The Geo Method

Just a note of thanks

2011-10-25T11:58:00.001-05:00

I wanted to say thank you for all the great advice. I have been having a few problems and just didn't know what to do. The chemicals that the camper store try to sell me just didn't seem like the answer. Your "plan" is so simple and practical (I should of thought of it myself) that I can do it right away and feel progress has been made and success can't be far behind! Thanks again and happy trails!

Sincerely,
Joy Marcantel

Thank you

2011-10-25T11:56:00.001-05:00

Mr. Bruni,

We purchased a used 2006 Wildcat 29RLBS last month. I have always hated the thoughts of using chemicals in a RV. I was so pleased to come across your geomethod. I am going to try your method at home this weekend.
Thanks so much!!!

Ed Cannon
Easley, SC

Holding Tanks

2011-08-21T06:29:00.000-05:00

Hi Charles,

First I want to thank you for taking time to write that article on the Geo Method.

We just bought our first RV and it was used because we did not want to spend a lot of money on something that we may not enjoy. I am SO fussy about the things I own and take really good care of them, kinda like my care for my Harley. :-) I have spent HOURS reading things on a few forums as well as some on You Tube. I have spend the last three weeks checking EVERYTHING in the RV, frig and care, cleaning out water heater, check this and checking that. Once I have done this, then I feel better because I know for myself that is was clean and checked. :)

We are going on our first outing this coming labor day week-end and the place we are going to has sewers at each site, so tomorrow I am going to buy the stuff you suggested and put it in my tanks and it will have time to soak and the drive to the CG is approx 50 miles and will have time for water movement. The morning before leaving, I will clean the gray and black tank well before leaving since we have the dump at our site.

Thanks again for the good advise. If ever in the San Diego area, give me a shout.

Regards,

Barry

One Wild & Crazy Guy!!8^)

2011-07-10T07:02:00.003-05:00

Gotta love your Geo Method as posted at http://sites.google.com/site/cbruni/ , and, in particular, your humor. 'Don't think it's a good idea? Then don't do it!! DUH!!' I think perhaps Diogenes could have found his 'Honest Man' here (and, yes, I know it was actually 'human', but the point is the same, even more poignant <short version>).

Sound logic.

Realistic method.

2^nd Amendment, and…

'Fair TAXES'? oh, HELL no, we can't have both simplicity and fairness get ANYwhere NEAR government business, now CAN we?

I trust you actually 'get' me right back.

YOU GO!!

AND REMEMBER: IT AIN'T WORTH DOIN' IF YA CAN'T MAKE IT FUN!!

Carl Hockett & Sharon Reese

Santa Rosa, California

And beyond!!! .

'73 GMC Canyon Lands 260 Motorhome

Tank Maintenance

2011-01-01T16:12:00.002-06:00

From: Capt. Steve
Date: Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 14:40
Subject: Tank Maintenance
To: cbruni@gmail.com

Dear Mr. Bruni,

We are about to buy our first TT.

I only want to thank you for sharing your methods. I realize that it takes time and effort!

I don't see what would be wrong with starting out from the get go with the water softener in the tanks. Unless I hear otherwise that's what I'm going to do.

Thanks again,

Steve Preece

Geo Method

2010-10-27T16:58:00.002-05:00

Hi Charles,

I stumbled across your article link in the http://www.fiberglassrv.com/ forums today
and want to thank you for it. I knew some of these things but you sure put
it all together in a nice neat package. I've printed it out and will share
it with people.

I would just add one thing that a lot of people find somewhat revolting. We
keep a small "step lid" stainless waste can in our potty and put ALL TP in
there. Tossing the bag once a day, or so, is no big problem and totally
eliminates the paper worry. I know a lot of people who do that with their
own septic tanks at home too. It's amazing just how much TP one or two
people generate. Why put it in there at all?

Just thought I'd share that.

Regards,

Keith

E. Keith Williams

Thanks for "The Geo Method!"

