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07-03-2012, 05:58 AM
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#1
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 21
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I have been learning about the GEO tank cleaning method. I am wondering if, instead of laundry detergent, anyone has ever tried using automatic dishwasher detergent. It would seem to me that DW detergent would be a little "tougher" on waste.
Pam
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07-03-2012, 06:14 AM
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#2
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Seasonal Camper
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 336
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I don't think it makes alot of difference as to what soap you use. Its just the idea of getting some water and soap in the tank to aggitate while you are driving from one location to another.
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07-03-2012, 07:30 AM
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#3
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 21
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Thanks, Scott. I may try the dishwashing detergent and see how it does.
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07-04-2012, 04:49 AM
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#4
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Ontario
Posts: 508
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We just use a cheap dishwashing detergent and a cup of Calgon in the Black water tank. Works like a charm, with virtually no odor.
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Cheers
Helen & George VE3INB and Max (Bichon Frise)
2006 Silverado 2500HD D/A,
2006 Cruiser CF30SK
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07-04-2012, 05:39 AM
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#5
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 21
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We've been having trouble with our sensors, and assume that they are dirty (like reading full when the tank is empty). Will this help clean the sensors?
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07-04-2012, 09:17 AM
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#6
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mebane, NC
Posts: 2,394
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Quote:
Originally Posted by runriver
We've been having trouble with our sensors, and assume that they are dirty (like reading full when the tank is empty). Will this help clean the sensors?
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It won't hurt to try and I have seen several people say this will. If nothing else, it really helped our tank with the odors. We use the formula that includes some bleach as well. (We use calgon water softener, tide liquid detergent, and bleach). Keeping the tide in the trailer does double duty so if we need to do some last minute laundry (we have a 5 yr old), we can.
__________________
2014 Chevy Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax
2011 Zinger ZT26BL-sold
2014 Sabre 34REQS
***Member of the Mason-Dixon Group***
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07-04-2012, 10:12 PM
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#7
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location:
Posts: 15
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Is just dish wash detergent is been very helpful?
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07-04-2012, 10:46 PM
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#8
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New Camper
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Rockingham, NC
Posts: 8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by runriver
We've been having trouble with our sensors, and assume that they are dirty (like reading full when the tank is empty). Will this help clean the sensors?
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I hope it helps clean the sensors. I have been having this same trouble. The last trip out I doubled the amount (the trip to the campground was only 3 hrs.) It does help, the trailer seens tosmell fresher to me when we set up.
__________________
csxengr
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07-05-2012, 01:25 AM
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#9
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mebane, NC
Posts: 2,394
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Quote:
Originally Posted by angelinaS31
Is just dish wash detergent is been very helpful?
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The water softener coats the inside making it slippery so that things don't stick. From my understanding (and this is not based upon any measured fact but what I have been told) the dish detergent creates more suds then laundry detergent so if you don't want as sudsy of a tank go with laundry detergent, otherwise dish detergent shoud be fine.
__________________
2014 Chevy Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax
2011 Zinger ZT26BL-sold
2014 Sabre 34REQS
***Member of the Mason-Dixon Group***
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07-05-2012, 02:14 AM
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#10
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: WI
Posts: 896
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I have used the GEO method since first getting my unit...I believe in it by for what it's worth I think once you start you should stick with it. I also use the bleach...and I have never had an odor and my tank is easy to flush. As an aside my unit has been sitting for 5 weeks, when I left the last campground I put the GEO in with about 5 gallons, give or take, of water to slosh around and coat the tank. So, last week I mixed up a capful of Calgon, 1/4 cup of bleach and tablespoon of dish detergent and poured it into the bowl and let it sit there for about 1/2 an hour...to sort of 'disinfect' the surfaces' and to also 'coat' all the moving parts and the seals. I've heard that can be a problem, so in my eyes, better safe than sorry. Some may consider this overkill, but as others have said on here over and over...and ounce of prevention...saves thousands in repairs.
