Let’ talk about your bum

[SoulRaven]

Let’s talk about your bum.

I was unclear at first where to put this thread but I thought chit chat would be the place.

As my proper given name suggests I consider myself a septic expert.

My dad operated a honey wagon when I was born and while I was in diapers.

So I consider myself an experienced excitable excrement expert.

So let’s talk about your porta potty.

This will be the first in a series of editorials in my hitting the fan rants.

Now who here is disgusted with the high price and limited availability of high priced RV holding tank deodorants?

You up front put your hand down and take this complementary half used roll of Secret.

Ok now back to the matter at hand.

What I have found out do to trial and error is that the combination of 3 parts chlorine bleach and one part pine cleaner makes for an acceptable and very economical sub substitute. Three quarts of bleach and 40 oz of pine cleaner is a buck each at the dollar tree.

Now follow my instructions carefully. After dumping your potty add the fluids to the basin in the proper ratio then use your hand to do a through cleaning of all exposed surfaces then open the trap door then shake gently to clean the inside of the holding tank.

Well that’s all the sage advice I have this week.

Next week we will discuss the hows and whys of cat holes when a vault is not available and your cup runnith over.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Most RVers don't use deodorant chemicals in their tanks. I have never.
We have no stinky problems, as out vent pipe carries it away. About the only time any odor is noticed is right after dumping/rinsing the tank for a few minutes.

Don't bother to waste time on money on that stuff.

Now, a little porta-potty...use a dab of "blue juice".

If you're on Forestry or BLM the ranger ain't gonna like you pooping in a cat hole...NOT AT ALL!!!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

If you're on Forestry or BLM the ranger ain't gonna like you pooping in a cat hole...NOT AT ALL!!!

???

If you're backpacking or even just tent camping on Forestry or BLM land, what do they expect you to do?!?

Regards
John

 

[Lucky mike]

I use dishwasher detergent in mine......if it smells real bad I dump a bottle of liquid smoke down there.....Every one thinks your having a BBQ

 

[akrvbob]

As far as I know, almost without exception, cat holes are perfectly legal on National Forest and BLM land.
Bob

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I know years ago when I traveled there was no problem with cat holes. Since we began traveling in the RV we didn't need to be concerned.
In Or a guy camped in a van not far from us was asked by a ranger in he had a potty...he did. If there wasn't an issue, why was he questioned?
This was on BLM near Bend. Same ranger wrote us a warning for "living on public land" when we'd been there for 8 days. It was only the second time we'd used BLM on the trip...other time 2 days in another part of the state.

Ranger must have had a bug up his bum.

---

I certainly don't want to give the wrong info.
Assumptions are hardly ever worth a hoot, but I have to assume Bob is correct since he uses public land a whole lot more than I have in the last few years.

 

[SoulRaven]

On BLM land in a LTVA the rules are if you have a porta potty or a permanent holding tank of less than 10 gallons you must be parked within 500 feet from a vault.

I don’t know what septic rules are in place for 14 day limit dispersed free camping.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

MrLoo...that's one I did know for sure. We didn't use the LTVA, but did look into the rules. Possible that spilled over to my thoughts.

My mind is like a steel trap...rusty as hell.

 

[GotSmart]

Am I the only one that has a problem with your instructions? :dodgy:

then use your hand to do a through cleaning of all exposed surfaces

:s

I worked for Roto~Rooter, and learned to NEVER put your hands where they might pick up a disease or smell that will stay with you for a long time.

They make brushes, gloves and plastic bags to help with that problem.

 

[Belinda2]

As an urban, city dweller, I can't imagine being in such tight quarters and smelling those chemicals. I use nothing, or like Mike, dish detergent and then clean with a little bleach water 10:1.

 

[Seraphim]

Hmmm... DW saw the title of the thread and thought you were talking about me...

 

[SoulRaven]

As an urban, city dweller, I can't imagine being in such tight quarters and smelling those chemicals. I use nothing, or like Mike, dish detergent and then clean with a little bleach water 10:1.

Loo’s loo is a mini 2 gallon model. Using a disposable 5 ounce cup 3 oz bleach and 2 oz pine cleaner provides 10 reups for $2 or .20 cents each.

No smell with a good seal except when trap door is opened after dropping the kids off at the pool for the morning.

The chemicals greatly curtail the gag reflex upon disposal.

