*HERE ARE THE LINKS (scroll down)! 🎯See MORE WATER INFO TODAY in Robin's Blog: www.creativityrv.com/ 🛒CHECK OUT ROBIN'S BERKEY HERE: www.amazon.com/shop/creativityrv 🎁See the Bestseller WORK FROM HOME WHILE YOU ROAM: amzn.to/36sPKHJ ✅READ ROBIN'S OTHER BESTSELLER, Be A Nomad Change Your Life: amzn.to/2U7XZlw 💰GET 15% OFF ON A HARVEST HOSTS MEMBERSHIP WITH HERE: www.harvest-hosts.com/8FG9L9/2CTPL/ ✨See Robin's TedX Talk "WHY I CHOOSE TO BE A NOMAD" Here: ua-cam.com/video/Vs7WoriABF4/v-deo.html 🎨NEED INSPIRATION? Check out Robin's Inspirational Quotes Website: www.wordsinspired.com/ *This post contains affiliate links. *CreativityRV is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. By using these links I will make a small percentage of your purchase, even if you buy something else--and it won't cost you anything.
NEVER, NEVER ever put bleach in any of your tanks. In the black tank it will kill the enzymes that make your black tank not smell and break down your waist from the tank. You also almost never get rid of the bleach from your tanks ruining your seals. Why would you ever would want to sanitize your black tank? Any exposure to bleach, no matter how long, will ruin your seals!
🌼 Thanks Robin! I just got my new to me rig and this information is awesome to know! I like the fact that baking soda and vinegar was a good option! Stay safe!
This made me laugh 😂 because we’ve been there with the frustration of the black tank always saying 1/3 full. One trip my poor husband was dragging the water hose ( we always carry an extra, normal garden hose and nozzle with us) into the camper multiple times and spraying it straight down to toilet trying his best to clean the crazy thing out.
Thanks Robin. I know that washing soda is very good also to clean sensors. But the bleach in the black tank is kind of dangerous because of the methane that it creates. I've heard horror stories of people leaving it in too long and it blows out there stack. It needs to have some good bacteria in their to break down the solid waste. Glad you rinsed it out right away. Great job!
I'm happy with any amount of "Robin Time" each week, but I sure do miss the Sunday View Q. I just happened upon a bottle of bleach tablets at Walmart yesterday and bought them. I also just happened to buy a brand new box of baking soda! I was ready for this before watching it! Thank you, Robin!
Baking soda & vinegar wins! You checked Black 1 at the start and then Black 2 at the end,. But no worries, I will be using baking soda & vinegar on all tanks now, even the fresh water. I hate that chlorine smell! Have fun & be safe!
Thanks Robin as I used your method to clean out my fresh water tank and it worked great. Also did both MaxAir fans and now will be ready to hit the road again. The ash from the fires left a greasy soot all over everything and turned the fans black. The fires are about 75% contained so used the last 2 colder days to clean.
@@wayne9617 put a funnel in the input valve, then packed the funnel with baking soda, poured vinegar through it, added water, repeating 2x more. Then drained and filled 2x s till clean and no vinegar smell. This took a lot of water so was thankful near a water source. Applied the same technique to my grey water tank. Have done this once every 6 months!
Great research as usual, Robin! I tried a tank cleaner and a bag of ice in my class c, as per RV maintenance guy. I drove around the roughest ever -- no effect. Looking forward to trying the baking soda and vinegar trick in my van!
Yeah, that "ice in the black tank" trick sounds like a cool idea (if you'll pardon the pun), but it doesn't work. ua-cam.com/video/iH6acEmqvcw/v-deo.html
Question? We had this issue from day we purchased the RV. It was a one owner. They never cleaned anything. We managed to get some of sensors cleaned from say tanks are full. but have a ways to go. Will try the vinegar and soda how much vinegar did you use. Vinegar and baking soda is always on hand here use to clean with. Have a great day
If your tank is 50 gallons use a whole canister, or for the small boxes use a box and 1/2 of baking soda, and one 1/2 gallon cleaning vinegar along with 15 gallons of cold water and about a hot water tank full of hot water. Works like a charm! If your tank is smaller, just decrease amounts accordingly. Hope this helps!
Short, Sweet, To-the-Point. Loved it! And the two tests on the grey tanks. Now we know. Impressed with the view count of over 420 views within twenty minutes of publishing the video. Rock Star Robin ... keep them coming! Who needed that "corporate cube career" anyway? You showed them ... but more importantly ... yourself and your late sister ... she's so proud!
