RV dealers will tell you the holding tanks are one part of the RV that you don’t want to have malfunction. If you keep them clean, they will keep on working for you over a longer period. Due to the amount of bacteria and number of pathogens that can thrive in your tanks, you owe it to yourself to keep them as clean as you can.

How do you know when to clean your holding tanks?

The holding tanks in your Class C motorhomes should have sensors to tell you when the tank is about three-quarters full. That is when you should plan to dump them. Unfortunately, some sensors are not accurate at the best of times. They may be faulty, or the tank may not be clean enough for them to function. This means that you will have to open the storage compartment where they rest, and do a visual check.

Cleaning tips for your holding tanks

The first thing you should do for your own safety is to use latex gloves when you are handling the black and gray water holding tanks in Class A motor homes. Some folks like to use a blue dishwashing detergent to start the process by pouring some into both the black and gray water tanks and letting it sit. Others prefer to dump some water softener in the tank to make sure that the sides of the tanks do not retain any sewage. Still other people recommend regular use of a liquid enzyme treatment.

When you get your travel trailer to the dumping station, remember to keep it as clean as possible by using an elbow along with a hose ring to keep the parts in place and avoid splattering. Black water should be dumped first, followed by the gray water. This will help clean the black water tank. You may want to rinse and dump each tank again to get them truly clean.