RV Black Tank Maintenance
TL;DR: Proper maintenance of black tanks is crucial for RVing. Gather materials, flush thoroughly, use treatments, and rinse. Choose RV-friendly toilet paper. Clean tank regularly to prevent odors and ensure readiness for future trips. Be considerate when cleaning at campgrounds.
Black tanks are something that most beginner RVers don’t want to think about, yet talk about. But black tanks are an essential and important part of RVing. Like most RV components, they also require maintenance. Even experienced RVers can overlook some crucial steps for taking care of and maintaining these tanks. Harvest Hosts has you covered. Follow along as we provide some of the best tips and tricks for black tank maintenance.
Cleaning Basics and Materials for Black Tank Maintenance
Before actually cleaning out your RV’s black tank, it’s important to have the correct materials on-hand to do so. One of the important steps in cleaning your tank is flushing it out. This process will look different for almost every RV, depending on what yours is equipped with. Some RVs have a built-in flush valve. This is a water inlet connection usually found near your sewer system connection. When a hose is connected to this valve, it flushes water straight into the black tank like a pressure washer to help remove build-up or residual debris. If your RV does not have a built-in flush valve, you can consider adding in an aftermarket one or purchasing a tool similar to a Camco Swivel Stick. This tool allows you to clean your black tank from the toilet itself by inserting the tool down and spraying directly into your black tank. You will need to utilize one of these methods to completely and effectively clean out your tank.
Treatments and Cleaners
In order to properly clean out your RV’s tank, you will also need a treatment of some sort. Many stores have an RV section that has several options for black tank cleaning solutions. The liquid and powder choices are among the most popular. These solutions not only assist with the cleaning process, but also assist with breaking down toilet paper and solids to better empty your tank. Most of these cleaning solutions do not contain strong chemicals to ensure no damage is done to your pipes and to minimize the negative environmental impact. Some RVers prefer to use their own homemade cleaning solutions in place of store-bought. This can be cost-saving and also give RVers complete control over what they are putting in their tanks. Some RVers use borax and Dawn dish soap, while others use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Whether or not bleach is safe to use is a very debated topic. In concentrated quantities, bleach can have a corrosive effect, which could be harmful to your RV’s plastic piping. The choice is yours whether or not to use this chemical in your RV’s drains. 
Steps for Cleaning
Now that you have your materials all ready to go, it’s time to begin cleaning out your RV’s black tank. Complete the following steps for best results.
1) Dump Your Tank
Believe it or not, the best time to clean your tank is when your tank is nearly full. This is also the best time to dump your tank. If your tank is full or nearly full, gravity will assist in removing as much of the waste as possible from your tank.
2) Remove Buildup by Flushing Your Tank
The next step is to flush out your tank using one of the methods we described above. Toilet paper can oftentimes stick to the walls of your RV, which can create clogs later on. Take care to spray all sides of your black tank if possible.
3) Add Water
Depending on your tank size, flush your toilet about four or five times to add an adequate amount of water to cover the bottom.
4) Add Treatment or Solution
The next step is to add in your treatment or cleaning solution. The amount will vary depending on which treatment you selected and how large your black tank is. Remember, more is not always better. Some solutions need a few hours to work their magic, and others require an overnight soak.
5) Rinse
After your treatment is complete, you can rinse out your black tank one additional time to ensure all the debris is removed. Congratulations, you’re finished!
Other Black Tank Maintenance Tips and Tricks
Knowing the Time and the Place
The best place to clean your RV’s black tank is in a campground site or at an empty dump station. Be considerate of other RVers if you’re stopping at a well-frequented dump station because this process can be time-consuming. We strongly recommend performing this cleaning at a campsite so you can let your treatment sit for as long as directed on the bottle. Additionally, if you have access to a septic tank on your own property, this is also an excellent solution. Please be mindful and abide by the law when dumping your black tank due to the hazardous contents.
Toilet Paper
RVs require special parts and products, and toilet paper is no different. There are usually a few options for RV toilet paper on the shelves at your local store, but there are many more options online. It used to be recommended to only use one-ply toilet paper to ensure it dissolves, but there are many safe choices that come in two-ply now. Do some research to find out what your preference is. Please remember, that wipes (even “flushable” ones) cannot be flushed in an RV, nor can any sanitary products.
Frequency
Your black tank should be cleaned out every time your tank is filled, or when you’re ready to dump. Additionally, you should always follow this process if you intend on storing your RV to reduce odors and have your tank ready-to-go for your next adventure.