Drain and flush your tanks as you normally would. Add 1 gallon Zep heavy duty degreaser to your empty grey water tank. Add Zep Acidic toilet cleaner 1 gallon to your empty black water tank. Use your RV as you normally would and when you empty and flush your tanks your sensors will be cleaned along with both tanks. Works great no gross messing around with wands and spray attachments. Works perfect
These are all good tips especially not leaving bleach too long as it deteriorates the seals in the flush valves. One method that I use is drop a dish washing tablet of Finish in the affected tank. Fill the tank to 1/3 full with warm water. Then go for a few mile drive. The water sloshing around does a great job of cleaning the sensors. Thanks for a great video!
Use a tank full of hot water! Meaning the tank size for your hot water heater! So 6 gallons of hot if your hot water heater is 6 gallons! 10 gallons if your hot water heater is a 10 gallon. Your grey tanks will normally be smaller if your hot water heater is only 6 gallons. Likewise, your grey tanks will be larger if your hot water heater is 8-10 gallons, and if your running a tankless hot water heater, I'm jealous!😉 In that case use about 8 gallons of hot if your tank is a big 50 gallon! If your tank is a small one, like 20 gallons or less use a small box of baking soda, 1/4 gallon of cleaning vinegar, 3 gallons of cold water and about 3 - 6 gallons of hot water, if you got a tankless and your hooked up to city water and shore power, use all hot water if you want! Just don't fill it all the way up, you want it to have room to bubble and slosh around! A good 20 minutes of driving will really work! If you can't drive at that time leave it overnight while your sleeping, note, plug up your drains, you might get a vinegar smell that seeps into the coach while you're sleeping.
Thanks Robyn for the great info. We currently have a new neighbor that has never RV’ed. Just bought a class a. Older as a permanent home. She is Lone Ranger. So. Your video was shared and hope it helps her. Also. For us too! Thank you
Thanks again, Robin. I am looking to purchase a class b van, possibly from a reputable builder so I am saving many of your useful videos for reference. This was very good advice for homes, as well as rvs.
Thanks for some new ideas. I, like many commenters here, wish the "recipe" for the baking soda/vinegar was included here somewhere. Everyone's been left guessing. Maybe you could add it to the description below the video?
You tube unsubscribed me from your channel I am so upset. I was wondering why you weren't producing videos. So glad that I checked. Love your channel. I am sharing it with a friend who may soon need to sell her home and move to an on the road job.
Great video on the tank cleaning major question: I have a 50 gallon black tank and I have not been able to clear the sensors for years. How much bleach would you recommend and should I fill the tank and let it soak for several hours. When I empty my tank and I know it’s empty the sensors still say 2/3 full. ??? Your help would be appreciated thank you. Thomyt
I have used baking soda and vinegar in my black tank! If you keep your black tank relatively clean, meaning you rinse it out every single time you empty it and use black holding tank chemical religiously, then vinegar and baking soda will work most likely! Bleach however will work every single time! However Robin is right about bleach being harsh on your seals! Also, if you are black tank is not all the way empty and still has chemical in it the bleach can cause a very dangerous chemical reaction that can create heat and vapors which can have the ability to explode your tank! The chemical reaction can also cause extremely dangerous vapors to enter the coach! If you use bleach to clean out your black tank, leave it in their Max 3 hours, and always keep a close eye on it by opening up your toilets and looking in, also that releases any pressure that is building up! Just some friendly advice.
Another good cleaning solution for your black tank is simply your black tank holding chemical you use all the time, except this time put the chemical in with at least half your tank's capacity of hot water and drive it around! This works as well!
I knew to this RV stuff we have had our Newmar for about 2 1/2 years, but this is the first time that we’ve had an extended period of time in the unit months on and we’ve been in it for a month and I’ve noticed that my gray tank did not show empty when it was empty and I will be doing your vinegar and baking soda letting it sit and then rinsing the tank out and then checking it again. Hopefully it works even though my sensors are on the outside still reads the tank so if something is against the walls, I am sure, it will be picked up as a full or a water level in the area where it’s at we’ll see keep you posted🙏🙏🤞🤞
Just got finished with having the solution soak in the gray tank for about 4 to 5 hours and it worked thank you very much for all your help and I did subscribe to your channel
You showed us the second black tank button after your test rather thank the first black tank, which is what you showed us during the rest of the video. Was that intentional?
I bought the bleach tablets and put them in my freshwater tank. It's been raining so I can't rinse it out yet. But at least I can drain it into the Gray tank and make them both smell good!🤪
Thank you. You're absolutely right. Bleach mixed with anything containing ammonia is lethal! My mom's best friend escaped death but had a lifelong case of emphysema and required oxygen for her entire life after accidentally mixing those two chemicals.
