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03-28-2008, 06:11 AM
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#1
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Olympia, Wa and Las Vegas, Nv for the Winter
Posts: 567
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A friend has been using houshold bleach in his tank instead of the stuff sold by RV people. I'm wondering if this is really a safe practice?It seems that bleach and ammonia from urine are not a good mix. I've used apple cider vineger in my boat and that works well
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2012 Itasca Meridian 42E, Roadmaster Tow System, Unified Brakes on Toad
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. US Army Armor. Ret
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03-28-2008, 06:11 AM
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#2
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Olympia, Wa and Las Vegas, Nv for the Winter
Posts: 567
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A friend has been using houshold bleach in his tank instead of the stuff sold by RV people. I'm wondering if this is really a safe practice?It seems that bleach and ammonia from urine are not a good mix. I've used apple cider vineger in my boat and that works well
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2012 Itasca Meridian 42E, Roadmaster Tow System, Unified Brakes on Toad
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. US Army Armor. Ret
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03-28-2008, 08:18 AM
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#3
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 367
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I think the clorox might damage the rubber seals.
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Doug and Cassi
'05 Meridian 36G
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03-28-2008, 08:33 AM
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#4
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Coarsegold, CA
Posts: 264
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We have one of those litle air flow things that go on the vent pipe and have ceased using any tank treatments. No problems, no odors.
We had a problem when driving with the grey tank at 3/4+ stinking up the motor home, much better now.
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2001 Winnebago Adventurer, 35U, W-20 8.1
F+R Trac bars, F+R sway bars, SafTsteer, F Sumo Springs, 4 Koni FSDs
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03-28-2008, 08:53 AM
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#5
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Back at the ranch
Posts: 2,041
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Chlorine can be damaging to gaskets, seals, rubber parts, etc. I ruined an expensive backpack sprayer over a year-long period by spraying a diluted bleach solution to keep my sidewalks and pool deck clean at the old place in Florida.
We never use any chemicals or additives of any kind in our tanks and have never had any issues of any kind with the tanks.
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--John
2005 Horizon 40AD, 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
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03-28-2008, 09:44 AM
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#6
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I helped | retired moderator
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 285
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Many of us do not use any chemicals, but if I did, I would only use products made for that purpose, never a home brew.
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Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP
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03-28-2008, 10:22 AM
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#7
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: On the Road in the USA
Posts: 171
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Best thing for a holding tank is water and lots of it.
Typically I do not use any chemical any longer, we haven't had any odor issues since we stopped.
I when I dump and flush the tank, if the sensors do not read correctly I will put in a bit of Envirochem, and that will fix them usually within a day or two. I view most of the chemicals on the market as pouring lots of money right in the sewer. We have had more luck by just using the tanks with nothing but water and regular dumping (when full of course).
Over the last year I have really taken a look at what I spend my money on as far as cleaning chemicals also. It is amazing how much you can save, and how effective the simple things do work. Don't get pulled into the mass marketing, and feed the all the hype, for most jobs the Keep It Simple approach is usually the best.
John
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"It's always wrong, everywhere, for anyone, to believe anything beyond insufficient evidence" -- William Kingdon Clifford
John (N9MXX) & Derek (KC9KEM)
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03-28-2008, 10:25 AM
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#8
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 99
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The only time we use any chemicals in the holding tank is in hot summer months when we are on a site with no sewer dump. After several days the vent pipe can give off a strong smell that's not camper friendly to other campers around us.
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https://www.bbrv.dreamstation.com
2000 Itasca 35U
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03-28-2008, 12:28 PM
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#9
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 28
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I have been using the GEO method for the last few months. It works very well, is very inexpensive and makes the coach smell like freshly cleaned laundry.
Now if I could just fix Gulfstreams lousy plumbing...but I am working on that one.
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1998 Gulfstream 36' Sun Voyager Bus Platinum
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03-28-2008, 04:05 PM
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#10
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Olympia, Wa and Las Vegas, Nv for the Winter
Posts: 567
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by quikduk:
I have been using the GEO method for the last few months. It works very well, is very inexpensive and makes the coach smell like freshly cleaned laundry.
Now if I could just fix Gulfstreams lousy plumbing...but I am working on that one. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
What is the GEO method?
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2012 Itasca Meridian 42E, Roadmaster Tow System, Unified Brakes on Toad
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. US Army Armor. Ret
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03-28-2008, 04:29 PM
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#11
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Mo/Texas
Posts: 318
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Finhawk:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by quikduk:
I have been using the GEO method for the last few months. It works very well, is very inexpensive and makes the coach smell like freshly cleaned laundry.
Now if I could just fix Gulfstreams lousy plumbing...but I am working on that one. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
What is the GEO method? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Geo Method Tank Cleaning
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04 Newmar DSDP 4015-Cummins ISL 370hp-Spartan MM Chassis-2013 Chev Equinox AWD-Ready Brute Elite Towing System-FMCA 402879-SKP 120487 [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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03-31-2008, 07:58 PM
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#12
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Posts: 383
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We've used Eco-Save since day one. It is just a bacterial additive something like Rid-X only faster acting. On hot days the black tank smells like wet dirt and that's about as bad as it gets.
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Vicki & Jon Pritchard
05 Journey 34H - CAT C7 - Toyota RAV4
3 doxies, 1 chihuahua - WIT, Escapees, FMCA
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04-01-2008, 01:19 AM
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#13
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 146
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Finhawk is correct that bleach and urine are a bad combo. The fumes are toxic and it causes problems with the seals. The GEO method is a strategy that essentially uses a commercial water softener to keep the tanks cleaner. Hard water tends to form sludge faster so the GEO method supposedly prevents the build-up of solids in the tank. The problem is that the GEO method is a little tedious to maintain. Most folks that start out with the GEO method quit after a while and either use a commercial tank additive or none at all.
Until we all have glass tanks, we'll never really know what works best. In any case, as long as you flush out your tanks every so often, it probably doesn't matter what you use. Just a thought.
Jack
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2004 Winnebago Brave 34D with the usual add-ons
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