A Beginner's Guide To Cleaning An RV Gray Water Tank

An RV's gray water tank holds washing water from the shower, kitchen sink, and bathroom sink. This concoction can get messy and smelly in no time, which is why the gray water tank should be cleaned about every two weeks. Use the following steps to efficiently and easily clean your camper's gray water tank.

For more maintenance tips or to shop RVs for sale, contact 47 West Trailers. Our dealership is based in Troy, Missouri, and we also serve those in Columbia and St. Louis.

Get The Cleaning Supplies

It's important to pick the right cleaning products. If they are too harsh, they can damage the RV gray water tank. If they aren't harsh enough, they won't provide an effective clean. The camper's owner's manual should provide cleaning product suggestions.

Besides the soap, you will need a few other items. Get a hose that fits the gray water tank, rubber gloves to keep your hands clean, and a weighted item to prevent the hose from flailing about (such as a rock or brick).

Take Out The Existing Water

Before you can clean the gray water tank, you will need to remove any water currently inside. Position your RV near a dump station's disposal tank. You will want the hose to reach the disposal tank and have about five inches of slack.

Next, remove the cap from the camper's outlet port. Connect the hose to the gray water tank relief valve and the other end to the dump station disposal tank input. Remember to set the weighted item on the hose. Open the relief valve to get the water flowing out.

Flush The Gray Water Tank

The water may be gone, but there could be lingering pieces of food or microbes inside the gray water tank. They can cause unfavorable smells if left inside, so you will want to get them out.

Some RVs have a flushing filter that will do this step for you. But most folks will need to do this manually.

Turn on the shower, kitchen sink taps, and bathroom sink taps at full blast. This will help rinse out anything left inside the gray water tank. You may want to add a little bit of cleaner if the gray water tank is especially dirty.

Add Cleaner

Check one more time that the relief valve is closed, then add the cleaner. It's important to get the cleaning product evenly dispersed, which a short drive can accomplish. Take the RV around the neighborhood and try to hit multiple turns and hills. Once you get back home, empty the gray water tank and do one final fresh water flush.

Want more camper maintenance advice? Want to shop RVs for sale? Whatever you need, 47 West Trailers is here to help. Reach out or stop by our dealership in Troy, Missouri. We also proudly serve those in Columbia and St. Louis, Missouri.