@@slister45 my mom back in the day like 60s mixed this and she thought this was how you bleached your hair ! It’s a miracle she didn’t end up worse ! Which she did get cancer but this was from smoking maybe years but lived to be 77 ! She said god promised her this and he did shorten her life but she lived a long one ! But very true ! It is going to be safe to use these at the same time ? Can’t you do each one in stages to be safe ? Ty for sharing again
Vinegar and baking soda can be mixed with zero problems. You can’t mix bleach with dawn or other chemicals. I am a housekeeper and I use vinegar and dawn daily and vinegar and baking soda when I need extra cleaning power. Perfectly safe.
I drain tanks put dawn inthe toilet and sink . I run hot water in sink. I run water in toilet. I let it sit for awhile and drain again. My tank monitors say empty so it’s good.
Great info, thanks. Question: you said you filled the tanks about a quarter full, but the sensors were not working. How did you judge that they were 1/4 full?
@@michelefliginger8910 : So then they didn't work. My guess is that Robin knows how much her tanks can hold, and therefore filled them with what she estimated would be about a quarter tank's worth of water. In this situation, a high level of precision is probably not necessary.
Baking Sosa & vinegar works in sticks& bricks houses too! And salt with boiling water. Helps to prevent clogs....along with no grease poured down the drain (when renting I’d rent the place after a ‘grease-down-the-drain’ person🤨)
Hi Robin, I have been watching and learning from you for 2 years. I bought a Roadtrek RS Adventurous in 2019. I have been going out 1 weekend month with a few road trips. I am working on a plan to get out and explore. I think I’m a couple years out. I just subscribed to UA-cam, now I can message you. Thank you for doing what you do. Sheila
Personally, I would never use bleach or mix vinegar with baking soda. I prefer the "Geo" Meathod, no chemicals or hot water. Works for me everytime. The key to keeping tank sensors functional is to maintain them on a regular basis.
I saw someone else empty their tanks and then add dawn dish detergent to a partial black tank. Let soak overnight and even drive with it to slosh before dumping. It's supposed to get rid of that paper build up and the mound in the bottom.
When doing the "before" demonstrations, you kept hitting black tank 1 (skipping over black tank 2 completely) to show us the levels... but at the end, for the "after" reveal, you hit black tank 2, skipped black tank 1, and declared the illuminated empty light as a success. Any particular reason?
We just bought our first RV, a fifth wheel, we plan to hit the road in the near future but this winter we will be living in cold weather climate. I watched a video of your skirting method when you were in one of your smaller rigs, my question is do you or will you still use the reflective material and velcro method on your fifth wheel. We have done some research and found this to be very costly if you have professional installation, but compared to damage it make cause if pipes freeze up we will do something. Our rig is rated -4 with enclosed underbelly, we don't have this type of weather in Central Illinois, but you just never know. Thanks for all your videos and blog, we takeaway so from each one whether it applies to us or not, things change as you know three rigs later.
Use at least a 1/2 gallon of cleaning vinegar if your tank is 50 gallons! If your tank is the smaller types, reduce accordingly from the 50 gallon grey tank size! Don't forget use at least a hot water tank full of hot water, along with cold water to increase the water level in the tank to get all the sensors!
Most RV forums will tell you it's a bad idea to put bleach in your tank. Many will tell you the GEO method works quite well for keeping black tanks and sensors clean. What's the GEO method? Well it's all over the interwebs. I was a skeptic but it has been the best solution for me. That and a spray wand you hook to a hose. RVNET has a lot of good information in the forums. It's one of the older forums online. I think it is now owned by the company that owns Good Sam.
Hi Robin It’s always a pleasure to watch your videos, sometimes I am late but I watch them. Would you please give us the quantity of products you use? I am afraid to cause damage to my RV using the wrong mixtures. Thank you so much Allen from Québec (CAN)
How do you know your tanks are 1/4 full if the sensors are not working?? How much HOT water are you putting in each? Does Hot work when you have 1/4 tank of cold water already in there? I think I clean my freshwater tank and then flush that water into my black tank all in one day. Double duty. You must have cleaned both tanks since you pushed a different button when finished for the black tanks. Thanks, Robin for these tips.
Think I might try the baking soda and vinegar method in my black tank next time we head south. There is a rest area about an hour and 1/2 away with free dumping so I might try dish washing soap in gray. Or vice versa and slosh it until we get there and dump. Afraid the bleach might mess up the septic system or my seals. Also a little afraid of killing good bacteria in my black tank but love the other ideas.
Hey Robin! Just a question. I love your channel, and maybe someday I will get to BE you and do lots of traveling! My husband and I have a 21-foot trailer that we take camping on many weekends. When we dump, we ALWAYS use the black tank flush. Do you have one and do you use yours? For us, that seems to keep the sensors pretty clean.
