colleen Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 this is my first motorhome, it is one year old now, and despite the fact that I clean it from top to bottom after every trip, there is a very nasty smell especially in the bathroom, like a damp cloth. I have had the seal on the toilet cassette replaced, but it is not a loo type smell!!. I always empty the waste water tank regularly and I always wash the dishes in a basin and never put it into the wastewater tank. any tips please :$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Sorry no idea's :-| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peejay Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Hi Coleen, try some zoflora...hyacinth is probably he best one.... http://www.britsuperstore.com/acatalog/Zoflora.html pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Bell Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Mary, try one of these cheap humidifiers for a while, you have obviously got something damp which needs drying out. Homebase do a portable one which you could leave running for a few days at home to a nearby socket. Its worth a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel E Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 There are two possibilities that occur to me: 1. It could well be a smell from the waste water tank. Many motorhomes have showers that empty water straight into the tank without a U-trap. This means that foul air in the tank can waft straight back via the shower plug hole. After emptying the waste (grey water) tank, try putting an egg cup full of Thetford toilet chemical down a plug hole and add some water. If that's the cause, this will definitely cure it. 2. The smell could be caused by decaying wood. If (1) above doesn't solve the problem, have a damp check carried out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laidler Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 We had the same problem in our one year old Hymer, searched everything and eventually tracked it down to the waste tank. The smell was only evident when the tank was empty. The quick solution was to make sure all the plugs were firmly in place. Before we leave it empty for any time now, it always gets a cap full of toilet cleaner down the drain, it seems to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 We periodically put a bucket of water with some bleach added into the empty waste tank, and drive around a bit before emptying. This stops smells buildingup, but I would prefer to use someting a bit more eco friendly (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel E Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Robin, Both the Thetford (supposedly eco-friendly) GREEN and the BLUE no longer contain formaldehyde or other noxious chemicals. They were reformulated a few years' back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnP Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 It sounds like the waste tank. Do your sink outlets have a waste trap? A lot of vans don't. Probobly your easiest solution is to flush out the tank with thetford tank clean and then keep the sink plugs in position. Depending on your van it may be possible to retro fit waste traps or if the waste is flexible corrogated pipe form a simple u-bend in it just below the sink outlet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karmann Gipsy Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 It will be the waste tank. I tried various solutions to deal with it with mixed success, but was always concerned about the environmental implications of bleach etc. Finally found a VERY simple solution. When the van is not in use, (Or whilst travelling from site to site) leave the waste drain tap open rather than closed. This allows it to dry out and the additional air helps to get rid of the bacteria. Not had a problem since. (Although I would say that my van has a large bore dump valve rather than a tap system-it may not work as well on those.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 [QUOTE]Mel E - 2006-09-20 9:14 AM Robin, Both the Thetford (supposedly eco-friendly) GREEN and the BLUE no longer contain formaldehyde or other noxious chemicals. They were reformulated a few years' back.[/QUOTE] Thanks, Mel. We haven't used these for a while as we have a SOG toilet. I will get some and use instead of the bleach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mangothemadmonk Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Just keep your waste plugs in thier hole if thats where the smell is coming from. Johnny F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel E Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Robin, We too have a SOG, but still keep some Thetford Green for the grey tank. I'm afraid plug in holes doesn't always solve the problem. The usual problem is the shower waste which, being low down, rarely has any sort of trap, and, whilst driving, the swishing of the tank contents altering the air pressure above will loosen almost any plug. I know - we had the problem on our Mobilvetta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUD SHAW Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Hi, We found a product called Biomagic at Shepton Mallet Show. It is totally "green" and works in waste water tanks and toilets. You can buy on-line as well. Audrey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supertractorman Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Hi, On this subject do waste water tanks have a vent or is it reliant on other plug holes when draining the sinks? David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzy Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Milton is a good all-purpose cleaner, remember mum using it for the baby items years++ ago. Also the vets sell 'odour eliminator' [trade name] which can be used neat or diluted - it's good for getting pet smells out of fabrics/carpets as it's a biological liquid which 'eats' smells. Really! It worked for my tom-cat pee and NOTHING removes the smell of tom-cat pee ;-) - I also soaked hubby's whites in it after a tom-cat had lifted his tail on my washing GRRRR A little goes a long way. Used sparingly it lasts and works for ages - once the smell disappears it's done it's work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hymer C 9. Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 We also did the same as Karmann Gipsy on our previous van based on a Renault -Eriba Car a smaller motorvan than thiers but but traveling with the outlet tap opened after we had emptyed it got rid of the smell altogether, we were also told to put orange squash evironemtal friendly and this helps elemenate smells worth a try. cheers. Carol & Ed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Hi Colleen, have you by any chance got a 'tip-up-to-empty' wash basin in your bath room? I have known a face cloth get tipped down there, and that can give that type of smell. Just another thought on top of all the good info: already passed on to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 [QUOTE]Lizzy - 2006-09-20 8:00 PM Milton is a good all-purpose cleaner, remember mum using it for the baby items years++ ago. [/QUOTE] I seem to remember reading somewhere that there is an issue with using Milton - no doubt o.k. in the grey tank, but is not friendly to Truma boilers. (?) :-( :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel E Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Robin, Milton is apparently quite salty so can promote corrosion. However, we have always used it for any long winter layups - drained the sustem almost, added Milton to the fresh tank, then run it through everywhere before finally opening all the drain cocks. Sterilises and also prevents freezing. Never had any problems doing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUD SHAW Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 hi, Still say try "Biomagic". It works a treat. Aud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Dont put milton in the sink!!! I Remember an article where the sink pitted because of milton. Always been afraid to use it after seeing the photos. Leave drain open and keep plugs in shower and sinks. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docted Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 Colleen Bicarbonate of soda dissolved in a kettle of boiling water down the sink after you empty the waste tank has worked for me for several years eliminating odour and preventing recurrence. Docted Small containers sold for baking use half a tub at a time.Docted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 Sodium Metabisulphide as used by home brewers to sterilise equipment. Not poisonous either once rinsed out. Used extensively in food industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carebear Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 I am a victim of leaving Milton in the stainless steel, and yes i have a few small holes in the sink, bad habit of soaking the dishcloth in it. :'( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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