2010-10-12T17:16:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine shared your post (not sure where he got it) describing The Geo Method, and I just wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for putting that together. I love your no-nonsense style of writing, very effective!!

AND . . . it's very simple to understand, so of course no questions!!!!

Thanks again!

Kim & Laura Swesey

New River, AZ

[Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Black tank Flush

2010-07-06T18:35:00.001-05:00

Bruni,

I just want to say thank you. I have now used your Geo Method Exclusively. Every dump includes Softener,Soap,Bleach------I do not use any other chemicals, and have not had a single odor problem.

Thank You

Stan

On Nov 23, 2009, at 8:22 AM, Gordo wrote:

Okay fellow CC holding tank people.... Gordo here once again on this rather dirty subject. Read and relax and enjoy clean holding tanks. It's not a hard issue. Been clean and free of nasty holding tank issues for 45 years (thanks Dad) This guy below has it down n dirty so read it.
Gordo
99 Allure 30344 without a black tank issues!

the waste water tank treatment article

2009-10-03T06:09:00.003-05:00

From: maren rae
Date: Sat, Oct 3, 2009 at 02:33
Subject: the waste water tank treatment article
To: cbruni@gmail.com

Thanks!
No questions. Just thanks.
I just got a tiny RV ( Bigfoot Class B) and I don't want to use the blue stuff. Jeeze, it says right on it " formaldehyde". Who would want that in their home environment?
maren from montana

GEO METHOD

2009-08-29T12:44:00.003-05:00

From: Michael Buskovitz
Date: Sat, Aug 29, 2009 at 11:35
Subject: GEO METHOD
To: cbruni@gmail.com

Cool, well thought out, and now my tank maintenance system. Thank you!

Mike

The GEO Method

2009-08-23T16:23:00.002-05:00

From: Jim Siemers Date: Sun, Aug 23, 2009 at 14:51
Subject: The GEO Method
To: cbruni@gmail.com

Just wanted to let you know how much I have appreciated the GEO method over the years.

I've been using it for at least 3 years and it works great.

The only problem I have had is that I started using the liquid CALGON and really like it. However, I do have a hard time finding it in the stores. When in Yuma, AZ went to every Wal Mart and grocery store in the area and could not locate any. Was forced to use the dry stuff. Now, whenever I find the liquid product, I buy a large quantity and store it. Doesn't hurt to have a six month supply on hand.

Thanks for the advice!

Jim Siemers

geo method....thanks

2009-05-02T06:06:00.006-05:00

From: Bob and Loree Fletcher

Date: Fri, May 1, 2009 at 19:52
Subject: geo method....thanks
To: cbruni@gmail.com

I am new to having a camper and after reading your "long" article, I now understand what i need to do without any of the trial and error I would have had to do.

Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to help others
Bob

Tank cleaning

2008-12-23T10:22:00.002-06:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Glenn De Vries
Date: Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 10:45
Subject: Tank cleaning
To: cbruni

Thank you for the info. When I empty I have full tanks. I use a maserator. I empty the black 1st of course, when it runs out I leave the black value open and flush the black with my grey water. I close the grey value when the black is again draining using the grey water as a flush. I do this until the black runs grey. This is a new procedure that I just started doing and it appears to be doing the job. One of my concerns at first was having the black backup into my grey - but that appears not to be happening. I make sure that my grey water is full before doing this procedure so that the black doesn't backup into the grey. We use the washing machine for doing the clothes daily when we are hooked up to water, so the grey has lots of soap. I haven't added calgon but am going to add that to my procedure. Thanks for the tip(s), they are appreciated.

Happy Holidays. Saw your post on CC.

Glenn De Vries

The Geo Method in the United Kingdom

2008-05-03T07:25:00.002-05:00

Follow the link.

http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/american-rv/2008-rv-tank-cleaning.html

Water Softeners

2008-05-03T07:18:00.002-05:00

lanerd wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:

Liquid, Powder, Don't matter (for those who wonder) even the brand is not all that important

Not necessarily...
Yes, there are many different "brands" of water softeners; however, be careful as one is not always as good as another. Softeners fall into either one of two "groups": Precipitating and non-precipitating, and most of the time, the labels will not tell you which is which. You have to know for your self.