I am a second owner of a 2019 Grand Design fifth wheel. I am having Black tank sensor issues. Both black tank sensors always show 3/4 or full. When using bleach tablets do you fill the tanks full? If so, how many tablets to a full tank?
Thank you so much for this video. We’ve been full timing for a year and a half and they haven’t worked right since after the first week. Would the baking soda and vinegar work for the black? I know it’s probably a stupid question.
I hate the smell of those blue tabs (smells like a port-a-potty) so I instead just shook some baking soda in the toilet and flushed. If i ever smelled anything from the tank again, I'd shake a little more in. That's all i used all last winter on the road boondocking and never even used a whole box. Works great!
I converted my rv toilet to a composting toilet with a option to send the urine into the black tank; I’ve lived fulltime in The rv, class a NEW if it makes a difference, for almost 8 yrs, Boondocking for 2 yrs. I don’t think since I’ve had the black tank sensors work properly. I really hate to waste water, so I’m not so much in favor of filling up a 40 gal black tank of just clean water, will the bleach method other than the toxic fumes 🤪 work with the tank mostly full of urine ? When I shower I do add the shower water and whatever other stray water into the portal for the urine of the composting toilet. Will the bleach tablet work, with just mainly using in the black tank ? I can desolve the tablets into a container of hot water before emptying into the urine portal.
*HERE ARE THE LINKS (scroll down)!
🎯See MORE WATER INFO TODAY in Robin's Blog: www.creativityrv.com/
🛒CHECK OUT ROBIN'S BERKEY HERE: www.amazon.com/shop/creativityrv
🎁See the Bestseller WORK FROM HOME WHILE YOU ROAM: amzn.to/36sPKHJ
✅READ ROBIN'S OTHER BESTSELLER, Be A Nomad Change Your Life: amzn.to/2U7XZlw
💰GET 15% OFF ON A HARVEST HOSTS MEMBERSHIP WITH HERE:
www.harvest-hosts.com/8FG9L9/2CTPL/
✨See Robin's TedX Talk "WHY I CHOOSE TO BE A NOMAD" Here:
ua-cam.com/video/Vs7WoriABF4/v-deo.html
🎨NEED INSPIRATION? Check out Robin's Inspirational Quotes Website: www.wordsinspired.com/
*This post contains affiliate links.
*CreativityRV is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. By using these links I will make a small percentage of your purchase, even if you buy something else--and it won't cost you anything.
4:44 It was BLK Tank #ONE??? 0:52
How much baking soda and how much vinegar would be needed for 45 gallon tanks?
@@lauriemrdjan Agree - proportions are everything!
NEVER, NEVER ever put bleach in any of your tanks. In the black tank it will kill the enzymes that make your black tank not smell and break down your waist from the tank. You also almost never get rid of the bleach from your tanks ruining your seals. Why would you ever would want to sanitize your black tank? Any exposure to bleach, no matter how long, will ruin your seals!
I noticed you initially checked BT1 pre-treatment then BT2 post-treatment.
Thanks Robin, it is always good to see you ~ ⚘🙋♀️
🌼 Thanks Robin! I just got my new to me rig and this information is awesome to know! I like the fact that baking soda and vinegar was a good option!
Stay safe!
Black tank sensor #2 at end but showing #1 thru video. Guessing it really didn’t work on black tank
Oh, to have an accurate read on the black tank would be heaven!!!
This made me laugh 😂 because we’ve been there with the frustration of the black tank always saying 1/3 full. One trip my poor husband was dragging the water hose ( we always carry an extra, normal garden hose and nozzle with us) into the camper multiple times and spraying it straight down to toilet trying his best to clean the crazy thing out.
Thanks Robin. I know that washing soda is very good also to clean sensors. But the bleach in the black tank is kind of dangerous because of the methane that it creates. I've heard horror stories of people leaving it in too long and it blows out there stack. It needs to have some good bacteria in their to break down the solid waste. Glad you rinsed it out right away. Great job!
I'm happy with any amount of "Robin Time" each week, but I sure do miss the Sunday View Q.
I just happened upon a bottle of bleach tablets at Walmart yesterday and bought them. I also just happened to buy a brand new box of baking soda! I was ready for this before watching it! Thank you, Robin!
Starting to feel like the videos are as short as possible unless it's new book time. Miss the actual traveling and camping videos and View Q's
Baking soda & vinegar wins! You checked Black 1 at the start and then Black 2 at the end,. But no worries, I will be using baking soda & vinegar on all tanks now, even the fresh water. I hate that chlorine smell! Have fun & be safe!
