

Thanks John, good tip. It’s on my list for the next Amazon order.
Bob

[Rockhead]

If you have a power washer buy a curved wand and use it to clean out your black tank after trips. Been doing this way for years with no issues. Once clean I add about 3 gallons with about a cap of bleach. No smells n tank is ready for next trip

[Ian G]

I use one of the "toys" you link to every time i dump my black tank https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZPJTKMH?th=1 . Just dump tank, then I close the black valve, use the wand to thoroughly clean the tank and about 1/2 fill the tank, then dump again. The initial second dump is "black" but runs clean soon after.

[hondasaurus]

I find most discussion about black tank funny and some more informative as long that all the cleaning with specialized tool is done at your home or at least, before leaving your campsite for the dumping station. I'm not very patient guy in life and specially at the dumping station my patient run thin. Some people should practice the dumping ritual to get a faster time than 5-7 minutes...

Personnally I do care about the health of my black tank but not to the point of having it pristine clean.

[TTMartin]

It's a tank for holding sewage, it doesn't need to be 'cleaned'. SMH

[John in Santa Cruz]

I carry the stick but don't use it every time. Kinda hard to use at home unless you have a sewer hookup there. I'll use it at a dump station if A) I feel its due, and B) there's noone waiting for me.

[Buzz505]

Thanks John, I bought 1 and it works great.

[mfschu]

Thanks John for sharing! Any tricks for cleaning the Grey tank? Sometimes it smells pretty bad as well. Thank You

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by mfschu

Thanks John for sharing! Any tricks for cleaning the Grey tank? Sometimes it smells pretty bad as well. Thank You

I'm not John, but consider putting a bit of your black tank solution down to the gray. I use Happier Camper so about every other trip I put a small scoop down the kitchen sink. Hopefully it helps with the monitor. However, if the traps holds water you shouldn't get any gray water smells in the trailer.

[Jim Bennett]

I use a stick once, maybe twice, a year and in near 30 years have never had an issue. The stick cleans the sides great when I move it around to ensure good coverage. Comes out quite clean afterwards.

I know lots of folks with septic tanks for home use and other than pumping fully or partially, the latter done often by pumping clean then adding back a bit of liquid, there is no flushing out of the tank. Why do some RV owners feel it needs to be super clean. Just curious.

[alanmalk]

Originally Posted by TTMartin

It's a tank for holding sewage, it doesn't need to be 'cleaned'. SMH

I don't especially care how "clean" the black tank is - but I do care how clean the sensors are. It makes a noticeable difference to have fully functional sensors.

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by alanmalk

I don't especially care how "clean" the black tank is - but I do care how clean the sensors are. It makes a noticeable difference to have fully functional sensors.

The Black Tank is the one tank that is easy to view the level with your eyes through the toilet.

[sofmerc]

Originally Posted by alanmalk

I don't especially care how "clean" the black tank is - but I do care how clean the sensors are. It makes a noticeable difference to have fully functional sensors.

My black tank sensors haven't worked since day 1...

[kathytony1985]

Every couple of dumps we will add Cascade (liquid/gel) to the kitchen drain and wash it down into the gray tank. Fill the gray tank about half full. Drive to the next destination and dump the gray tank. This seems to get any residual gunk out.

[MVA]

Originally Posted by kathytony1985

Every couple of dumps we will add Cascade (liquid/gel) to the kitchen drain and wash it down into the gray tank. Fill the gray tank about half full. Drive to the next destination and dump the gray tank. This seems to get any residual gunk out.

How much Cascade do you use?

[kathytony1985]

Just as much as one would use in a dishwasher, about 1/4 cup.

[MVA]

Thanks

[DonM]

I’m sure this has been addressed before:
My sensors stopped working a few years ago. What can I do to correct this?

[John in Santa Cruz]

re grey tank, I have some lemon scented liquid stuff I dump a 'dallop' down the kitchen sink every so often.... Ahh, this stuff.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007JG1W1E