KEEPING HOLDING TANKS CLEAN - THE SIMPLE WAY
by Bobby Thompson
(RoTi Editor's note:  In Roaming Times' opinion, RVers should never put anything into their tanks that might damage any septic system.  There is a full discussion of this subject here.)

My experiences about dumping RV tanks and keeping them clean: 

First of all, keep the valves closed until one of the tanks is full. Dumping full tanks is more efficient because you have more water to flush solids out of the tank. 

Then always dump dirtiest first - that is dump the black first then the gray. 

To keep the black tank clean it is useful to occasionally add water softener (a cup of Calgon dissolved in a gallon of water is good) and a cup of laundry detergent. The gray tank doesn't need it - it gets soap through your normal daily washing and showering etc. The Calgon works wonders. I find it also dissolves all the paper etc. (You don't need to buy expensive RV toilet paper, just use ordinary supermarket stuff.) 

To sanitize the tanks you should occasionally add liquid bleach - I buy a gallon and split it between the gray and black tanks. Add it when each tank is about half full and then fill the tank. Then dump. This kills the smells. 

As simple as that. I don't think you need all the fancy chemicals and expensive toilet paper if you clean like this often enough and flush the tanks whenever you get the opportunity. The tanks also build up sediment so once again flushing as often as possible is good.

What do you think? - take the poll - "A holding tank or a septic tank?"

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