I noticed the tank switch too lol. Still great info on tank/sensor cleaning though. Thanks Robin!
Great tips! I think the hot water is a key ingredient that we haven't tried yet. Thanks and safe travels!!
Your last work, "be free", is hitting my heart. Great sprit. Thanks for the great tips, BTW.
Thanks for this video and the info, Robin! You always have valuable how-to’s for the RV life!
Thanks Robin as I used your method to clean out my fresh water tank and it worked great. Also did both MaxAir fans and now will be ready to hit the road again. The ash from the fires left a greasy soot all over everything and turned the fans black. The fires are about 75% contained so used the last 2 colder days to clean.
How do you get the baking soda & vinegar in the fresh water tank?
@@wayne9617 put a funnel in the input valve, then packed the funnel with baking soda, poured vinegar through it, added water, repeating 2x more. Then drained and filled 2x s till clean and no vinegar smell. This took a lot of water so was thankful near a water source. Applied the same technique to my grey water tank. Have done this once every 6 months!
I personally love your channel, 🙏🙏
Thank you so much!
❤️❤️
Great research as usual, Robin! I tried a tank cleaner and a bag of ice in my class c, as per RV maintenance guy. I drove around the roughest ever -- no effect. Looking forward to trying the baking soda and vinegar trick in my van!
Yeah, that "ice in the black tank" trick sounds like a cool idea (if you'll pardon the pun), but it doesn't work.
ua-cam.com/video/iH6acEmqvcw/v-deo.html
Question? We had this issue from day we purchased the RV. It was a one owner. They never cleaned anything. We managed to get some of sensors cleaned from say tanks are full. but have a ways to go. Will try the vinegar and soda how much vinegar did you use. Vinegar and baking soda is always on hand here use to clean with. Have a great day
If your tank is 50 gallons use a whole canister, or for the small boxes use a box and 1/2 of baking soda, and one 1/2 gallon cleaning vinegar along with 15 gallons of cold water and about a hot water tank full of hot water. Works like a charm! If your tank is smaller, just decrease amounts accordingly. Hope this helps!
@@t.j.sortino7844 Thank you for the information
@@t.j.sortino7844 How do you get the baking soda & vinegar in the fresh water tank?
This is one of the best videos you've had I love your channel.
Short, Sweet, To-the-Point. Loved it! And the two tests on the grey tanks. Now we know. Impressed with the view count of over 420 views within twenty minutes of publishing the video. Rock Star Robin ... keep them coming! Who needed that "corporate cube career" anyway? You showed them ... but more importantly ... yourself and your late sister ... she's so proud!
Great tips. Baking soda & vinegar are indeed tried & true! Stay safe! ❤️xoxo❤️
Drain and flush your tanks as you normally would. Add 1 gallon Zep heavy duty degreaser to your empty grey water tank. Add Zep Acidic toilet cleaner 1 gallon to your empty black water tank. Use your RV as you normally would and when you empty and flush your tanks your sensors will be cleaned along with both tanks. Works great no gross messing around with wands and spray attachments. Works perfect
I considered doing this a few days ago. Which Zep degreaser do you recommend, the purple or red, or does it matter?
Good morning to you and thank you for all the help😍😍😍😍
These are all good tips especially not leaving bleach too long as it deteriorates the seals in the flush valves.
One method that I use is drop a dish washing tablet of Finish in the affected tank. Fill the tank to 1/3 full with warm water. Then go for a few mile drive. The water sloshing around does a great job of cleaning the sensors. Thanks for a great video!
Great video! Thank you. How long are you running the hot water for at the beginning?
Use a tank full of hot water! Meaning the tank size for your hot water heater! So 6 gallons of hot if your hot water heater is 6 gallons! 10 gallons if your hot water heater is a 10 gallon. Your grey tanks will normally be smaller if your hot water heater is only 6 gallons. Likewise, your grey tanks will be larger if your hot water heater is 8-10 gallons, and if your running a tankless hot water heater, I'm jealous!😉 In that case use about 8 gallons of hot if your tank is a big 50 gallon! If your tank is a small one, like 20 gallons or less use a small box of baking soda, 1/4 gallon of cleaning vinegar, 3 gallons of cold water and about 3 - 6 gallons of hot water, if you got a tankless and your hooked up to city water and shore power, use all hot water if you want! Just don't fill it all the way up, you want it to have room to bubble and slosh around! A good 20 minutes of driving will really work! If you can't drive at that time leave it overnight while your sleeping, note, plug up your drains, you might get a vinegar smell that seeps into the coach while you're sleeping.
