Best RV Black Tank Treatments 2025 - Reviewed By RV Techs

The Best RV Black Tank Treatment of 2025. Unique Camping + Marine

Using the best RV black tank treatment is the primary way to avoid odors, clogs, and misreading sensors in your RV. While many people think RV black tank treatments are only designed for odor control, quality tank treatments should do so much more.

We’ve put together this guide because we’re RV wastewater experts — we’re not a giant, anonymous third-party manufacturer, or internet influencers dabbling in RV maintenance. Our team has 30 years of wastewater management experience, on-staff certified RV technicians, and is supported by a passionate, human team of researchers, testers, and writers.

We’re here to cut through the crap (literally), and give you all the facts about RV black tank treatments.

The Best RV Black Tank Treatment Should:

Digest and breakdown human waste
Digest and breakdown toilet paper
Eliminate odors at the source
Preventively clean your black tank

If your current RV black tank treatment can’t do all of these things, then it’s time to replace it with one that can.

As a manufacturer of RV black tank treatments, we’ve put together our expert ranking based on the essential qualifications that should be considered when purchasing a black tank treatment, with the goal to help you find the most safe and effective solutions.

Beyond the non-negotiable things that RV black tank treatments should do, we ranked these products based on their cost per treatment, number of treatments, manufacturing processes, customer support, legal compliance, and ingredient transparency. For more information about these criteria, skip to: How to Choose the Best RV Black Tank Treatment

While RV black tank treatments might seem simple or straightforward, the unfortunate truth is that many tank treatments on the market simply don’t work, and can even be harmful.

Now that we’ve covered what RV black tank treatments should do, let’s take a look at how the top products stack up.

The Best RV Black Tank Treatments of 2025

Rank	Name	Breaks Down Poop In 24-48 Hours	Breaks Down Toilet Paper In 24-48 Hours	Eliminates Odors At Source	Treats Tanks for Over 8 Days	$ Per Treatment	# of Treatments	California Compliant	Won’t Damage Tank Components	On-Staff RV Technicians	Ingredient Transparency
1	RV Digest-It Ultra	✅	✅	✅	❌	$.69	32	✅	✅	✅	✅
2	Camco TST Max	✅	❌	❌	❌	$.66	30	✅	✅	❌	✅
3	Walex Porta-Pak	❌	❌	❌	❌	$.94	10	❌	✅	❌	❌
4	Liquified	✅	✅	❌	❌	$.78	32	✅	✅	❌	❌
5	Happy Campers	❌	❌	✅	❌	$1.58	18	❌	❌	❌	❌
N/A	The Geo Method	❌	❌	❌	❌	$.92	N/A	??	❌	❌	❌
N/A	Water (control)	✅	❌	❌	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

*Prices determined by Walmart and Amazon as of May 23rd, 2025 and are subject to change.

1. RV Digest-It Ultra RV Holding Tank Treatment (Made in the USA)

Pros

Breaks Down Poop: ✅
Breaks Down Toilet Paper: ✅
Eliminates Odors at the Source: ✅
Price Per Treatment: $.69
On-Staff RV Technicians: ✅
California Compliant: ✅

Cons

Must Use Water To Work Best: ❌

Shop RV Black Tank Treatments On Amazon

What We Like About RV Digest-It Ultra:

RV Digest-It Ultra is our top pick because it was developed by leaders with over 30 years in the RV and septic wastewater industry. It offers 32 treatments and a no-mess, no-measure bottle, with a formula that quickly works without damaging tank components or overpowering fragrances or perfumes.

The formula is powered by the gold standard: bacteria and enzymes.

Enzymes rapidly break down waste, bacteria consume the solids, and stinky hydrogen sulfide gas and ammonia are converted into odorless carbon dioxide and water.

The result? RV Digest-It Ultra effectively handles waste breakdown, toilet paper breakdown, eliminates odors at the source, and preventively cleans your black tank.

Made in the USA, and developed, formulated, and packaged in-house with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, RV Digest-It Ultra is a product you can trust. In fact, if you experience any issues with RV Digest-It Ultra, you can receive friendly and informed customer support provided by on-staff, certified technicians and wastewater experts to help you solve problems safely, quickly, and efficiently.

What We Don’t Like About RV Digest-It Ultra:

True of all RV tank treatments, RV Digest-It Ultra is limited by water use, and can only break down waste in areas where water can transport the treatment. If you don’t use enough water in your RV, you will see limited results.

Additionally, similar to other tank treatments, high-temperature environments can make RV Digest-It Ultra less effective.

Finally, some RVers enjoy strong fragrances and perfumes, but RV Digest-It does not currently offer many fragrance options.