Jim
__________________
Jim & Linda Tator
Watertown, WI
2013 Crusier CF34SS GMC 3500 8.1L Dually
154 nights in 2013 - 4,370 miles
178 nights in 2014 - 5,082 miles
365 nights in 2015 - 6,040 miles
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07-05-2012, 04:10 AM
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#11
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 937
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In terms of scrubbing, I have heard of using ice. We are pulling ours home from our seasonal spot soon, and I plan on using ice with the detergent as an abrasive to scrub while on the road. Ice will melt (quickly in this weather), but the sloshing should scrub tank and sensors.
Our sensors haven't worked right since first couple of "loads"...as long as full sensor keeps working...
__________________
Eddy & Brenda
Canton, OH
2015 Silverado HD 6.0L
2014 Zinger 32QB
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07-05-2012, 05:25 AM
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#12
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,012
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I use the El Cheapo WM dishwashing liquid and Boraxo. I haven't used this long enough to know about cleaning the sensors but I do know there is zero odor after 3 days of camping. For that reason alone I will continue to use it. Even the chemicals start smelling a little after a few days. Not sewage smell but chemical smell. The dishwashing liquid and Boraxo had zero smell.
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Clif and Millie
Ozzie (half a dog tall & 2 dogs long)
Mabank, TX
2009 Ford Lariat F350 SRW CC Diesel
2013 Cruiser CF305SK Patriot Edition
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07-05-2012, 05:29 AM
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#13
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 21
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Clif and Millie and Ozzie,
What is "WM?"
Pam
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07-05-2012, 05:52 AM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WI.
Posts: 9,160
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I'm betting "Walmart".
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07-05-2012, 05:54 AM
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#15
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 21
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Thanks, Old Farmer. There is some lingo on the boards that's a little hard to figure out.
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07-05-2012, 08:02 AM
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#16
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 21
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I've also heard about using the ice, but can't imagine its solid very long in hot weather. Let me know if you try it.
Not having correct sensors is not critical, obviously, but it would be nice it they worked!
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07-05-2012, 08:36 AM
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#17
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Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: WI
Posts: 183
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I, too, have sensors that always read 2/3 full even when empty. I tried the ice technique this past Monday. I had an extra gallonbag of large ice cubes left at the end of the weekend. I dumped them down the toilet into a mostly full tank while at a gas station then drove 100 miles and dumped.
It didn't work as promised. The sensors still read full. I think the problem may have been dumping the ice into a (nearly) full tank. There is too much mass on the warm water that the cubes didn't last very long. They'd probably hold up better on an empty tank, but then how would they reach the sensors?
__________________
Ted
2013 Sunset Trail 31BH
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07-06-2012, 03:45 AM
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#18
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 937
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Hopefully ice will slosh enough to reach sensors. Our tank is at rear so that will help.I wondered how fast it would melt, too. I hope to dump it in just as we leave.
Scrubbing with soap is good...but I think the sensors are a constant issue, and only way to truly keep tanks clean is to spray well with a wand everytime you dump it. We use TST chemical from WM (there that is again) and generally doesn't smell...even after a couple weekends (we season trailer).
__________________
Eddy & Brenda
Canton, OH
2015 Silverado HD 6.0L
2014 Zinger 32QB
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07-06-2012, 09:40 AM
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#19
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Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location:
Posts: 194
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Anyone know of a good source for Calgon? Brinks/mortar or online? It's getting harder to find.
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07-06-2012, 11:55 AM
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#20
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,012
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That's why I used Boraxo, same thing except powder and easier to find, at WM aka Wally World, aka Walmart. etc..
__________________
Clif and Millie
Ozzie (half a dog tall & 2 dogs long)
Mabank, TX
2009 Ford Lariat F350 SRW CC Diesel
2013 Cruiser CF305SK Patriot Edition
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