Thanks for your video. Keep up your excellent research and work. Happy and safe RVing 🙏🏼
Thank you so much for the tips. Happy travels and be well and safe. 💛
Thanks Robyn for the great info. We currently have a new neighbor that has never RV’ed. Just bought a class a. Older as a permanent home. She is Lone Ranger. So. Your video was shared and hope it helps her. Also. For us too! Thank you
Thanks again, Robin. I am looking to purchase a class b van, possibly from a reputable builder so I am saving many of your useful videos for reference. This was very good advice for homes, as well as rvs.
Thanks for some new ideas. I, like many commenters here, wish the "recipe" for the baking soda/vinegar was included here somewhere. Everyone's been left guessing. Maybe you could add it to the description below the video?
You tube unsubscribed me from your channel I am so upset. I was wondering why you weren't producing videos. So glad that I checked. Love your channel. I am sharing it with a friend who may soon need to sell her home and move to an on the road job.
Even if you can't drive around rock your rv. Have a dance party make it splash. Former employee at an rv place 😏
Great video on the tank cleaning major question: I have a 50 gallon black tank and I have not been able to clear the sensors for years. How much bleach would you recommend and should I fill the tank and let it soak for several hours. When I empty my tank and I know it’s empty the sensors still say 2/3 full. ??? Your help would be appreciated thank you. Thomyt
Thomas, I have 50 gallon black also and did this on Thursday. I used 4 tablets and it worked... YES
I like your video, informative and not a lot of waffle... great work.
Great info. I wonder if the baking soda and vinegar would work on the black tank as well.
I have used baking soda and vinegar in my black tank! If you keep your black tank relatively clean, meaning you rinse it out every single time you empty it and use black holding tank chemical religiously, then vinegar and baking soda will work most likely! Bleach however will work every single time! However Robin is right about bleach being harsh on your seals! Also, if you are black tank is not all the way empty and still has chemical in it the bleach can cause a very dangerous chemical reaction that can create heat and vapors which can have the ability to explode your tank! The chemical reaction can also cause extremely dangerous vapors to enter the coach! If you use bleach to clean out your black tank, leave it in their Max 3 hours, and always keep a close eye on it by opening up your toilets and looking in, also that releases any pressure that is building up! Just some friendly advice.
Another good cleaning solution for your black tank is simply your black tank holding chemical you use all the time, except this time put the chemical in with at least half your tank's capacity of hot water and drive it around! This works as well!
Thanks Robin. Great information to have.
I would avoid the bleach method.
If RV park is on a septic system, bleach can mess up the septic tank.
Many people have recommended a dilute bleach solution to clean out antifreeze in fresh water tanks. This is bad?
Yes the bleach will kill the “good” bacteria in the septic tank and render it ineffective and cause the park all kinds of problems!
Kind of like using antibiotics - kills the bad along with the good !! 😉😽
I knew to this RV stuff we have had our Newmar for about 2 1/2 years, but this is the first time that we’ve had an extended period of time in the unit months on and we’ve been in it for a month and I’ve noticed that my gray tank did not show empty when it was empty and I will be doing your vinegar and baking soda letting it sit and then rinsing the tank out and then checking it again. Hopefully it works even though my sensors are on the outside still reads the tank so if something is against the walls, I am sure, it will be picked up as a full or a water level in the area where it’s at we’ll see keep you posted🙏🙏🤞🤞
Just got finished with having the solution soak in the gray tank for about 4 to 5 hours and it worked thank you very much for all your help and I did subscribe to your channel
Great video and great ideas. I’m going to try it our our tanks and shoot a video for our channel. I will mention that I saw this on your channel.
Informative video as always, Robin! Thank you for your DIY solutions.
Nice, thank you for sharing 🌺
You showed us the second black tank button after your test rather thank the first black tank, which is what you showed us during the rest of the video. Was that intentional?
I will be doing this Wednesday when it warms up in Missouri! Thanks for all your knowledge and info!
I bought the bleach tablets and put them in my freshwater tank. It's been raining so I can't rinse it out yet. But at least I can drain it into the Gray tank and make them both smell good!🤪
Good tip, assuming the gray is empty or almost empty.
@@broddr yes it was.👍
PEOPLE PEOPLE Be very careful to not mix chemicals! This can cause dangerous gaseous fumes and some can explode.
Thank you. You're absolutely right. Bleach mixed with anything containing ammonia is lethal! My mom's best friend escaped death but had a lifelong case of emphysema and required oxygen for her entire life after accidentally mixing those two chemicals.
Exactly ammonia is the problem when mixed with bleach. However, vinegar is safe and effective and can be mixed with baking soda.