Would We Use RV Digest-It Ultra in Our RV?

Yes! We use RV Digest-It Ultra in our RV with confidence because the treatment has eliminated any issues with clogs, odors, or misreading sensors. The key to its success is the combination of bacteria and enzymes, which synergize to perform all the functions necessary to experience problem-free holding tanks.

We also love that every product is guaranteed to be successful, and because of the free and reliable support offered by Unique’s on-staff certified RV techs, certified septic techs, and wastewater experts. We never feel stuck or alone with Unique.

2. Camco TST Max RV Toilet Treatment

Pros

Breaks Down Poop: ✅
Price Per Treatment: $.66
California Compliant: ✅

Cons

Breaks Down Toilet Paper: ❌
Eliminates Odors at Source: ❌
On-Staff RV Technicians: ❌

Shop RV Black Tank Treatments On Amazon

What We Like About Camco TST Max:

Camco is an established and trusted brand with a proven track record in the outdoor industry. The TST Max RV toilet treatment is available everywhere, making it easily accessible, and is legally compliant in all states.

Like RV Digest-It Ultra, TST Max will not damage tank components, and has a clear and transparent list of ingredients, so that you know you can safely use the product in your RV.

What We Don’t Like About Camco TST Max:

When we tested TST Max, we found that it over promises and under delivers. The pods tend to break while in the package, and dissolve very slowly in the tank. In testing, we’ve found that while the formula is capable of digesting some waste, water actually outperformed TST Max at breaking down waste so there is no real benefit to using the treatment.

While there are numerous fragrances available, the scent is very strong and can be overwhelming. We also found that even with the strong scent of the fragrance, unpleasant odors were still very apparent, indicating that the product doesn’t tackle odors at the source. Toilet paper was also not effectively broken down in our testing, with the TST Max breaking down toilet paper at the same rate as simply using water.

Would We Use Camco TST Max in Our RV?

No. Though Camco TST Max did slightly outperform our water control in testing, we would consider Camco TST Max a waste of money because it isn’t significantly more effective than water alone for breaking down waste. We would prefer to use water, and save the cost of TST Max. In terms of toilet paper break down, Camco TST Max didn't break toilet paper down quickly or sufficiently enough to prevent clogs and sensor issues in the tank. Additionally, the tank still smelled after testing the product, so it doesn't meet our standards for odor control.

3. Walex Porta-Pak RV Black Holding Tank Deodorizer

Pros

Available Almost Everywhere: ✅

Cons

Breaks Down Poop: ❌
Breaks Down Toilet Paper: ❌
Eliminates Odors at Source: ❌
Price Per Treatment: $.94
On-Staff RV Technicians: ❌
California Compliant: ❌

Shop RV Black Tank Treatments On Amazon

What We Like About Walex Porta-Pak:

Walex is a company with a mission to create “performance products for performance needs” and during its years in the industry has cultivated a well-established distribution network. That means that Walex Porta-Pak is available everywhere, making it easy to purchase while out on the road.

What We Don’t Like About Walex Porta-Pak:

After testing Walex Porta-Pak, we found that it doesn’t effectively handle the main jobs a quality tank treatment should — it doesn’t break down human waste or toilet paper, and it doesn’t control odors. In fact, we found the fragrance to be incredibly overpowering, which may be an attempt to hide tank odors, rather than address them.

When reviewing the package, we were disappointed that a clear list of ingredients wasn’t included, leaving us to wonder if the product is truly safe and compliant as the package suggests. We contacted the manufacturer directly, and discovered that the product contains bronopol, which is prohibited in California.

While the company now claims the product is free from this ingredient on the packaging, the messaging is very confusing. Without transparent ingredient lists and a fully updated product line, it's difficult to know whether this non-biodegradable, hazardous ingredient is still posing a legal, health, and safety risk to consumers using this product.

We also felt that the high cost per treatment wasn’t justified, particularly because the product didn’t deliver any results.

Would We Use Walex Porta-Pak in Our RV?

No, we would never use Walex Porta-Pak in our RV for several reasons.

First, the expensive price point is a waste of money for a product that doesn’t break down waste or toilet paper, and leaves you with a foul-smelling tank.

Second, the ingredient information is not available on the package or the website, making it difficult for customers to know what’s in the product, which means the product may contain hazardous ingredients, be noncompliant in some states, and be potentially dangerous for users.