The first group (precipitating) is not recommended for the GEO method as it has some characteristics that while are not harmful to our black tanks, does not really work as well. This group contains the brands: Arm and Hammer Washing Soda, Raindrops, Blue Dew, Borax, Climalene, Melo, White King Water Softener, and Borateem.

The second group (non-precipitating) is the one that is best used for the GEO Method and the brands are: Calgon (a mixture of non-precipitating and precipitating chemicals), White Rain, Blue Raindrops, and Spring Rain. These softeners ties up hardness minerals in the water and holds them in solution (sequestering). No visible particles are formed. The water remains clear and usually contains phosphates. The water feels slippery (which also makes the sides of the black tanks slippery).

So, when you can't find Calgon, look for the others....just make sure you don't buy the precipitating type. Also, it's much easier on the tanks (and you) if you only use a liquid for both the water softener and the detergent. I get my Calgon from drugstore.com in 32oz bottles (usually 4 at a time). If you "have" to use a powdered form, dilute it in a gallon of "hot" water and make sure it dissolves completely prior to putting it in your tanks.

Hope this alleviates some of the confusion.

...this is great information: thanks!

Thanks for the wonderful idea

2008-04-14T23:01:00.002-05:00

I just purchased a 5th wheel and pickup. I have been
surfing the net for RV ideas and happened on your
site. I will be trying our your idea on my first trip
this week and I am glad I won't have to buy a lot of
high priced chemical treatments. Thanks very much. Bob

Thank you
Bob Joss
Mukilteo, WA

Geo Method

2007-10-15T20:10:00.000-05:00

from
Beth Farmer

date
Oct 15, 2007 4:56 PM

subject
Geo Method

THANKS! We came home from our last camping trip with a sewage clog and problems. We were horrified at what would have to be done to fix things. However, we researched and found your geo method and tried it. It worked! No more problems. Thank you so much for sharing. We'll be geoing from now on!

one and a half questions

2006-06-12T11:27:00.000-05:00

Yep.

Hi,

You mention that you only use your geo method every 4-10 dumps approx. Does that mean that you only put plain water in the holding tank in between? And there is no odor?

Thanks!

Denise

Your Geo Method - a question

2006-05-09T15:10:00.000-05:00

Use detergent, water softener, and chlorine bleach. If you use powder, dissolve it first. I prefer the cheapest ingredients I can find. cb

Thank you for posting your very informative article on "The Geo Method". We
are new RVers and plan to immediately change our waste water method from
purchased bottled chemicals to this method.

Is there any particular brand of laundry detergent you prefer? We use liquid
Tide Free at home which has no or little odor. I detest strong perfumes in
laundry products. You did mean liquid laundry detergent correct.

Thanks again -

Anne and Joe
TwoMaineiacs on the road from Maine

Thanks for sharing.

2006-04-27T11:04:00.000-05:00

I wanted to say thanks so much for a well written and logical explanation of the whole process.
Being new to Rving it certainly helped, and made sense. Especially considering some of the other concoctions I have read and really been too concerned about mixing chemicals to try.

So thanks again. We really appreciate it.

Ben & Ana Modert

Fiver

2006-04-25T07:13:00.000-05:00

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you,,,,finally someone with some plain common sense,,I am so tired of the blue stuff…doesn’t work well anyway….I am a believer…

Kevin F. Howell

thanks

2006-04-11T11:03:00.000-05:00

I just read the geo method of tank cleaning. So simple. Our gray kitchen tank always reads full, so I am going to try this this week

thanks

Robert

Robert Sloane
Morgan Research Corporation- Implementation Group
AMLCMC G4 - Environmental Division
AMSAM-EN-EV
robert.sloane@redstone.army.mil
256 313 1713
DSN 897 1713

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all.

chlorine

2006-04-01T23:37:00.000-06:00

1/2 to a gallon for each of my 40 gallon black and gray tanks. 1-2 cups for my 40 gallon fresh water tank.

