So this is a commonly asked question. Why should I use RV toilet paper?
This boils down to the fact there are different grades of paper for everything. From velum, to card stock, to heavy weight papers, to poster boards and more. Which would dissolve first? A newspaper, or a heavy piece of poster board? Obviously the news paper would dissolve first right? Right. Exactly. There are different grades of paper, made different ways. They all have a purpose. So yes, there are different grades of toilet paper too. Were not talking about weather the toilet paper is single ply, two ply, quilted, etc... The RV toilet paper is different because it has a different binder (glue) in the paper to allow it to break down way faster. Its not just the paper pulp that's different.
Imagine its Sunday afternoon, just a few minutes before check out time at your favorite campground. Your still scrambling to tear down the site, and pack up, just about to dump the tanks and one of the kids uses the bathroom in your camper. Yep, you really need to empty the tanks now right? So you pull the black tank valve handle and water runs for a few seconds, then, uh oh, nothing happens. You know the tank is full. Hmmm. What just happened? Well, even that toilet paper didn't have time to dissolve. Now what do you do?
There are differences in RV toilet paper, and some people insist that they don't have to use it. So here is a great test you can do to see if your toilet paper is going to work. Take two glasses, and honestly pull out about how much toilet paper you use, wad it up, and toss it in the glass full of water. Do the same with a wad of RV toilet paper in another glass at the same time. Wait 5 minutes. Pull the paper out of each glass. Lay the toilet papers out on a table or something flat. Or do the coin test after 5 minutes. The point is to see whats left of each after 5 minutes. You'll immediately notice the RV toilet paper really cant be stretched out, it breaks up and becomes impossible to do anything with. It has already started breaking down. The regular household toilet paper still has strength to it. It wont break down for quite a while. Even when it does loose its strength, it stays bunched up together. THAT IS THE PROBLEM. That is what plugged your black tank drain in the scenario above.
There may be household toilet papers that are fine. But they are very hard to find suitable for an RV. If your a seasonal somewhere, the need to use RV toilet paper is even more of an issue. Your rig doesn't go down the road having water smash around in the tank breaking up solids. So any solids in your tank that don't leave when you open your tank valves, stay in there and start to stick and stink.
There are black tank flush tools. Some campers have a black tank rinse feature. These are very useful. But remember not to use them for more than a few minutes. Also, please learn what a hydro-flush system is. They are now illegal in NY. Never stick a drinking water hose up your sewer to clear a clog and then use it for drinking water again. Its dangerous and can give you Hepatitis A.
There are also wands you can stick down your toilet to clean the inside edges of the toilet. These do help in an RV toilet.
Other things you can do to ensure you don't have black tank issues are, use a tank cleaner/deodorizer like the Thetford tank cleaners. Some people use these wrong. The proper way to use them is to dump your tank, then put the tank cleaner deodorizer in, run a minute or two of water into the tank or better yet use your wand from the top side. Leave it till the next time you use it. (Except over the winter).
If your a transit camper, here is the absolute BEST way to clean your tanks. At the end of your next camping trip, empty your tanks. We all know the drill, black tank first, gray after. Then after you close the tank valves, put a heavy dose of your favorite tank deodorizer in the toilet. Put a few gallons of water down. Right before you leave to haul the camper home, dump all your left over ice down the toilet. While you are driving this smashes around in the tank, and cleans it. It also helps to clean the contacts on your tank gauges.
Before we "wrap this up" and "clear the air" about RV toilet paper, there are a couple more things. Many people put all kinds of things down the sewer. At a campground, the only thing going down the drain should be toilet paper and human waste. NEVER put diapers, baby wipes, or paper towels or feminine hygiene products down any sewer. At home, each year this costs you money as a tax payer, and you don't even know it. Those objects do NOT break down, even though they say they do on the package. Instead they lurk around for weeks until they burn up a pump station somewhere. Even on a municipal sewer, they should never be used.
Happy Camping.