4. Liquified RV Toilet Treatment

Pros

Breaks Down Poop: ✅
Breaks Down Toilet Paper: ✅
Price Per Treatment: $.78
California Compliant: ✅

Cons

Eliminates Odors at Source: ❌
On-Staff RV Technicians: ❌

Shop RV Black Tank Treatments On Amazon

What We Like About Liquified:

Liquified is a company that was founded by a popular YouTube star, who started his own line of RV tank treatments to sell to his viewers. When testing this product, we were pleased to find that it handles human waste and toilet paper breakdown quickly.

The bottle is easy to use, and the product is Made in the USA, which are both aspects of the product that we really like.

What We Don’t Like About Liquified:

Liquified says they have one simple mission: to challenge industry norms and redefine the RV sector, one odor-free black tank at a time. However, we found that of all aspects of black tank treatments, the odor control was the most underwhelming part of this product.

Liquified’s owner seems to be confused about its formula, because in some places he claims the product is enzyme-based, but in others he claims the product contains bacteria and enzymes.

It’s not unusual for a private labeler (someone who doesn’t formulate, blend, and manufacture their own product) to be a bit confused about the product they are putting their name on, and this seems to be the case with Liquified.

In lab testing, we only found enzymes present in the formulation – no bacteria. So, we believe this product is not bacteria-based, but enzyme-based. It’s important to know that without bacteria, the product is less capable of tackling odors, which would explain why we experienced good waste and toilet paper breakdown (from the enzymes), but still struggled with lingering odors (that would be tackled more appropriately via bacteria-action).

While this product is better than most of the others available, we’ve still found that the company seems to lack the expert support needed if you have questions or problems with the product or your RV. They don’t seem to understand their own product or exactly how their products work in general, so it seems likely that if you run into a problem you’ll be on your own to figure it out.

Would We Use Liquified in Our RV?

No. However, if we were camping without easy access to water, and could not access Unique RV Digest-It Ultra, Liquified would be our second choice in the interim.

That said, a normal RVer who is likely to run into common, normal, problems will probably find the company’s lack of technical knowledge, and misunderstanding of its product’s formula and capability, problematic and insufficient to help them if and when problems arise.

5. Happy Campers RV Toilet Treatment

Pros

Eliminates Odors at Source: ✅

Cons

Breaks Down Poop: ❌
Breaks Down Toilet Paper: ❌
Price Per Treatment: $1.58
On-Staff RV Technicians: ❌
California Compliant: ❌

Shop RV Black Tank Treatments On Amazon

What We Like About Happy Campers:

Happy Campers is a company that is not transparent about its origin, manufacturing practices, product details and ingredients, team, or mission. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find anything positive to share about this company or product.

What We Don’t Like About Happy Campers:

First and foremost, we don’t like the Happy Campers tank treatment because it is not capable of breaking down human waste or toilet paper at all.

The other big problem with Happy Campers, is that it is not transparent about its ingredients, which are hazardous and dangerous. The product’s active ingredient is zinc sulfate monohydrate, which is not only banned in California, but is also highly toxic to humans and the environment. The packaging doesn’t clearly warn of the danger, posing significant risks to customers.

It’s important to understand, while zinc sulfate monohydrate is a strong pesticide and antimicrobial that is technically capable of eliminating odors by neutralizing and killing odor-causing microbes, our testing has revealed that the odor-reducing effects customers experience come not as a result of this toxic ingredient, but as a result of using more water in their black tanks (a standard practice). We gave this product a positive ranking in the odor elimination category not because of the product itself, but because users report odor control.

We were unable to replicate the odor-eliminating claims with the product in our testing, but we did find odor reduction when we increased the amount of water that was added to the tank. This leads us to believe that water is ultimately doing more work to reduce odors than Happy Campers.

We’ve also found that using this product can be detrimental to seals and gaskets inside of holding tanks, can harden inside of toilets and tanks causing significant damage, and may also require consumers to hire professional cleaning services to clear out the tank treatment for good.

Would We Use Happy Campers in Our RV?

Absolutely not — buyer beware. Based on all of our technical reviews and testing, this product has no redeeming qualities. It’s unsafe, prohibited in California, damaging to tanks and plumbing, and provides RVers with no benefits. In fact, we would go so far as to say in testing we’ve found that this product creates problems, it doesn’t solve them.

We know Happy Campers has a very loyal customer base, but through all of our testing, we can confirm that most of the benefits, if not all, that customers experience with Happy Campers, comes as a result of using plenty of water in their black water holding tanks. Don’t believe us? You can do the same test we did and see how Happy Campers fails to break down waste, digest toilet paper, or remove odors!

Reviewing Alternative RV Black Tank Treatments

The Geo Method (Pine-Sol and Calgon)

Pros

California Compliant: ✅
Breaks Down Poop: ✅

Cons

Breaks Down Toilet Paper: ❌
Eliminates Odors at Source: ❌
Price Per Treatment: $.92
On-Staff RV Technicians: N/A

What We Like About The Geo Method:

The Geo Method is a viral, DIY technique that claims to be effective at treating RV black tanks, but through testing and experience with real RVers, we don’t like anything about this method.

