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Your standard RV toilet is very different from your home toilet! Besides the obvious differences like plumbing and water use, RV toilets are often made from different materials. Because of these differences, there are a few things to keep in mind and a few things to avoid when cleaning your RV toilet. In this guide we will go over choosing the right cleaning products, tools for cleaning, and some best practices to keep your RV toilet working properly!
Ok, here’s the deal: this guide is a bit of a bait and switch. There is no special method to use when physically cleaning your toilet. Using gloves, a good non-abrasive scrubbing tool, and some good old fashioned elbow grease is going to get that toilet sparkling clean. The big difference between cleaning your RV toilet and your home toilet is what type of product you’re using to get those bowls clean. Let’s explore the best options for getting that toilet clean while still keeping your RV waste system safe.
To begin, let's go over the different types of toilet cleaning products. Basically, all toilet cleaners can fit into two categories that are relevant for RVers:
It is important to understand the difference between these two types of toilet-cleaning categories as it can affect not just how you clean, but how your entire wastewater system functions.
When we refer to chemical cleaners, we are talking about chlorine or bleach-based toilet bowl cleaners (i.e., the types of products you might already find under your home sink). These types of cleaners normally work well to remove residue from your RV toilet. Although bleach and chlorine cleaners may be effective, that does not mean they’re safe! In fact, they can contain chemicals that are harmful to you as the user, and (most important for the RVer) have detrimental effects on your black water holding tank. These chemical cleaners kill off all the beneficial bacteria in your tank which then lead to disastrous clogs and backups! Because of this, we strongly recommend completely avoiding chemical toilet cleaners!
Guide Continued Below
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When we use the term “safe” in reference to toilet bowl cleaners, we are referring to the danger the cleaner might pose to people, pets, and the environment. In terms of home toilet bowl cleaners, there are many brands that fit this criterion. For instance, mineral/pumice cleaners are often very safe and do a great job of keeping your toilet and bathroom clean.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of these cleaners aren't made specifically for RVs and can damage the soft plastic or porcelain in your RV toilet bowl.
Thankfully there are other safe RV toilet bowl cleaning products that don’t contain abrasive materials out there that will work perfectly in your RV, some of which are designed specifically for RV’s. The value in using an RV specific toilet bowl cleaner is that it will break down mineral deposits and human waste inside your toilet bowl with tank boosting microbial cleaners. These tank boosters (a high-quality bacterial / enzyme blend) will wash down into your tank and help further break up the waste and toilet paper inside. Essentially, every time you clean your toilet, you will also be boosting the breakdown process inside your RV black water holding tank!
*Please note that using a product like Unique RV Toilet Bowl Cleaner is not a substitute for using a high-quality RV holding tank treatment.
If you have a plastic RV toilet bowl, we recommend staying away from using the standard plastic-bristled toilet brush. Many people make the mistake of using a stiff brush and end up with large scratches and grooves inside their toilet bowl. Not only does this damage the toilet bowl, it also makes it harder to clean, since human waste and mineral deposits can gather in these grooves.
Instead of a toilet brush, we recommend using a dish cleaning sponge like this. The soft sponge will do just as good a job as the tough plastic-bristled brushes—without damaging your toilet!
Certainly, there are many differences between your home toilet and RV toilet, and selecting a toilet bowl cleaner that is designed specifically for you RV is very important. It is also extremely important that you use a safe RV toilet bowl cleaner in conjunction with a high-quality holding tank treatment. And remember, for the best results, never use aggressive bristle-brushes that can scratch your toilet bowl! We hope this guide has proved helpful! If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
Many people may wonder, “Is a tank flush really that necessary?”. We recommend that you thoroughly flush out your black water holding tank for 20-30 minutes every 3-5 dumps.