The Great Toilet Paper Debate

[Royce]

Originally Posted by Allen H

What chemicals do you find work best?

Unique Digest it. Colorado Company. One use cleaned a tank that had set for at least 4 years and likely much longer. Also sofened the seals so I could get the valves open. Unique M and M -- Home

[Smokin Camel]

I have actually had a couple of phone calls about this. (I am a regional Septage Coordinator for the WI DNR.) Most single ply toilet paper is considered "septic system compatable", meaning it will break down.

Use basic TP like Scott, Charmin or most others. Save some $$. It is rare that these will pack up even in an RV tank. The TP should start to break up after just a few hours. Even most multiple ply TP's will not be a problem. Many years ago there were compatabiltiy problems with some types, even back then it was generally not much of a problem.

[pmclemore]

I'd spend a lot of extra bucks believing it would prevent issues (tissue issues?) down the road. A no-brainer for me. After all, how much would you really save by not springing for the high-priced spread?

But I will say that I'd only use Scott in the trailer, not at home. I hate the one-ply stuff.

Pat

[ESCAPE POD]

With all the complaints about the tank sensors not reading accurately, could toilet paper sticking to the tank interior explain erroneous black tank readings?

[Devoman]

If anyone feels toilet paper is sticking to the sensor they can unscrew it from behind the dump valve outside and check it out.I did this when I had a leak from it a while back and found some little critters hanging out on it.How they got in,I will never know.
Just remember to empty the tank before you check it or you will get one hellasious burp from your black tank.

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by peegreen

Back issues of the Blue Beret

First of all, I have to note the name of the poster of the above quote. Quite appropriate.

I was going to say "Sears Catalog" but that might date me.

[SnowGypsy]

Surpirsed no one mentioned the water in the jar test. You take a jar of water and put a couple squares of the TP in and shake it, let it sit and shake again. This will give you an idea of how it will or will not break down. We full-timed for 4 years in non-Airstreams and used both Angel Soft and Scott one-ply without any problems. We always followed emptying the tanks with a bucket or two of water to "chase it" down. We didn't use chemicals unless we weren't using a lot of water and then we used one of the natural ones with a little additional baking soda in extreme heat. You have to be careful of some of the ones with formaldehyde because if you are like me and some others the vapors will give you a major headache - I don't want to preserve the stuff in the tank anyway, yuck! Cathy