What We Don’t Like About The Geo Method:

The Geo Method is a relatively expensive combination of Pine-Sol, Calgon, and water, and the resulting formula is incredibly underwhelming at best.

Some professional tank cleaners recommend this process because they claim that Pine-Sol stops the breakdown of poop (they erroneously claim that poop should remain solid inside a holding tank) but our testing has shown that the combination of water and Pine-Sol still allows poop to break down, thereby defeating the entire claim / purpose of using this potentially tank-damaging, problem-causing household cleaner in your RV toilet.

Additionally, our testing has shown Pine-Sol to be completely ineffective for eliminating toilet odors. At most it seems to cover poop smells with a potent (some may sat overwhelming) scent of chemically-smelling pine fragrance.

Aside from it being ineffective, The Geo Method is potentially detrimental to your RV. We contacted Pine-Sol and their representatives have shared that the product can damage rubber toilet and tank seals, which may lead to messy and expensive tank repairs.

In fact, Pine-Sol representatives directly noted that they do not recommend using the product in black tanks because it may cause problems.

While damage to your RV is possible, The Geo Method may also cause damage to campground septic and water systems, particularly because it is not recommended to pour excessive amounts of antibacterial products down drains.

Would We Use The Geo Method in Our RV?

Never! Unfortunately, some holding tank cleaning services have incorrectly claimed that you do not want to break down human waste in holding tanks, and that Pine-Sol will keep the waste solid, while Calgon will coat the tank and allow the waste to slide out of the tank more effectively.

This is not scientifically accurate in any way and our testing has shown that poop readily breaks down in Pine-Sol (contradicting their claims that it remains in a solid-state) and we’ve seen no improvements from Calgon in “sliding” the waste out of a black tank.

The truth is that human waste will naturally break down in water over time, so it's virtually impossible to keep poop solid inside of a black tank. If anything causes a tank to be thick, sludgy, and difficult to dump, it’s too little water. The solution is not to make the human waste more solid, instead, all you need to do is add more water to dilute the waste and allow it to flow out easier (proving that waste breakdown is better for problem-free dumping).

Reputable, professional tank cleaners disagree with the tank cleaners who recommend The Geo Method. We agree that this misleading information can pose significant problems for RVers, because it virtually guarantees the buildup of sludge inside the tank, meaning more odors, potential for clogs, and the need to have your tanks cleaned professionally more often.

At best this is an old wives tale that doesn’t work. At worst, it’s costing you more than just the expense of treatment and the need for professional tank cleanings - it could very likely result in damage to your toilet, tank, and septic systems.

Water (Test Control)

Pros

Breaks Down Poop: ✅
California Compliant: ✅

Cons

Breaks Down Toilet Paper: ❌
Eliminates Odors at Source: ❌
Price Per Treatment: N/A
On-Staff RV Technicians: N/A

What We Like About Water:

Water is good for the Earth, your body, and your RV black tank.

It is a crucial component in black tank care because it helps control odors by keeping waste under water barriers, cools tanks down to further support odor prevention, helps make tank dumping smooth and easy, and rinses tank ledges and walls.

Using plenty of water is one of the main ways to prevent clogs, odors, and misreading sensors in black tanks.

What We Don’t Like About Water:

While water is an excellent component in tank care, on its own, water is somewhat limited.

For example, water can’t break down waste as quickly in stationary units that don’t have agitation. Additionally, water also struggles to break down toilet paper, meaning that without other components, RVers may experience misreading sensors as toilet paper accumulates over time.

Lastly, many RVers under-use water when they’re trying to go as long as possible without dumping their tanks, which can eventually lead to more odors, clogs, and misreading sensors.

Would We Use Water in Our RV?

Absolutely! Water is the most important thing in an RV black tank. In fact, in a pinch, you may skip an RV holding tank treatment, but you should never skip water under any circumstance.

Even the best RV black tank treatments aren’t successful without enough water in the tanks. Water is so effective in RV black tanks because it creates a barrier that prevents odors from rising into the RV, it cools tanks so that hydrogen sulfide isn’t as likely to develop (making a tank stinky), and helps prevent struvite buildup (a natural mineral in urine that can crystallize). Water also helps clean the tank, making dumping successful, and helps rinse away debris. Basically, always use water in your tanks!

