Hi, Anyone used a waste smell trap for caravan?
If we don't leave plug in sinks and shower tray our caravan smells. We are going to get some drain and tank cleaner, but wondering if getting the traps would prevent smells happening in the future.
I use a mixture of white vinegar and bi-carbonate of soda to clean the pipes, about half a cup of each mix in sink after it stops effervescing release down the plug hole, works for me. I use diluted bleach in the waste tank(aqua waste) leave it overnight and rinse out the following day.
hi, I poured hot water down, then soda crystals, vinegar and di carb in the past cleared for while but came back soon as we went away.
Tank smells ok, must be pipes. we don't fry or grill food so it isn't grease must just be bits of food.
Will try pipe cleaner before we go away again then use bio tabs whilst on holiday if smell returns.
Thanks
If you can, try a very simple flush. You need to park the caravan somewhere off a campsite and get one person to hold their hand, or a cloth, over the outlet end of the waste pipe, pour cold water into the sink until the pipe is full, the person then removes the cloth from the end and the rush of water will wash out a lot of debris. Just be sure that there are two pipes, one from the shower, the other from the sink, otherwise you could flood the shower.
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
We block off the waste outlets then put 3 tablespoons bicarbonate of soda (can buy in larger quantities for cleaning from Wilco's) in the plug, followed by 3 tablespoons white vinegar, top up with warm water. Leave for a few hours before releasing. The products will dissolve grease and the rush of water will flush debris out.
------------- Jean
Sometimes a little rain must fall before you reach a rainbow.
The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you finish the work.
I simply leave the external outlet cover flaps open all the time including whilst towing. Never get any smells as the drain pipes are always ventilated. Never get mice in either.
Long, long ago I did get smells but back then I had the flaps closed.
I always put some Fenwicks tank and drain cleaner down all the plugholes after every trip. Never have any problems!
i did hear that bleach is not recommended as can damage the pipes.
------------- Enjoy life while you can, none of us know what's round the corner!
Block the pipes where they exit the van into the waste barrel.Then make up a solution of this and pour it down all the sinks till it comes up through the sink.Leave for a few hours and it will clean every thing out,thats what its made for..
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
Quote: Originally posted by jeff juke on 27/8/2017
Quote: Originally posted by diesel steve on 24/8/2017
pour bleach down drain and leave a few days
Pouring bleach down the sinks will make the plastic pipes brittle over time...
So you don't put bleach down your pipes in your kitchen or bathroom at home? They are all the same plastic. This is an old wives tale. Probably started by someone like Thetford, so they can flog you their own cleaners. Anything that gets put down, is normally flushed away before it causes 'damage'. I've only ever known UV to bugger plastic pipes.
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Topic: waste smell traps