How much clorox do you add per gallon of water for the fresh water tank
and for the black tank? Tanks on my rv are 13 gallons for the black
tank and 25 gallons for the fresh water tank.

Thanks,

TONY

Thanks

2006-02-26T10:41:00.000-06:00

I just read your article on the cleaning and maintenance of RV tanks. Makes perfect sense to me. For years I have been driving with a small amount of soapy water in black and grey tanks, but never considered either the bleach or water softener. From now on I will do it your way.

I have also thought that the addition of a small amount of chlorine to the fresh water tank at the start of each season might be a good idea but have never tried it. Any thoughts on how much bleach is effective with out being too strong? I seem to recall something from my boy scout days, a long time ago, about putting a small amount of bleach into what we referred to as a water buffalo.

It was a canvas water bag of about 40 gal capacity that was hung from a tree to provide drinking water for all of the campers. The fact that it was made of cloth made it easy to fold when not in use, and it would sweat a small amount of water through the bag and the resulting evaporation kept the water cool.

Thanks again for your insight. !

Bob Chiarello, Saratoga Springs, NY

Geo method question from newbie

2005-10-31T17:39:00.000-06:00

Powder is always cheaper by volume. Other than that no. Keep in mind you're flushing this stuff down the toilet. Detergent is detergent is detergent.

auntsis@comcast.net wrote:

Regarding the laundry detergent (I like Tide) does it matter if I use powdered or liquid?

Thank you,

Christina
 

the method

2005-10-27T20:39:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the feedback, Frank. Folks have a hard time believing that simple laundry products are very effective in cleaning wastewater tanks. Your comments will certainly encourage those still sitting on the fence. cb

Frank wrote:

Hello cbruni.. well you geo method has gotten such a large splash ,I just had to try it .. Here's my take . I doubt I'll ever be able to sanitize a holding tank that holds human waste ,But I sure would like to have all the contents drain at the dump station and not leave any clumps of paper or whatever behind. So I started adding the water softener (Calgon) at the middle of last season 2004, in our Jayco 5th.The immediate result of that was all the paper and other clumps dissolved and passed out of the sewer hose easily and efficiently. One extra flush with the San-T-Flush and the job is complete. If we are at a dump station where I would not go through an extra flush in order not to hold up other folks waiting ,I now have the confidence that the black holding tank does not have any extra 'stuff' left behind to cause a problem later on.
We have since traded the Jayco for a 06' BigHorn and I use the same treatment in the new 45 gal tanks.
So thanks for doing the research and providing us (the RV'ing community) with a simple and easy system using commonly available materials.
See you down the road........Frank C

Geo Method Works!!!!!

2005-10-27T17:05:00.000-05:00

Still have doubts about trying The Geo Method? Look here.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/16426901.cfm

The Geo Method, Thanks so much!

2005-09-29T09:56:00.000-05:00

Thanks for a wonderful method of cleaning tanks! You make it so easy! I will never understand how people get things so mixed up! You would think bleach is a man-eating chemical!

I bought some chemical one time from a regular camping dealer. It also had a bleach smell to it. Wished now I had read the ingredients on the box. Not the blue junk you buy at Wal Mart.

We bought a new camper last year, and your method is the only one I will use.

I used your method on my old camper, recirculating toilet, before you had posted your method.

I just used laundry soap and bleach to clean it after dumping it. Actually long before I had a computer, I was using laundry soap and bleach to clean the toilet.

I work in a nursing home as a cook. Bleach is used throughout the food industry.

I just really wanted to tell you thank you.

I first read about your method on Open Roads Form about a year ago.

Georgia Nuehring Bruns

researching Nuhring, Nuehring, Nehring, Kreplin, Warnholtz, Grossman, Yauslin, Homeyer, Sander,Kregel,Stade, Von Stade, Rohn, Borcherding, Schultz, and many others. From Iowa, Husum, Krein, Germany, and other places.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/r/u/Georgia-A-Bruns/

Have a great day and may God Bless You!

