The campervan lifestyle is full of pleasant things. Once you have an RV, you are free to explore the world. As you drive around in your home on wheels, it will require regular maintenance like any home.
Therefore it’s important to know how to clean an RV toilet. With such a wide range of toilets available for RVs, you must understand your toilet system to look after it effectively.
This article will equip you with all the information need to keep your toilet fresh and clean.
Tip 1: Using bleach to clean an RV toilet
First things first, you need bleach. This is such an obvious thing to point out, but it is often overlooked. Bleach will kill most germs in a toilet and replace bad odours with a more pleasant freshness.
Bleach will help to remove stains, and when the waste passes to the holding tank, it will continue to kill germs know there.
Take care when using bleach. It can harm you if you come into contact with it, so wear gloves and goggles. A face mask is worth wearing also. Bleach fumes can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when in an enclosed space such as an RV toilet.
Bleach is relatively affordable, and there are toilet specific ones you can purchase.
Tip 2: Removing blockages
A common issue that can cause chaos with a toilet is a blockage. The last thing you want is a blockage, as it’s a grim task to fix. Get yourself dressed in protective clothing (or clothes you don’t mind getting really ruined) and tackle the problem hands-on.
One way a blockage can occur is if the holding tank is full. Otherwise known as the grey tank, it’s the tank where raw sewage goes, and of course, it has a finite capacity. Some tanks can be 50 litres, while others can be 300 litres.
To mitigate this risk, you must empty your tank frequently. Better to be safe than sorry. Sewer hoses are a great option to get rid of waste in a safe manner, whether on-site or at home. Just make sure you dispose of the sewage responsibly.
The other way to ensure there is no overflow or blockage would be to use dissolvable toilet paper. Household toilet paper can clump up and not dissolve effectively. If this happens, it can cause a blockage. This simple change could be highly beneficial.
Tip 3: Have the tools to clean an RV toilet
Tip three is simple. Buy a toilet brush. Toilet brushes allow you to clean the bowl without getting too close. Leaving unflushed waste in an RV toilet is a recipe for foul odours and germs. A simple toilet brush can keep your RV toilet looking clean.
The toilet brushes can cause bad smells and odours as bacteria can grow on them, so be sure to replace them regularly.
The last thing you want to do is put the RV away into storage for the winter to come back in the spring to a smelly, mould ridden bathroom.
Tip 4: Use RV-specific toilet cleaners
Use RV specific toilet cleaners. Unlike universal toilet cleaners, these cleaning fluids have more specific chemicals. They have more odour eliminating properties to diffuse bad smells in the toilet itself than in the holding tank.
The chemicals found in these products are more potent, making sure you wear gloves and eye protection when you administer them. Cleaning an RV Toilet is so much easier when using the right products, so RV specific cleaners are worth using.
Thetford is a popularly recognised brand for these products and have a good reputation in the campervan community.
Tip 5: Hire a professional cleaner
A final resort is to hire some professional cleaners to sort it out if the toilet is still in bad shape after you clean it. Of course, this will cost significantly more than cleaning it yourself but it is still cheaper than buying a new toilet and tank. T
his is usually a last resort; however, a new toilet system is your only option if this doesn’t sort the issue. The best benefit to these services is that they are licensed and qualified to use stronger chemicals. Therefore they can clean better than any over the counter products.
They are the deepest clean you can get, and as well as cleaning the toilet, they can also clean the tank, which in turn reduces the chances of nasty odours and smells coming from the toilet system.
How to clean an RV Toilet Conclusion
It’s logical to follow the 5 tips in this article to ensure your toilet is as clean as possible. Prevention is better than a fix. Therefore regular cleaning and using dissolvable toilet paper, and emptying the holding tank is a great place to start
. Of course, if the toilet is still dirty or has an odour, purchase some RV specific cleaning products. Finally, as a last resort, a professional toilet cleaning service may be able to revive your toilet. Ultimately you want a toilet that works effectively, regularly cleaned to a standard that means it is usable. Nothing is as unpleasant as a blocked toilet or a smelly toilet.
The last thing you want is to be off-grid with a blockage. Therefore if you follow the tips in this article, you should avoid this disaster and have a pleasant toilet in your RV.