Can You Flush NormalToilet Paper In An RV?

This question can spark some heated debates on social media forums. 

Some people like to put tissue in a bag after use and throw it out others flush it, after all what is the point in having an RV if you can’t use the bathroom? 

So which one is it? And does it really matter which one you choose to do?

There isn’t a right answer to this question, you do what you feel most comfortable with. Should you choose to use TP, let’s get down to why some people think it’s a bad idea to flush and what you can do to keep this question from bothering you.

Can you flush toilet paper in an RV?

The answer is yes. You absolutely can flush toilet paper in an RV toilet. 

The concern is the type of tp you’re using. Household TP isn’t recommended because it’s really thick and doesn’t dissolve well. The problem with TP that doesn’t dissolve is that it can become trapped in your black tank because it won’t break down.

Do I have to use RV toilet paper?

No, you don’t have to use RV TP but you should use a product with the same consistency and thin layers. The reason why we don’t really want to buy RV TP is because they are generally on 4-6 rolls and they are around $5-6. Why buy a small pack when I can double up at the grocery store for a few dollars more?. If you can find some TP that is one ply or looks pretty thin it’s probably safe. 

Toilet paper to avoid flushing in your RV

• High ply count
• Anything that says Absorbent and Thick on the labeling

You really just need the paper to break down. If you want to self test you can take the tissue and put it in water to see how well it breaks up. 

Toilet paper that is RV friendly

• Septic Safe 
• Biodegradable
• Rapid Dissolve

I will avoid naming specific brands because it is all about reading the label when shopping for your toilet paper. Also, there have been name drops that have turned out poorly. I’m not sure if you read about the kirkland brand or not but that was one that used to be recommended, but something happened to the product during the pandemic that caused a change and RV’ers were complaining of clogging that had never happened previously. 

If you made a mistake and you have used the wrong toilet paper or you have rented it out and someone else clogged your toilet you will either need to diy the the job or outsource it to someone else.

How much does it cost to get your black tank cleaned?

It only costs around $100 to pay to have your black tank cleaned out. if you end up filling it up with the wrong kind of TP and you need a complete flush out.

Can you clean out your own black water tank?

Yes, in fact this is generally how it’s done. We like to take a hose to ours every few days when we are using the bathroom often. If you have a clog you will just put a pole down the hole and let push down whatever is stuck, then get a hose and place it in the toilet hole and open up the tank(s) first flush out your black then your grey and hold the hose until the water runs clear in the hose. 

Most of your concerns are probably built up by social media and things that other people say. Rely on what you would do if you didn’t have the influence of others.

If not toilet paper flushing or putting it in a bag what other options do I have for tissue? Well, we thought of that, too

What are the alternatives to traditional toilet paper?

Cloth Wipes

If you don’t want to flush or bag your tp, you could always go a completely different direction and use cloth. It is washable and reusable. If you can handle having this toilet paper in your living area until laundry day, you could save money and the planet. Okay, maybe that’s too far but you are doing your part. 

There are a few brands I found online by doing a quick google search

• Marleys Monsters
• NetZero.co 
• Viablees
• Charlie Banana

Bamboo Paper

Bamboo is a fast growing plant and people are moving in this direction to avoid trees for most household items so, why not TP. Here are some bamboo brands that are said to be environmentally safe, septic safe and a lot of the providers give back to communities in need. 

• Cloud paper
• Reel paper
• Treehugger
• Refinery29

RV odors and tank treatment

When your RV tank smells or you feel that your toilet paper may not be breaking down you can use a solvent to take care of those issues. If the smell persists, and you are on full hook ups make sure that your black tank is closed from the sewer line. Smells can enter from the sewer into your RV causing a horrendous odor that you cannot control. 

There are many choices when it comes to tank treatments, you may have to try a few to figure out what works best. I don’t even wait for odors, I just put it in every few days after we flush the system. We use TST, it doesn’t matter what the ‘scent’ of the solution is because you wont smell it when it goes down the tank. 

RV tank solvents:

• TST 
• Campa Chem
• Unique RV toilet cleaner
• Rid x
• Green Gobbler

You can get drop ins or a liquid solution in almost every brand. 

There are also tank deodorizers that you can use. I personally have never had to use these in our RV so I can’t say which one is best but, I can list the ones that are said to be the most popular.

RV tank deodorizer:

• Porta Pak
• Tough Guy
• Unique tank odor – extreme heat deodorizer
• Boat Tank Digest – works for RV as well
• Elemonate 

Final Thoughts:

There are many things going on with an RV holding tank. There are gross smells, clogs and toilet paper to think about when you have an RV. 

Everything you do has to change when you are living on tank systems, there are no unlimited resources, even when you have full hookups you still have to maintain what you have. Using products that work best for the RV you have and the amount of people you have in it will make a big difference on the functionality and the issues you may face. Nothing is impossible to fix. Tanks are easy to take care of as long as you stay on top of cleaning and never leave the tanks full for long periods of time without use. 

The rule of tank systems is to never leave them open all of the time. Some people will disagree, but I’ll go with the professional opinion of the dealer and the inspector we used when we bought our travel trailer. 

The reason for the black tank to remain closed is so it doesn’t become dry and then stack, there should always be liquid in the tank so the waste isn’t sticking inside. This will also build all of the tanks all the way up so you can flush the system properly. I did mention this earlier but,  If you open your black tank, then right after releasing your grey tank so they are open at the same time, it will allow your system to flush completely and with a little extra help from the other tanks. 

I have to be honest, I never really thought about the toilet situation a whole lot until after we got our trailer. I found out via social media groups that it is actually a huge concern and I can truly understand why, now.  It’s a pretty big deal if not taken care of, I have read about a lot of build ups, foul smells, clogging and all kinds of other issues. I can see how it could happen but it’s super avoidable with pretty low maintenance as long as you have considered the treatments, toilet paper and how often you clean. 

I would suggest that you look into the manual your RV has for maintenance to really understand the system you have. You’ll probably find some interesting facts about your RV.  For instance, we opened our outdoor kitchen after a couple days and it turns out that the sink drain is connected to the black tank! There is something called a hepvo trap that can dry out and cause a stench. Apparently, you can put vegetable oil in the drain to keep it from drying out without use and also in the hot summer months. 

Thank you so much for reading our post. We hope that we were able to help you navigate any issues you are having or any thoughts you have had about this particular area of your RV. 

As always, we hope to see you on the road! 

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