Is RV Toilet Paper Necessary?

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Key Points:

1. RV vs. Regular Toilet Paper: "RV safe" toilet paper is more expensive, rougher, and lower in quantity, while many regular brands dissolve just as well, cost less, and are more comfortable.
2. Tank Treatment & Water Use: A high-quality bacteria and enzyme treatment (like Unique RV Digest-It Plus Ultra) aids in breaking down waste and toilet paper, while proper water use is crucial for optimal tank performance.
3. Toilet Paper Dissolvability Test: Shake two squares of your preferred toilet paper in a jar of water for 5 seconds—if it breaks into small pieces, it's safe for RV use.
4. Cost Comparison: Regular toilet paper brands like Angel Soft, Kirkland, and Scott offer better value per sheet than most RV-specific toilet papers, which cost more for lower quality.
5. Products to Avoid: Certain treatments, like Happy Campers, Walex Porta Pak, and Thetford Aqua-Kem, hinder waste breakdown—Unique RV Digest-It Plus Ultra is a more effective alternative.

“Rapidly dissolving toilet paper...just how rapidly are we talking? I don’t want to play Beat-the-Clock-in-the-Thicket.” Comedian Bill Engvall joked about the risks of using fast-dissolving camper toilet paper, and many new campers wonder the same. Will it last long enough? Do you really need RV-specific toilet paper? The short answer: No. In today’s economy, maximizing value is key, and "RV safe" toilet paper often costs more for lower quality and quantity. However, if you prefer it, we’ll highlight some affordable options. This article covers the differences between RV and regular toilet paper, a cost comparison, and a simple test to check if your preferred brand is safe for your holding tank.

Differences Between RV Toilet Paper and Regular Toilet Paper

What are the differences between regular toilet paper and RV safe toilet paper? That’s easy.

• Cost - specifically labeled RV toilet tissue/paper is nearly always more expensive than the same amount of regular toilet paper
• Comfort - RV toilet paper is usually more coarse and isn’t very comfortable to use
• Quantity - even though you pay more for it, you usually get much less than you would for the same price of regular toilet paper

Specifically labeled RV safe toilet tissue/paper or septic-safe toilet paper is usually labeled as rapidly dissolving, which is why they claim it’s better for RV and septic tank use. However, there are quite a few brands that sell regular toilet paper that dissolves just as quickly as RV toilet paper, is less expensive, there’s more in the package, and it is much more comfortable on your skin. RV toilet paper also tends to be thinner or just 1-ply, which means that you’ll probably use more to “get the job done,” and you’ll be spending more money because you run out faster; so the difference in a nutshell is this:

• RV specific toilet paper costs you more for lower quality and quantity and you may be using more of it to finish your bathroom trip, necessitating the purchase of more much sooner.
• Certain brands of regular home TP cost less for higher quality, more product, and still dissolve properly for RV holding tanks.

Some brands are better to use in your RV holding tank, so consider carefully when you buy; if in doubt, use the toilet paper test to be absolutely sure your chosen TP hits high marks.

Toilet Paper Test

Are you ready for some scientific experimentation! If you have a specific brand of toilet paper you’d like to use in your RV, but want to be sure it will be acceptable to use in your tank, administer this simple test.

1. Take a clear jar and fill it about halfway full with water.
2. Place two clean squares of your chosen toilet paper brand in there.
3. Screw on the lid tightly, and shake for about five seconds.

• If the toilet paper breaks up into a bunch of tiny pieces, this is probably a preferable brand to use in your holding tank.
• If it doesn’t or only breaks up into a couple large chunks, you may want to find another brand that dissolves better or use a high-quality bacteria and enzyme tank treatment, like Unique RV Digest-It Plus Ultra.

Note:To be clear, this test will only be accurate if you shake the jar for a few seconds. If you shake it long enough, almost any type of paper will dissolve and break into chunks. Shaking for only a few seconds will let you know if it’s designed to break down quickly regardless of any jostling.

Cost Analysis – RV Toilet Paper vs. Regular Toilet Paper

If you performed the toilet paper test on your preferred brand, and it did not produce the expected results, there are quite a few brands you can choose from that dissolve just fine without the high price tag that comes along with products specifically labeled for RV use. Many in the RVing community have held the following home brands up as equally effective as RV-specific toilet paper.

Buying the above brands in large quantities keeps the per roll cost down to about a dollar and a half each or much less. Compare the per roll prices above to some of the per roll prices of specifically labeled RV or septic safe brands below.

Note: Some brands do not sell RV-specific toilet paper rolls in packs larger than four, eight, or ten, which is why the quantities in the following table vary so drastically.

Scott Rapid Dissolving toilet paper is the one exception in this list that offers an agreeable price point, but it’s clear that RV toilet paper in general demands more money for inferior comfort and quantity. Simplify your life by choosing a product from the regular toilet paper chart or confirming your favorite brand will break down well in your RV by administering the toilet paper test. Then you’re only buying one brand for your home and your RV!

Treatment Products Make a Dissolving Difference

It’s true; the type of treatment product you choose to use in your black water tank will hasten or halt the breakdown of toilet paper of any kind. Even the faster dissolving toilet paper can benefit from a treatment product that will assist in the breakdown process. The best way to do this is using a high-quality, waste-digesting tank treatment like Unique RV Digest-It Plus Ultra, which inserts aerobic (good) bacteria into the tank that will break down waste and toilet paper without increasing current odors. Any time you use bacteria-based treatments like this, you’ll also need to use plenty of water in your black tank. Enough water not only keeps waste and TP wet and broken up, it’s also one of the crucial elements aerobic bacteria need to reach and break down the waste and toilet paper efficiently. The best way to ensure your bacteria-based tank treatment is at the peak of its breakdown potential is to follow The Unique Method, a 50/50 tank care approach of using the right products coupled with the right care habits.

There are some treatment products that we recommend avoiding because from our testing and feedback from the RVing community, we find they actually hinder waste breakdown rather than accelerate it:

• Happy Campers
• Walex Porta Pak
• Walex Commando
• Camco TST Max Liquid
• Thetford Aqua-Kem, Campa Chem, and Aqua-Max
• Thetford Tank Blaster

Unique RV Digest-It Plus Ultra will provide all the benefits these products claim to deliver with little impact to humans or the environment.

Review

Choosing toilet paper for your RV doesn’t have to be time-consuming or financially painful. Here’s a brief review of our recommendations regarding toilet paper use in RVs:

• RV toilet paper and regular toilet paper aren’t that different in construction, but share huge differences in value.
• RV toilet paper tends to be much more expensive for less product, lower quality and comfort, and often you have to use more of it to finish business, which could lead to clogs and spending money on more TP sooner.
• Regular toilet paper brands may be just fine for use in your RV; there are several that dissolve just as well as RV toilet paper and offer lower cost, higher quality, comfortable on the skin, and waste is reduced because you use less to “get the job done.”
• Administer the toilet paper test to see if your preferred brand will dissolve well in the holding tank.
• Choose a high-quality, waste-digesting tank treatment to aid in the breakdown process of the toilet paper, which will help avoid clogs and sensor misreadings.