How to Choose the Best RV Black Tank Treatment

Shopping for RV black tank treatments can be particularly difficult if you don’t fully understand how they work. Let’s take a closer look at the criteria we used to rank the best RV tank treatments, delving into what makes them effective and safe for your RV.

1. Human Waste Breakdown

One of the primary goals of RV black tank treatments is effective human waste (poop) breakdown. The best tank treatments should break poop down into tiny particles that can flow out of the tank easily and quickly within 24 to 48 hours.

Efficient and timely human waste breakdown is important because:

Waste breakdown: Helps prevent clogs and misreading sensors in your RV black tank.

Breakdown speed: Since many RV trips are less than 72 hours, RV black tank treatments that take a long time to break down waste are not helpful.

It’s important to note that human waste will always break down in water, given enough time and agitation, and a high-quality tank treatment should speed up the process and offer more complete breakdown.

2. Toilet Paper Breakdown

The best RV black tank treatments should soften and break toilet paper into tiny, soft shreds so that it can flow out of the black tank without causing paper clogs or misreading sensors.

When toilet paper is allowed to build up inside of your black tank, it can cause a pyramid plug, compacted tank, or blocked line. High-quality black tank treatments should prevent these issues, while also allowing you to use any toilet paper you choose without resorting to uncomfortable 1-ply toilet paper or costly RV-specific toilet paper.

3. Odor Control

High-quality RV black tank treatments should eliminate odors at the source, not simply cover foul odors with perfumes. While some campers enjoy the smell of perfumes, added fragrances should be experiential, and not used as a solution for odor control.

The best RV black tank treatments should contain ingredients and active agents that are able to control, encapsulate, or completely eliminate odor-causing particles at the biological level inside of an RV black tank. The best RV black tank treatments are science-based products that remove the cause of odors, they don’t mask them.

4. Cost Per Treatment

The ideal RV black tank treatment should cost as little as possible per use, but still be able to perform all of its necessary functions in the black tank.

Unfortunately, many RVers overspend on tank treatments — whether it is buying “premium” products that underperform, cheap products with high-cost-per-use, or expensive homemade concoctions and remedies. It’s very easy to overspend on RV black tank treatments you think are working, when in fact, you’re literally flushing money down the drain.

5. Number of Treatments

The best RV black tank treatments should contain enough treatments to last the average RVer for several trips – ideally a full summer.

The average RVer camps a little over 30 days out of the year, a single RV sewer chemical should be able to cover you for an entire season when chosen properly.

6. In-House Manufacturing

The quality of an RV black tank treatment is directly related to how it is manufactured. Many companies outsource manufacturing, and utilize co-packers and other suppliers to push their treatments to market. The result is underperforming products that don’t address even the most basic wastewater treatment needs.

Alternatively, the best RV black tank treatments are formulated by wastewater experts – professionals dedicated to selling top-quality solutions. Brands who develop, formulate, and manufacture their own tank treatments understand them better, deliver superior customer experiences, and can make improvements quicker than those who use third-parties.

Finding a company that does it all in the USA? Even better.

7. Quality Customer Support

Top-of-the-line RV black tank treatments are created and backed by real RV wastewater experts. You never know when problems will arise, and it’s not always easy to find accurate information and get the help you need.

This is particularly true for companies that sell private label products sold by large, disinterested corporations, or money-grabs by popular influencers — all without any scientific or technical understanding of the products they are selling and promoting. Reputable companies should have quick response times, correct answers, and friendly, helpful, and informed staff.

Be mindful of shipping and return policies, giving preference to companies that offer no-nonsense returns.

8. Legal Compliance

The top RV black tank treatments should be legally compliant in all states. Many ingredients have been outlawed in certain states, so you should always verify that your treatment is compliant with current regulations.

Unfortunately, some black tank treatments contain banned ingredients, and don’t clearly label products with this information. Consumers should approach these products with caution, and never use them illegally in prohibited states.

9. Ingredient Transparency

Trustworthy RV black tank treatments should have transparent labeling, including all necessary warnings and complete ingredient lists.

Complete ingredient transparency is crucial in black tank treatments in order to avoid inadvertently causing more problems by damaging your RV’s plumbing or wastewater systems. Some ingredients can cause significant damage, and are more dangerous than clever marketing tactics would have you believe.

10. What is the Best Type of RV Holding Tank Formula?

To determine what formula is best for RV holding tank treatments, you need to understand what the formula should be able to do.

The best RV holding tank formulas should:

Digest and breakdown human waste
Digest and breakdown all brands of toilet paper
Eliminate odors at the source
Prevents waste buildup on sensor probes

If your holding tank treatment can’t accomplish all of these CRITICAL things, you can expect to eventually experience clogs, backups, foul odors, or misreading sensors in your RV.