 

[highdesertranger]

most rv dump stations don't want bleach to be dumped in, places on septic don't want it either. most nf and blm still allow cat holes however not all, some require 100% containment of both black and grey. another, I believe siskiyou nf tells you to pee in the river(Klamath) not on the banks, go figure. so the moral of my story is to check first. highdesertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

Chlorine is added to washing machines all the time and discharged into septic systems for the last 100 years.

People bathe in swimming pools with chlorine all the time.

City water systems add chlorine in tap water.

Chlorine is a pesticide.

Without pesticides we would be living in the dark ages with a 28-year life span.

“Chlorine has been hailed as the savior against cholera and various other water-borne diseases, and rightfully so,” says Steve Harrison, president of water filter maker Environmental Systems Distributing. “Its disinfectant qualities…have allowed communities and whole cities to grow and prosper by providing disease-free tap water to homes and industry.”

 

[highdesertranger]

I am not bad mouthing chlorine. I use it myself but not in a potta potty. but you don't want to put it in a septic system it kills the beneficial bacteria that help with breaking down the bad stuff. most rv dump stations don't want home brews dumped in their tanks and they would be pissed if they found out. the type of chlorine used in municipal water supplies breaks down fast, in other words it does it job and it's gone that's why you don't taste it in your water(well mostly). ever drink pool water? as far as washing machines goes if you are on a septic system you don't want to use bleach in the wash, unless you want to call the pumper. btw I hope you don,t get any of that pine stuff with ammonia in it. better know what you are doing when you start making your own homebrew stuff. highdesertranger

 

[GotSmart]

:dodgy:Sounds like Siping Science to me. :dodgy:

 

[compassrose]

We rarely use chemicals. When using a rarely used septic sytem (like in a campground on the backside of Vienna GA!) we used a little Rid-ex Septic tank treatment in our tanks for a few months. Not for odor but to jump start the septic system. Also did the same when we hooked up to a septic system that had not been used for 10 years. We did not use Rid-ex septic tank treatment to "treat" the sewage in the holding tank. Most holding tanks get dumped before the enzymes can do anything. We used it to treat the septic system.

CURRENTLY, we have been sitting in the same space since early 2012. Sometimes we have a "paper" problem. We believe this is mostly due to the shallowness of the 25 gallon RV black tank we installed and not enough water for the tank design. We never had this problem with the smaller but differently designed Class C black tank (I would like to build a larger replacement). So we have used a half tablespoon of tank chemical (Camco TST) that will dissolve paper. It's orange scented. Also when the temps get very high, we have noticed that the waste tank does get a little smelly at times. A half tablespoon of tank chemical helps. Also the "toilet flies" start showing up. A dose of tank chemical for a couple of dumps will take care of the problem. Given the way we use tank chemicals, it's a low priced expense. Most of the time we simply dump that tank and that's all.

You have to be careful what you put down your waste tanks. Many chems will damage those rubber seals on the crappy RV valves. We used a teflon coated ball valve instead of an RV valve for our dump valves. If you do use holding tank chems, try using a bit less as I think the suggested dosage amounts are higher than really needed. Also, opt for the formaldehyde free ones. Those are better for septic systems and sewage treatment plants. Rid-ex now makes an RV tank treatment. We haven't tried it yet. At some point we will.

 

[Zil]

I'm 30 years water professional. The little bit of chlorine in the holding tank will not cause a problem for a septic tank or disposal field. Cl reacts but the overwhelming organics prevail. But there is the problem with any chlorine. It can create poisonous gasses in a holding tank or portable toilet. The nitrates react with the Cl. Resulting foul smelling fumes cause cancer. Chlorine added to household cleaners with out caution can kill you with the fumes. There are many recorded cases. Chlorine is a valuable tool and has saved millions of lives but it must be handled with caution around sewer waste and inclosed areas.

 

[GotSmart]

I prefer vinegar for most household cleaning chores.

It reminds me of my Sicilian family get togethers!

 

[SoulRaven]

I'm 30 years water professional. The little bit of chlorine in the holding tank will not cause a problem for a septic tank or disposal field. Cl reacts but the overwhelming organics prevail. But there is the problem with any chlorine. It can create poisonous gasses in a holding tank or portable toilet. The nitrates react with the Cl. Resulting foul smelling fumes cause cancer. Chlorine added to household cleaners with out caution can kill you with the fumes. There are many recorded cases. Chlorine is a valuable tool and has saved millions of lives but it must be handled with caution around sewer waste and inclosed areas.

Thanks for you help. My original post was mostly satirical bur I did do some research on my own and chlorine and ammonia is bad news.

I will be going with the newer chemistry blue stuff when I hit the road.