RV camping trips are ideal ways to enjoy the nature with friends and family. But to ensure your RV continues to serve you, it’s critical to practice proper good RV sanitation. This entails tasks such as using the right sewer chemicals and sanitizing your RV water. Here are some basic guidelines for sanitizing your RV.

Bathroom Sanitation

The main goals involved in bathroom sanitation are controlling odors and breaking up waste.

• Use the proper chemicals formulate to reduce bathroom odors and break up waste. Chemicals containing an enzyme base are the ones mostly used by RV users. Add these chemicals sporadically. They’re not hard to use and are exceptionally effective in reducing bad odors, as well as safer than formaldehyde-based ones that were once commonly used in RVs.
• Besides using the right chemicals, be sure to use only toilet paper made specially for RVs, so you won’t have to deal with major sewer problems.

Sanitizing Water

Water sitting for a long time in an RV tank and plumbing system can result in bacteria growing inside. That’s why it’s critical you sanitize your RV’s freshwater system, both at the start and end of your camping trip. When your RV water has a foul odor or looks bad you know it's hasn't been sanitized. Here are some simple steps on how to sanitize RV water:

• First, turn off your water heater and then drain it.
• Next, locate the low points of your RV’s drain lines, open them and drain the water lines.
• Then, going back to the drainage points, close them.
• To sanitize water tanks pour bleach into them, using ¼ cup of bleach per 15 gallons of water that’s stored in your RV water tank.
• Turn the water pump back up and open water faucets in your RV, letting them run until detecting a bleach smell. When you smell bleach, turn off all faucets. Finally, allow the water and bleach to settle in your RV water tank overnight for at least 12 hours.

Considerations and Warnings

• When dumping out black and gray water tanks, be sure all connections are tight and secure so that there aren't any leaks.
• When using an RV sanitation station, just make sure you leave it clean and even cleaner than before you used it.
• As there are some RV users who don’t clean up after themselves, many campgrounds have closed down public RV sanitation stations.

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By Kathleen Garry

Keeping Your RV's Sanitation & Fresh Water System In Good Shape

Kronen KHT001 32 oz. Premium Holding Tank Treatment In Stock (1)

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Thetford 36662 Fresh Water Holding Tank Sanitizer In Stock