Pretty much every product on the market claims to do all of these things, but buyer beware! 95% of the RV toilet treatments on the market simply don’t do all of these critical jobs, When you understand the science behind the formulas, scientifically speaking, they simply are not capable of doing what they promise to!

So, how do you know which type of formula is actually the best? Rather than falling for clever marketing or community opinions, let’s take a look at the science behind RV wastewater management to get the final answer once and for all.

The Four Types Of RV Holding Tank Treatment Formulas

Chemical Tank Treatments

Can: Reduce odors (normally through covering with perfumes).

Can’t: Prevent clogs, waste buildup, or help keep sensors working properly because they kill the naturally-occurring bacteria in the tank.

Chemical Tank Treatments have been popular for decades, but chemicals like formaldehyde, bronopol, or sodium percarbonate may not only be highly toxic, but they are designed to kill the bacteria in your tank. This prevents them from liquifying the waste as intended which can lead to clogs and backups, while odors are masked by perfumes rather than tackled at the source.

Products: Camco TST Max, Walex Porta-Pak

Mineral/Salt Tank Treatments

Can: Help reduce odors by killing bacteria inside the tank.

Can’t: Prevent clogs, waste buildup, or keep sensors working properly.

Mineral/Salt Tank Treatments utilize zinc to attack odor-causing bacteria in your tank, allowing good bacteria to thrive. The problem is that these treatments only tackle odors — they don’t support waste and toilet paper digestion, don’t preventatively clean your tank, and often use forms of zinc that are dangerous to humans and the environment.

Products: Happy Campers

Enzyme-Only Tank Treatments

Can: Help prevent clogs, waste buildup, and keep sensors functioning properly.

Can’t: Effectively eliminate odors.

Enzyme-Only Tank Treatments are popular for their effectiveness in all climates and temperatures, and are extremely effective at waste breakdown. However, enzymes can’t eliminate odors on their own, and need help from bacteria to get the job done.

Products: Liquified

Bacteria and Enzymatic Tank Treatments

Can: Eliminate odors at the source, prevent waste backup and clogs, and help maintain working sensor probes.

Can’t: Perform optimally in tank temperatures above 85°F (Note: if you keep your tank temperatures down by supplying them with cool, fresh water, during peak heat, these products work perfectly well in high heat.)

These treatments add aerobic bacteria to the tank. Aerobic bacteria, or “good” bacteria, do not create odor-causing byproducts, instead, they create carbon dioxide and water, naturally and safely replacing foul smells with fresh air — tackling odors at the source.

The influx of good bacteria is accompanied by supportive enzymes, which help to break down waste into smaller pieces that are easier for bacteria to digest. This speeds up the time it takes to liquify the waste, which prevents clogs, and keeps sensor probes clean and in working order.

Products: RV Digest-It Ultra

Final Analysis: Identifying the Optimal RV Tank Treatment Formula

Rather than disrupting the biological process completely, or only helping one factor in the equation, Bacteria and Enzymatic RV holding tank treatments are the only formulas that do all of the necessary jobs in an RV holding tank by effectively digesting and breaking down human waste and toilet paper, eliminating odors at the source, and preventively cleaning your black tank so your sensors continue to operate optimally.

What is the Best Black Tank Treatment for an RV?

RV Digest-It Ultra is the best RV black tank treatment because it is bacteria- and enzyme-based — allowing aerobic bacteria to naturally break down waste into near liquid form without leaving behind residue or byproducts, damaging components, or adding odors.

Not only does the formula provide the strength and capabilities necessary to achieve odor- and clog-free tanks, but it has been rigorously tested to verify that it is able to achieve its claims, and comes with free technical support from Certified RV techs who are able to help consumers solve virtually any black tank problem they come up against.

What is the Best Odor Eliminator for RV Black Tanks?

RV Digest-It Ultra is the most effective way to eliminate odors in RVs because of the proprietary blend of bacteria and enzymes that eliminate odors at the molecular level.

RV Digest-It Ultra’s targeted bacteria breakdown and eliminate odors at the source without relying on strong perfumes or damaging chemicals. While other products claim to eliminate odors, RV Digest-It Ultra is proven through rigorous lab and real-world testing to live up to its odor-reducing claims, making it the best toilet odor eliminator for RVers.

What is the Best Way to Clean an RV Black Tank?

Unique Clean-It. Don’t use a toilet treatment! Unique Clean-It is the strongest, most effective black tank cleaner on the market, and it’s like hitting the “reset” button on your black tank — achieving a level of clean you simply can’t achieve on your own. It’s safe to use in all RVs and motorhomes, and 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

What is the Best Homemade RV Toilet Treatment?

