Cleaning the water tank

Peekay · Member

Cleaning the water tank

Happywanderer · The Master

Add baking soda to the water, let sit for a while, then rinse out. Won't even matter if a little gets left behind.

aussietraveller · Guru

If you want a commercial product there are several that Camac have I purchased some there a couple of years ago I now flush and empty the water tanks when I return home.

barrie · Guru

Caravan shops have a product called Tank Clean and is very good cost is $14 used it on mine a few weeks ago

Cruising Granny · Guru

Carb soda and vinegar with water. Fill the tanks, leave a few days, then drain and flush with fresh water. Use as much or as little as you like.
No chemicals. Nothing nasty, and it's CHEAP.
The tanks will be fresh and clean with no algae.

jetj · Guru

Bicarb and vinegar with water is my preferred.

golivers travels · Guru

Cleaning tanks can be VERY COSTLY!. I went into buy some purifying tablets for our tanks and came out with a new van! They were expensive tablets, and yes I bought the tablets first. Glenda

neilnruth · Guru

WoW! and to think I looked at those tablets today in the caravan shop... just as well I didn't pick them up.

Peekay · Member

Thanks everybody! We'll give the vinegar and bicarb a go first and save using the commercial big guns unless or until it's necessary. Can't afford a new van just yet - only just bought this one. It's amazing though isn't it? The stickers have barely worn off the tyre treads and we're already talking about "the next one". Mmm. Best stay away from those caravan shops!

Beth54 · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:
Carb soda and vinegar with water. Fill the tanks, leave a few days, then drain and flush with fresh water. Use as much or as little as you like.
No chemicals. Nothing nasty, and it's CHEAP.
The tanks will be fresh and clean with no algae.

In what ratio CG?

Peekay · Member

We would like to know this too. My husband is thinking 1 litre of vinegar to 10L water, but has no idea on the bicarb. Maybe a cup?

confuse

bruceg · Veteran Member

Arrrmmm, vinegar is a weak acid and bi-carb is a weak alkali. Mixing them together with water means they just neutralize each other and disappear giving off a fizz of carbon dioxide gas.

What I think the correct procedure is -

* Attack any contamination and corrosion by completely filling the tanks with a 1-2% vinegar solution for a few days, then drain it out.

* Follow up with a 1% bi-carbonate solution for another couple of days to completely remove all the vinegar.

* Then flush with 2-3 rinses of clean water, and leave open to dry out completely.

The low concentration vinegar solution can go down the drain, but it can also be used as a low strength cleaner for the caravan walls and the concrete pad under it. Rinsing the depleted vinegar solution off after the 'second cleaning' will dilute it enough to NOT affect plants or lawns. Bi-carb breaks down over a couple of days and therefore will be at very low strength when poured on top of the vinegar etched concrete to complete the cleaning.

bye.

iana · Guru

I can further that, the acid solution removes the mineral deposits, i.e. calcium, and the alkali solution removes organic. Citric acid makes a good finish rinse.