@@slister45 my mom back in the day like 60s mixed this and she thought this was how you bleached your hair ! It’s a miracle she didn’t end up worse ! Which she did get cancer but this was from smoking maybe years but lived to be 77 ! She said god promised her this and he did shorten her life but she lived a long one ! But very true ! It is going to be safe to use these at the same time ? Can’t you do each one in stages to be safe ? Ty for sharing again
Vinegar and baking soda can be mixed with zero problems. You can’t mix bleach with dawn or other chemicals. I am a housekeeper and I use vinegar and dawn daily and vinegar and baking soda when I need extra cleaning power. Perfectly safe.
Notice when comparing before bleach and final results...
:53 black tank #1
4:44 black tank #2
Yup, you weren't the only one who noticed.
Yep
I have used Dawn dish soap. I figured if it’s save to clean wildlife it should be ok for the tanks
Did it work
@@mistyhardy2980 yes it does for me anyway
@@deborahsmith9232 how do you do it
I drain tanks put dawn inthe toilet and sink . I run hot water in sink. I run water in toilet. I let it sit for awhile and drain again. My tank monitors say empty so it’s good.
@@deborahsmith9232 how much do you use and thank you
COOL, Thanks for the tips!
just the info i needed. my sensors are a little off. thanks again Robin.... and blessed travels
How do I know where the sensors are in my tank so that I can make sure the water mix covers them?
Let me know if you get a answer im curious to
I love your videos they are always so helpful ❤️
Great info, thanks. Question: you said you filled the tanks about a quarter full, but the sensors were not working. How did you judge that they were 1/4 full?
I was wondering the same thing!
Mike Cooper They “worked” but would not say they were empty when she had just emptied them!
@@michelefliginger8910 : So then they didn't work.
My guess is that Robin knows how much her tanks can hold, and therefore filled them with what she estimated would be about a quarter tank's worth of water. In this situation, a high level of precision is probably not necessary.
@@Milesco That is where a flow meter comes in handy, you should know how many gallons each tank holds, meter accordingly.
I thought you need to close black tank before opening grey tank: to prevent cross contamination. Great video👏👏👏😊👍
Great presentation ❤
Baking Sosa & vinegar works in sticks& bricks houses too! And salt with boiling water. Helps to prevent clogs....along with no grease poured down the drain (when renting I’d rent the place after a ‘grease-down-the-drain’ person🤨)
You are awesome. I love your videos. They are life savers
Hi Robin, I have been watching and learning from you for 2 years. I bought a Roadtrek RS Adventurous in 2019. I have been going out 1 weekend month with a few road trips. I am working on a plan to get out and explore. I think I’m a couple years out. I just subscribed to UA-cam, now I can message you. Thank you for doing what you do. Sheila
Thank u. No tools or weird procesures
awesome video you nailed it kiddo 👍👍🛠️🇨🇦🛠️🇨🇦
Vinegar and baking soda, gonna have to try that one for my gray tank.
Great video I sence on another level this is very helpful to ,thank you for sharing big hugs from Minnesota
I love watching the black tank empty; it’s fascinating!
Wow! that is a scary concept.
Jim Wilson I’m a nurse and I sometimes have to digitally disempact people so this is nothing.
@@WaywardCoug : *Ugh....*
I love watching women empty their bowel tank .
Personally, I would never use bleach or mix vinegar with baking soda. I prefer the "Geo" Meathod, no chemicals or hot water. Works for me everytime. The key to keeping tank sensors functional is to maintain them on a regular basis.
What’s the “geo” method?
I saw someone else empty their tanks and then add dawn dish detergent to a partial black tank. Let soak overnight and even drive with it to slosh before dumping. It's supposed to get rid of that paper build up and the mound in the bottom.
When doing the "before" demonstrations, you kept hitting black tank 1 (skipping over black tank 2 completely) to show us the levels... but at the end, for the "after" reveal, you hit black tank 2, skipped black tank 1, and declared the illuminated empty light as a success. Any particular reason?
We just bought our first RV, a fifth wheel, we plan to hit the road in the near future but this winter we will be living in cold weather climate. I watched a video of your skirting method when you were in one of your smaller rigs, my question is do you or will you still use the reflective material and velcro method on your fifth wheel. We have done some research and found this to be very costly if you have professional installation, but compared to damage it make cause if pipes freeze up we will do something. Our rig is rated -4 with enclosed underbelly, we don't have this type of weather in Central Illinois, but you just never know. Thanks for all your videos and blog, we takeaway so from each one whether it applies to us or not, things change as you know three rigs later.
how much baking soda and white vinegar, and how much do you fill your tanks when cleaning?
Great video, very informative! The baking soda and vinegar works well in "stick & bricks" drains too. How much vinegar do you recommend for each tank?