We don’t recommend making homemade RV toilet treatments because they aren’t as effective, and because they may cause damage to your RV. However, if you insist on DIY — only use water. Skip the tank-damaging, expensive Geo Method.

What is the Best RV Black Tank Treatment for Dry Campers & Boondocking?

Top Pick – RV Digest-It Ultra, because the combination of bacteria and enzymes effectively handles everything a high-quality RV black tank treatment should do — digests waste and toilet paper, eliminates odors at the source, and preventively cleans your black tank.

Runner Up – Liquified, because dry campers and boondockers tend to under-use water (slowing waste digestion), and this product does help to break down waste and toilet paper, one aspect of RV black tank treatment.

What is the Best RV Black Tank Treatment for Full-Hookups?

Top Pick – RV Digest-It Ultra, because it handles every aspect of black tank treatment – digests waste and toilet paper, eliminates odors at the source, and helps clean your black tank.

Runner Up – Water, because while it doesn’t work as fast as a high-quality black tank treatment, it is one of the most important things you can add to your tanks. Water naturally breaks down waste, provides an odor barrier, cools your tanks, rinses your tank, and helps prevent debris and residue build up. Always use plenty of water in your tanks!

What is the Best RV Black Tank Treatment for Full Timers and Stationary Units?

Top Pick – RV Digest-It Ultra, because it includes the gold standard – bacteria and enzymes. This combination effectively digests toilet paper and waste, tackles odors at the source, and helps keep your tanks clean - and most importantly for full time RVers or stationary units, requires no movement or agitation to achieve this.

Runner Up – Water, because it is one of the most important things you can add to your black tanks. While it struggles to break down toilet paper, especially in stationary units, it still helps with waste breakdown, odor prevention, and tank rinsing. Always use lots of water in your tanks!

Why Should I Trust This Ranking?

Many websites put together lists like the one we have made above. Unfortunately, those lists are usually algorithmically generated based on which products rank highest when you search for them on Google or Bing, instead of the actual quality of the product. These websites make money off of a referral link to the products they recommend (usually through Amazon).

When reviewing RV black tank treatments, these websites seem to have no interest in providing truthful or accurate information.

Unique Camping + Marine has been helping RVers solve their toughest wastewater problems for over 30 years, and we take pride in assisting our customers. We frequently experiment with all of the products in our industry in a controlled environment, and help tens of thousands of RVers every year with their wastewater issues.

This makes us uniquely qualified to review our industry, and although it may seem biased for us to create a top 5 list like this, we have worked very hard to build a product catalog and technical information that actually solves RVers problems.

Couple that with a team of in-house wastewater experts and certified RV technicians who are knowledgeable and eager to help any RVer at no extra cost, even if they don’t shop from us, and you get a product like RV Digest-It Ultra with no risk to your wallet and a chance at stress-free camping.

RV Digest-It Ultra is our strongest, most effective, and easy to use black tank treatment yet, and it’s backed by our world-class support team, giving you the piece of mind you’ve been looking for while you travel. Wherever you wander, we’ve got your back.

Ask the Experts

Our certified RV techs are here to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about RV black tank treatments.
These two professionals have literally seen it all — working directly with RVers daily, they know how to solve even the most catastrophic RV wastewater problems quickly and efficiently. Let’s take advantage of some of their expert advice!

Chris Simpson — RV Technical Advisor

Chris has over 10 years of experience in RV wastewater management, and holds numerous certifications in the field including:

RVTI Level 2 Certified RV Technician
NRVTA Registered Technician
RVTAA Registered Technician
NAWT Operation & Maintenance Level 1 & 2 Septic Technician
NATE HVAC Certified Technician
EPA 608 Certification
Appliance Certifications (Sub-Zero, KitchenAid, Maytag, Whirlpool, Viking, and more).

Hunter Holmes — Regulatory & Technical Support Manager

Hunter has been on staff with Unique Manufacturing + Marketing for 5 years, and holds the following certifications:

RVTI Level 2 Certified RV Technician
NAWT Operation & Maintenance Level 2 Septic Technician

Best RV Black Tank Treatment: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What makes an RV Holding Tank Treatment “The Best”?

The best RV black tank treatments can effectively digest human waste and toilet paper, tackle odors at the source, and preventively clean your black tank. They should also be responsibly made, non-caustic, transparently labeled, legal to use in all 50 states, and be supported by capable and customer-friendly support and guarantees.

2. What Are the Top-Selling RV Toilet Treatments?

The best-selling RV black tank treatments on the market are Camco TST Max, Walex Porta-Pak, and Unique RV Digest-It Ultra.

