TAKING CARE OF YOUR RV’S HOLDING TANKS

CAN I THROW TOILET WIPES DOWN MY RV TOILET?

A lot of RVing seems to be based on common sense. Make sure that your RV site is left cleaner than you found it. Don’t walk through other RVer’s camping sites. Be respectful of others in your RV park or campground. And you know you should use a lot of water in your waste holding tanks.

While we all ***know*** that we shouldn’t throw sanitary wipes down our RV toilet (and, hopefully, into the black tank), you’d be surprised at how many toilet and tank clogs we encounter that are based on toilet wipes (both the personal kind and those used to clean the toilet).

THEY’RE NEVER AS “SEPTIC SAFE” AS YOU THINK

Despite what they may say on their packaging, wipes are never as septic safe as you may hope. Remember, your RV’s waste tanks are part of a holding system, not a septic system. No amount of tank additive that dissolves, breaks down, or liquifies is going to reduce those wipes to something that will easily flow out of the tank.

And remember, adding those types of tank additives is only going to cause problems down the line, whether it’s misreading sensors, tank odors, or, in this case, clogs and obstructions.

HOW DO WIPES CAUSE CLOGS?

Unlike toilet paper, sanitary and cleaning wipes are very durable. They don’t rip apart easily. In fact, their very construction and benefit to cleaning means that they will stay intact, whether for cleaning toilet tanks and surfaces or your rear end.

In your black holding tank, these wipes tend to grab onto toilet paper and waste, creating clumps and piles. Over a short period of time, these grow into mounds and a clog is created. Also, because of their density and waste (especially when trapping feces), the wipes are very difficult, if not impossible, to remove with your black tank’s onboard spray/rinse system.

CAN I STILL USE WIPES?

Of course! We recommend, however, that you keep a supply of snack-sized plastic bags handy by your RV’s toilet. Teach anyone using the wipes (no matter what they are cleaning!) to place them in the snack bags and dispose of them in the trash can.

If you think you might have a clog or obstruction in your RV’s toilet, toilet pipes, or holding tanks, give Kleen Tank a call at 844-KLEENME (844-553-3663).