newbe question about TP

[Den]

Just wondering what toilet paper to use?  I understand it needs to be "RV or boat" but the prices go from high to very high.  Also, is it ok to use regular TP if the need arises.  

Like the commercial goes "we all go"

thanks

[Barbaraok]

Look for Septic Safe and use plenty of water.  No need to go expensive.  Lots of people use the Scott’s single ply. 

[sandsys]

Angel Soft is also good.

Linda Sand

[Den]

I was just reading the Charmin labels and they say that they are safe for septic systems.  Is this good enough?

[rynosback]

12 minutes ago, Den said:

I was just reading the Charmin labels and they say that they are safe for septic systems.  Is this good enough?

Yes

[lappir]

The key to keeping your black tank healthy is using a lot of water and emptying it only when very full or if you have the ability to flush it if doing a less than full empty. I don't use any chemicals. Charmin is septic safe, but does take longer to break down compared to some other brands. In a septic system it may not cause a problem, but if you have a person who uses a LOT of TP it could be a problem.  Save a few glass jars and do a test of your normal tp use. Place the clean amount you typically use in the jar full of water and set it somewhere dark for a day or two. Shake the jar and see how it's either still together or all broken up in tiny pieces. It's tiny pieces you want. If it takes longer than you typically plan to stay at a location you could have the potential for a bit of a clog.  The addition of human waste may speed the reaction, but I don't think anyone really wants to do that test. 

Rod

[Will B.]

We had plumbing issues at the house before we sold.  Tree roots loved to creep into our main sewer pipe out.  At that time, we started using the Scott 1-ply TP, to reduce blockage and reduce the frequency we had to have a plumber come out and "rooter" the pipe.

When we sold and went to the RV, and read about various issues, we used the same TP.  We haven't had a single blockage in two years.  Others are correct, though, that plenty of water in your flushing makes all the difference.  You can find it at almost every grocery store, Walmart, etc.

[Kirk W]

6 hours ago, Den said:

 Is this good enough?

Lappir gives a pretty good response to this question. Over the years I have learned that women in general use far more TP than do men and that can make TP more of a problem. While we use Charmin at home, we use the Scott's single ply in our RVs and have done so for many years and have never had a problem. How much TP is too much for the RV system is a very subjective question since no 2 of us use the same amount of TP per use and the water used each flush is not measured. Scott's single ply is less in total volume per use in most cases and the mix of TP & feces to the volume of water is the key. Some RV owners also believe that adding chemicals to the black tank help, while many others (and myself) believe that it is a waste of money. Since there is really no definitive answer to these questions, we can really only tell you what we have personally done and those results, what we have observed others do and their claimed results, and what we read or hear around a campfire. 

We have known more than a few RV people who never put the used TP into the black tank but keep a trash bag next to the toilet and put it there. If you were to do that, the brand, quality, and amount of TP used will never matter, but I'm pretty sure that the majority of us do put the TP into the black tank, as we do.

Since the only experience that I personally know to be absolutely true is ours here is what we have done. In our earliest years we used chemicals all of the time and also RV TP. After a few years we learned to save money by going to a single ply, septic safe TP and so stopped with the RV store stuff. In the 1990's we tried several home-brew chemicals in our tanks and learned that nothing really makes the stuff in them odorless and the tank vents are key to that. In early 2000 we sold the house and went fulltime, and after 2 years we attended a seminar on waste tanks usage put on by an engineer from Thetford who suggested that generous use of water and septic safe TP used sparingly were the keys to proper breakdown of solids. Dump the black tank only when half full or more and be very generous in water use. We always fill the toilet bowl to at least the half way point if leaving solids behind and we try to limit the amount of Scott's single ply used. We lived that way fulltime for another 10 years and have continued the practice now that we are part time. In all of those years I have never experienced a plugged up waste tank. 

Edited September 19, 2021 by Kirk W
repair a typo

[jamtracy]

7 hours ago, Den said:

I was just reading the Charmin labels and they say that they are safe for septic systems.  Is this good enough?

That is what we use and have never had an issue. Use plenty of water and flush well.

[LindaH]

8 hours ago, Den said:

I was just reading the Charmin labels and they say that they are safe for septic systems.  Is this good enough?

We've been using Charmin for years.  The key, no matter which toilet paper you use, is to use plenty of water when you flush.  And, of course, keeping the black tank closed until it's time to dump!

[Darryl&Rita]

We use whatever's on sale. Charmin, Kirkland, Kitten brand, whatever. No single ply garbage, either. Good bit of water, dump only when 3/4 full or better. Multiple RVs, many many years.

[Ray,IN]

3 hours ago, LindaH said:

We've been using Charmin for years.  The key, no matter which toilet paper you use, is to use plenty of water when you flush.  And, of course, keeping the black tank closed until it's time to dump!

I totally agree! The question of which TP brand to use was solved years ago by a girl performing a science project: The great toilet paper debate is solved!

 Well, unless the black tank is dumped more often than every 20 minutes.

[TXiceman]

Now the great debate is is the correct way to put the roll on the holder....over the front or over the back.  But that is already solved.  The original patent for toilet paper shows the paper over the front of the roll.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toilet-paper-roll-patent-US465588-0.png

 

Ken

[sandsys]

1 hour ago, TXiceman said:

Now the great debate is is the correct way to put the roll on the holder....over the front or over the back.

For awhile there was a toilet paper with a printed design on one side. It only looked good if you put the roll on over the top.

But, Dave's sister learned to put the TP on the holder going under--otherwise their cat would unroll all of it.

Linda

[Kirk W]

1 hour ago, Ray,IN said:

The question of which TP brand to use was solved years ago by a girl performing a science project:

Science? Are you serious that you believe this?   

[TXiceman]

48 minutes ago, Kirk W said:

Science? Are you serious that you believe this?   

Magical thinking!

 

Ken

[Darryl&Rita]

48 minutes ago, Kirk W said:

Science? Are you serious that you believe this?   

Believe what? Girl? Science? Girls in science?

[Kirk W]

40 minutes ago, Darryl&Rita said:

Believe what?

Did you read the scientific study his link leads to? 

[2gypsies]

A lot easier if unrolled from the top!

Since we're back to the toilet paper debate here's a good article with a 'clicky' for their testing.

https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Toilet_Paper_Choices.php

[sandsys]

5 hours ago, Kirk W said:

Science? Are you serious that you believe this?

Why not? It's replicable. In fact, it's what most of us did when deciding which TP to use. Angel Soft fell apart quickly which made me happy since I liked that brand and it was readily available at Walmart.

Linda

[Darryl&Rita]

6 hours ago, Kirk W said:

Did you read the scientific study his link leads to? 

I had. Answer the question, please.

[Dutch_12078]

We've used Charmin for years with no problems. As said, using enough water is the key regardless of the brand. Charmin may take a little longer than some to break down, but it still breaks down faster than my old body can pull up my pants and run outside to dump the tank.

[hemsteadc]

Scott

[Ray,IN]

On 9/19/2021 at 2:49 PM, Kirk W said:

Science? Are you serious that you believe this?   

Her mother posted that many years ago; yes a science project for school. Don't make too much fun of her, she's an adult now.

[noteven]

TP has to pass the FPT*

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Finger Puncture Test