Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Tom Lang on February 24, 2016, 12:18:32 am

Title: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Tom Lang on February 24, 2016, 12:18:32 am
I ran across a test on Facebook and Youtube to see if your toilet paper is safe for the RV black tank.  It involves placing a couple of sheets in a glass jar half full of water and shaking to see what the paper does.

The video with the kid and his dad showed Charmin Ultra working much better than the others they tried, including the Thetford product sold for RV use.

For 30+ years, I have been using Scott single play, ever since I was told it was as good as Thetford.  Not that I have run the test, I agree, it is as good or bad as Thetford.  Not nearly as good as Charmin Ultra (that I bought today) or the Krogers Soft & Strong that I normally use at home.  It turns out both of these are excellent, and I'll be replacing the remaining rolls of Scott in the coach.

The best papers completely come apart with shaking, the Thetford and Scott products slightly come apart.  Really bad paper remains completely intact.
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Michael & Jackie on February 24, 2016, 09:32:18 am
Don Hay told me of the test few years ago but i just went with the septic safe Scott rather than thedford....glad the charmin ultra and kroger passed (the test).

Thanks

Mike
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: nitehawk on February 24, 2016, 09:49:29 am
Walgreen Drugs house brand passes the test also. ^.^d
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on February 24, 2016, 10:55:39 am
Personally I'll be glad to get back to 2-ply land.
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Tom Lang on February 24, 2016, 12:09:57 pm
Personally I'll be glad to get back to 2-ply land.

Me too, after 30+ years of Scott 1-ply.
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Barry & Cindy on February 24, 2016, 01:57:05 pm
Putting toilet paper down the toilet???  Isn't that what the waste basket is for??
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Dave Larsen on February 24, 2016, 02:03:49 pm
Putting toilet paper down the toilet???  Isn't that what the waste basket is for??
You're shi**in' us, right???
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Roland Begin on February 24, 2016, 04:03:44 pm
If it hasn't gone through our digestive system it does not go into the toilet. And we don't eat toilet paper.

Roland
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on February 24, 2016, 04:21:43 pm
That left-over chili that went south gave a real boost to the bacteria in my black holding tank.
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on February 24, 2016, 04:24:53 pm
If it hasn't gone through our digestive system it does not go into the toilet. And we don't eat toilet paper.

Yup, we've never added paper, either. A small sack is just fine.  ^.^d
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: bogeygolfer on February 24, 2016, 05:14:25 pm
I've seen this comment before, about not putting used paper down the toilet.  Maybe it's just me - but I am repulsed at the idea of putting used paper in a wastebasket in our head.  What am I missing here?

Chris
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Tom Lang on February 24, 2016, 06:16:18 pm
I've seen this comment before, about not putting used paper down the toilet.  Maybe it's just me - but I am repulsed at the idea of putting used paper in a wastebasket in our head.  What am I missing here?

Chris


I know it is the norm in Mexico (due to horrible plumbing) to use the wastebasket, but I don't want the equivalent of an open diaper pail in the living area.
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Miz Dani on February 24, 2016, 06:25:52 pm

I know it is the norm in Mexico (due to horrible plumbing) to use the wastebasket, but I don't want the equivalent of an open diaper pail in the living area.

When we worked central America flights back in the day, we had to go into the lavatory several times a flight (rubber gloves of course) to clean up the used T.P. that was wadded up in the corner by the toilet...they just couldn't figure out how to dispose of it (flushing the toilet was also a challenge)...surely the builders of these coaches thought of paper disposal when building the tanks? Has anyone here ever had a serious clog-up due to paper being used???   
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on February 24, 2016, 06:34:01 pm
am repulsed at the idea of putting used paper in a wastebasket in our head.  What am I missing here?
Nothing, it's a personal preference from the days of our '83 Airstream where the old, pre-bio TP would trash our level sensors and clog the drain hose. The new TP stuff and the grinders a lot of you guys have, prolly is fine, maybe. We prefer to do what we do.  ^.^d
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: nitehawk on February 24, 2016, 08:11:18 pm
The original owner of Mercury Marine Outboards, Carl Kiekhaefer, refused to dispose of his TP in either the toilet or the wastebasket. He would just throw it on the floor next to the commode when he was done. Eddie the janitor hated cleaning Carl's office and bathroom!!
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: its toby on February 24, 2016, 08:45:23 pm
I guess this means I should plan on keeping the diaper genie when the little one is out of diapers
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Michael & Jackie on February 25, 2016, 01:43:29 am
Rather deja vu turn of discussion and I thought a strong concensus.....I do recall us being told when we first bought the RV to use the trash can for disposal.    Experienced people, so figured they knew best.

Then I thought more and more of the bacteria risks.  So I tried just sending the tissue on down to the black tank.....and fortunately no problems, yet, so continue.  We (I) do take care how I flush the black tank to be sure all is out, or so at least that is the indication.  I am sure those using the trash can are very aware of the bacteria possibilities and feel good with the practice, works good for them.    We are careful which toilet paper we buy for the RV though, maybe that is clue to seeming success to date.......

Hope I do not bring us bad luck by even talking about flushing it on down.

(P.S.  I was involved with a group of us trying to free a neighbor's black tank plugged by a huge quantity of toilet paper.  An ugly sight when you blow some of the tank contents up the vent out to the roof.  Yep, not nice....you gotta be quick!)
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: bbeane on February 25, 2016, 08:20:13 am
Everything goes down the black tank, no problems in over 20 years. But hey that's just me, do what makes you feel good.
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: D.J. Osborn on February 25, 2016, 08:29:46 am
We have over 25 years of experience with putting toilet paper through the toilet into the black tank and have not experienced any problems. We make sure there are other liquids in the tank and everything seems to work properly.
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: bogeygolfer on February 25, 2016, 11:32:53 am
If someone ends up with a pile of toilet paper in the tank, I'd surmise that they aren't using the tank properly.  i.e., they left the valve open while connected to sewer so the tank never filled up with liquid and the paper piled up.

With our travel trailer, and now the coach we always let the black tank fill as much as possible during a trip, then empty it all at one time.  Then, I use one of those PVC pipes with the holes in it attached to the end of a hose and stick it down the toilet and rinse the inside of the black tank that way.  I don't do this every time I empty the tank; maybe every other time, on average.  Seems to have worked for us - and the sensors on both RVs seem to work  - at least as good as any that aren't SeeLevel.

Chris
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Don Rickey on February 25, 2016, 12:37:37 pm
The video with the kid and his dad showed Charmin Ultra working much better than the others they tried, including the Thetford product sold for RV use.
I ran across this video a couple of months ago and picked up the Charmin. Was waiting for a bit to post results, but we have had no problem at all. Love the 2-ply!

Don
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Bill Willett on February 25, 2016, 02:26:15 pm
1 ply becomes 2 ply when folded.
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Dave Cobb on February 25, 2016, 03:00:31 pm

But then you would have to buy twice as many rolls.
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Andy 2 on February 25, 2016, 03:04:18 pm
Angel soft for 10 years now and still going strong. And tank maintenance is key. ^.^d
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on February 26, 2016, 08:07:54 pm
If it's brown flush it down!
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: rbark on February 26, 2016, 08:32:26 pm
If it's yellow, let it mellow
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Jim Frerichs on February 26, 2016, 08:34:50 pm
So I suppose the next logical step is:  if it's white...fish it out!
Title: Re: RV-safe toilet paper test
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on March 03, 2016, 09:57:29 am
The 1-ply is Dingleberry City compared to 2-ply.