3. Do I Need to Treat My RV Black Tank?

Yes, all RVers should treat their black tanks. Failing to treat your black tanks can lead to persistent odors, clogs, and misreading sensors. However, treatment is only one aspect of proper black tank maintenance. For best results, use The Unique Method, a simple and easy set of tested guidelines that can help you prevent 99% of wastewater issues before they even occur. We also recommend getting your tanks professionally cleaned occasionally, to completely reset the tank back to its original condition or to remove struvite if necessary.

4. RV Tanks Are Not Septic Tanks, So They Don’t Need to Be Treated, Right?

This is a common misunderstanding, and is opposite of the truth. Septic systems don’t require as much treatment because they have weeks, months, and years to break down waste. RV’s only have a few days for waste breakdown to occur, so they need to be supported and boosted through a high quality, waste-digesting treatment so waste doesn’t build up in the tank and create problems, like odors or clogs.

5. Are Homemade RV Treatments Better, and Should I Make My Own?

No. Homemade treatments are often more expensive, less effective, and can even cause damage to your RV’s plumbing and tank components.

6. Why is Waste Breakdown Important for RVs?

Waste breakdown is important for RVs because it prevents the following: clogs, odors from lingering waste in corners and on ledges, misreading sensors, waste buildup that can decrease tank capacity, and issues in stationary RVs or those that are parked out of level. It is our expert opinion that anyone (or company) telling you that waste shouldn’t be broken down has a hidden agenda, and this factually inaccurate may be causing you harm and/or costing you money.

7. What is the Difference Between Odor Elimination vs. Odor Masking (Heavy Perfumes)?

Bacteria-based RV tank treatments are the only type that can eliminate odors and break down waste simultaneously.

Other chemical treatments may neutralize odors, but aren’t able to break down waste, leading to clogs and sensor problems. Perfumes and fragrances simply cover one bad or strong smell with another.

8. What is the Best RV Black Tank Treatment? Tell Me the Clear Winner!

RV Digest-It Ultra is the best RV black tank treatment on the market because it is the only treatment that uses the combination of bacteria and enzymes. This formulation quickly breaks down human waste and toilet paper, tackles odors at the source, and preventively cleans your black tank.

It is also easy to use, affordable, made in the USA, backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and fully supported by a team of wastewater experts and certified RV techs with over 30 years of experience.

9. How Much Do RV Black Tank Treatments Cost?

The best-selling RV tank treatments on the market cost anywhere between $.66 and $.94 per treatment, making them an affordable way to treat your RV black water tanks. Some products may look cheaper because they have a lower out-of-pocket cost, but buyer beware. These products usually contain fewer treatments, so though the out-of-pocket cost may be lower, it’s most likely that the per-use cost is actually quite costly - normally very expensive compared to packages with higher numbers of treatments.

10. How Much Product Do I Need to Use To Treat My RV Black Tank?

Every product is different. Follow label and manufacturer instructions carefully.

11. Do I Need Special RV Toilet Paper or Septic-Safe Toilet Paper?

Not if you use a bacteria- and enzyme-based tank treatment like RV Digest-It Ultra.

12. Are There Specific Processes I Need to Follow to Get Optimal Results From an RV Holding Tank Treatment?

Yes. There is no RV black tank treatment that works like magic on your RV’s black tanks. In order to experience problem-free camping, you need to combine the right products with the right processes. The Unique Method offers simple and straightforward instructions that will help you avoid clogs, foul odors, and misreading sensors before they even occur.

Caring for your black tank with The Unique Method includes keeping your black tank valve closed (except when dumping), using bacteria- and enzyme-based tank treatments, using plenty of water in your tanks, not using harsh chemical cleaners and disinfectants in your black tank, dumping your black tank often, rinsing your black tank after every dump, and deep cleaning your black tank at least twice a year.

Many RV techs and manufacturers agree that RV Digest-It Ultra is the best.

Disclaimer

This review and the information on this page reflects our opinions, and is based on information we were able to find publicly about the reviewed products.

Though we are the manufacturers of Unique RV Digest-It, we have stated our opinions on all of the products and specifications accurately, honestly, and to the best of our knowledge — so we can provide consumers with accurate and fair information.

If you believe that we have stated anything inaccurately or misrepresented something, please contact us at info@uniquemm.com.

Field Guide

Prevent Common Problems In Your Tanks!

From misreading sensors, preventing clogs, or eliminating odors, we've got you covered no matter how you camp! All our best holding tank tips and trick information plus more can be found conveniently in one place when you download our FREE Unique Method Field Guide PDF. Achieve holding tank bliss today!

Get The Free Download

Return To Guides and Resources