RV Bathroom Maintenance & Toilet Usage Tips
The bathroom in your RV differs significantly from the bathroom in your house or apartment. Due to the unique nature of your RV toilet, sink and shower, you’ll have to perform some maintenance to keep the whole bathroom in good working order. A well-maintained RV bathroom is less likely to cause problems or become unusable due to smells and clogs.
The Outpost RV is your local RV dealer, located in Middlebury, IN. Here are some of our top tips for maintaining your RV bathroom and ensuring your toilet remains functional.
1. Combat Toilet Clogs & Smells
The toilet in your RV is more high maintenance than the one at your house or apartment. When you flush the toilet, the wastewater goes into a large holding tank called a “blackwater” tank. Water from your shower and sinks goes into the “gray water” tank and fresh water is held in the — you guessed it — “freshwater” tank.
If you notice odors or a failure to flush, this is due to an issue with usage. Make sure that you and your guests are using the RV toilet correctly by:
- Using RV-specific products for cleaning and maintenance.
- Never flushing anything but RV-friendly one-ply toilet paper, water and waste. This means no trash, sanitary products, hair, wet wipes or anything else.
- Refilling the toilet with water after a flush by pressing down lightly on the pedal.
- Encourage judicious use of fresh water, especially if you’re boondocking and don’t have access to water hook-ups at a campground. Demonstrate how to quickly step down on the pedal to flush and release it before too much water is used.
2. Empty Your Blackwater Tank Regularly
As you have probably guessed if you’re new to RVing, the blackwater tank’s contents have to go somewhere at some point, since it can only hold so many gallons. Once the tank is at least ¾ of the way full, because it won’t flow as easily if it’s any less full since the waste and paper won’t have broken down enough yet.
To empty your tank, hook up a sewer hose to the tank valve on one end, then attach the other end to the dump station. You should always empty your blackwater tank into a dump station because this is the only sanitary option. You can sanitize the tank afterwards with special chemicals to reduce odors.
3. Sanitize Your Bathroom
Viruses, mildew and bacteria grow quickly in the bathroom, especially in an RV where there isn’t as much ventilation, which is why it’s important to clean it regularly. Use products that are specifically designed for cleaning an RV bathroom to prevent damage to the surfaces. Try to clean your bathroom at least once a week when you’re on the road and clean it again when you return home. Vinegar diluted with water in a spray bottle is a good eco-friendly cleaning solution for the mirror and surfaces.
4. Check Your Toilet Seal
The seal on your toilet needs to be examined before your trip and after your return. In order to keep water in the toilet and prevent odors, the seal may need to have plumber’s grease applied to it. If the seal has hardened too much, it may need to be replaced.
5. Reduce Mold & Mildew in the Shower
Wipe down the walls of your RV shower after every use to prevent hard-water and soap build-up. Deep clean your shower after each trip so that you don’t have mildew and mold building up. Empty your gray water tank regularly to keep it from backing up into the drain of your shower too.
Remember: if you need some assistance with RV maintenance, you can always get in touch with the service department here at The Outpost RV. Our team of mechanics will be more than happy to address any issues you’re having, so schedule an appointment today! Looking for a new RV? Visit our website or contact our dealership in Middlebury, IN, to learn about our fine stock of new and used RVs for sale. The Outpost RV proudly serves the city of Kalamazoo, MI.