How to Clean the Mold in a Camper's Water Tank
The wastewater tanks of your camper present an excellent habitat for the formation of mold. Because it is enclosed, kept wet and provides a food source in the form of waste materials, an unmaintained tank is at risk for developing a substantial mold problem. While keeping the tanks clean is the best prevention against marauding spores, a thorough tank cleaning will get rid of mold once it is established.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Water softener
- Laundry detergent
- Hot water
- Measuring cup
- Pail
- Chlorine bleach
Instructions
-
-
1
Empty the tanks, starting with the dirtiest one -- the one attached to the camper's toilet. The next dirtiest is the galley tank, from the kitchen, and finally, the shower wastewater.
-
2
Include a ratio of 2 cups of water softener to each tank, dissolved completely in 1 gallon of hot water in a pail and pour into the tanks. The softener causes solids to let go of the tank interior, eliminating the mold's food source.
-
-
3
Add 1 cup of laundry detergent to the toilet tank simultaneously with the water softener to clean heavy soil.
-
4
Flush with clean water at this point if you do not want to wait for the tanks to fill back up naturally. Otherwise, mold and other toxins will wash out during your next tank evacuation.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Keep the drain valves closed at all times except when evacuating full tanks in order to completely evacuate solids.
Add the water softener to your tank each time you evacuate them in order to maintain clean tanks.
Flush occasionally with a gallon of chlorine bleach to disinfect. Do this especially if you suspect a mold problem.
If you feel the tank is still not clean enough, try driving the camper around before evacuating the tanks to agitate the water softener and detergent throughout them.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit rv on highway image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