Use at least a 1/2 gallon of cleaning vinegar if your tank is 50 gallons! If your tank is the smaller types, reduce accordingly from the 50 gallon grey tank size! Don't forget use at least a hot water tank full of hot water, along with cold water to increase the water level in the tank to get all the sensors!
You are the bomb!! Thanks
Will this work for the black tank smell I have as well?
Good video. Right to the point
Most RV forums will tell you it's a bad idea to put bleach in your tank. Many will tell you the GEO method works quite well for keeping black tanks and sensors clean. What's the GEO method? Well it's all over the interwebs. I was a skeptic but it has been the best solution for me. That and a spray wand you hook to a hose. RVNET has a lot of good information in the forums. It's one of the older forums online. I think it is now owned by the company that owns Good Sam.
Hi Robin
It’s always a pleasure to watch your videos, sometimes I am late but I watch them. Would you please give us the quantity of products you use? I am afraid to cause damage to my RV using the wrong mixtures.
Thank you so much
Allen from Québec (CAN)
Thanks Robin.
Thanks Robin, very useful 👍
Good info, thanks, I’ll try it.
I tried a different method to clean my sensors. It didn't work..I will try the vinegar and Baking Soda one.. Thanks for all your help..Safe travels..
Excellent video!
We have a 48 gallon grey tank. How much water and vinegar along with baking soda?
Great information, thanks for sharing...
Thank you for the great tips.
I don't have bleach tablets. What would be the equivalent of liquid bleach? Also how much vinegar? Thanks
How do you know your tanks are 1/4 full if the sensors are not working?? How much HOT water are you putting in each? Does Hot work when you have 1/4 tank of cold water already in there? I think I clean my freshwater tank and then flush that water into my black tank all in one day. Double duty.
You must have cleaned both tanks since you pushed a different button when finished for the black tanks.
Thanks, Robin for these tips.
Thanks Robin! ❤️
Think I might try the baking soda and vinegar method in my black tank next time we head south. There is a rest area about an hour and 1/2 away with free dumping so I might try dish washing soap in gray. Or vice versa and slosh it until we get there and dump. Afraid the bleach might mess up the septic system or my seals. Also a little afraid of killing good bacteria in my black tank but love the other ideas.
Hey Robin! Just a question. I love your channel, and maybe someday I will get to BE you and do lots of traveling! My husband and I have a 21-foot trailer that we take camping on many weekends. When we dump, we ALWAYS use the black tank flush. Do you have one and do you use yours? For us, that seems to keep the sensors pretty clean.
Help!!! I'm possibly getting a skoolie. 3/4 build. I need someone with know-how to get this completed for me. I'm in Northsuburbs of ILLINOIS.
My black tank reads empty when it’s not. In fact it reads empty constantly. Any ideas?? Btw, you’re my hero! Have both your books!
I am a second owner of a 2019 Grand Design fifth wheel. I am having Black tank sensor issues. Both black tank sensors always show 3/4 or full. When using bleach tablets do you fill the tanks full? If so, how many tablets to a full tank?
Thank you so much for this video. We’ve been full timing for a year and a half and they haven’t worked right since after the first week. Would the baking soda and vinegar work for the black? I know it’s probably a stupid question.
How often do you perform this cleaning
Every damn day, you gotta fight for those inches!
I noticed you pushed the Black Tank 1 button for the before condition and Black Tank 2 for the after condition. A unused tank will always read empty.
Right? Not shady at all!!
Great Info Thanks!
Thank you excellent video
Very helpful thank you
After these methods are used ... how much water should be added in?
I hate the smell of those blue tabs (smells like a port-a-potty) so I instead just shook some baking soda in the toilet and flushed. If i ever smelled anything from the tank again, I'd shake a little more in. That's all i used all last winter on the road boondocking and never even used a whole box. Works great!
I converted my rv toilet to a composting toilet with a option to send the urine into the black tank; I’ve lived fulltime in The rv, class a NEW if it makes a difference, for almost 8 yrs, Boondocking for 2 yrs. I don’t think since I’ve had the black tank sensors work properly. I really hate to waste water, so I’m not so much in favor of filling up a 40 gal black tank of just clean water, will the bleach method other than the toxic fumes 🤪 work with the tank mostly full of urine ? When I shower I do add the shower water and whatever other stray water into the portal for the urine of the composting toilet. Will the bleach tablet work, with just mainly using in the black tank ? I can desolve the tablets into a container of hot water before emptying into the urine portal.
How do you put the vinegar and baking soda in the fresh water tank?????
Thanks totally helps.
How's it going in the fifth wheel Robin? Still digging it or not?
Awesome informative TYSM 😁