New RV owner

2005-09-27T09:44:00.000-05:00

In brand new tanks you don't need to do anything. They're clean. Use The Geo Method every half dozen dumps (more or less) and that will maintain them. Don't sweat it - it's easy - you'll see. Thanks for writing.

Mr. Bruni-

I have read your Geo Method with great interest. Common sense to me says this will work. I hate the Blue Stuff smell! Being new RV owners - we pick up our unit this week - what would you recommend for a new tank system. My "logic" tells me to use the method on the new tanks in some way - maybe fill black and gray tanks part way with water, apply the softener and detergent before use. I look forward to your suggestion. Thanks for reading this.

Help with bugs in black tank (kinda disgusting)

2005-09-10T14:35:00.000-05:00

Ok we got to the CG friday night wife yells at me there something on the toilet. I go in there is little brown spots all over the bottom of the lid, the seat, the bowl. Then I lifted the lid and there some little white maggot looking bugs still alive under there. There were about 1/8" long and about the size of a uncooked spaghetti noodle. So I got out the chlorox wipes and cleaned the whole toilet. Then I ran to town and got a gallon of bleach and dumped about a quart in the tank with some water. Then I started a process of filling the toilet all the way to overflow then giving it about a tablespoon of bleach letting it sit about 15 minutes then flushing it and starting it all over again. I did that probably 6 times. I even dumped bleach down the overflow tube thinking that maybe that is where they were coming from. The brown dried up spots where these bugs that had died and they were crusty. I let a bowl full of water and bleach sit in the toilet overnight. That seemed to take care of it for the weekend. Monday when I dumped to come home I filled my BW tank 3 times and dumped it then filled it back with some water and dumped about a cup of bleach for the drive home. I checked when we got home and I had 1 of these little bugs alive back in the tank I got rid of him and checked again this morning there was 1 more alive. I talked to my wife at lunch and she said there were 2 more alive. These last ones were all in the bowl itself. I am gonna try and save one to show our bug guy here at work see if he can identifiy it. The only thing I have done differently is I installed a quickie flush and used it for the first time on the last trip which was two weeks ago. I dumped the black then flushed with the QF while the grey tank was dumping then dumped the black again and called it good. I also use the calgon water softner and laundry detergent system in my black water tank. Anyone have any suggestions comment or ideas about all this. I appreciate any help.

Dave 66
Denise (Boss)70
Delaney (Real Boss)02
2003 2500 Dodge CTD 48RE 3:73 LSD
1995 Starcraft 24RK
====================================================

Just dump a half gallon of chlorine bleach(!), two cups or more of laundry detergent, and two or more cups of water softener into the black tank, fill it the rest of the way with fresh water, and let it sit for a few days. That'll solve the problem. Period. cb

Water Softener: Wonder Stuff!

2005-09-10T12:59:00.000-05:00

Water softener doesn't just work well in waste water tanks. Try adding it to laundry, the automatic dishwasher, the soap bucket when washing cars, trucks, and RVs, and the detergent solution when shampooing carpets and automotive upholstery. It forces dirt to let go and allows detergent to work more efficiently and effectively. It's a chemistry thing.

"Slickening up the insides of the tanks.."

2005-08-28T22:29:00.000-05:00

I've read posts about water softener slickening up the insides of the tanks on various RV forums quite frequently. One guy got the idea to put Rain-X in his black tank to accomplish this. He says it works. I don't know. Other people have tried vegtable oils, mineral oil, fabric softener, etc. Water softener does NOT make the insides of the tanks slick. Instead, the water softener is treating the water; not the tanks.

Water softener softens water. It doesn't make the insides of the tanks slick, it alters the water to keep stuff from sticking to the tank's insides, and combined with detergent will cause gunk stuck to the insides of the tanks to let go. Another way of looking at it is that water softener, detergent, and chlorine bleach, are all working to CLEAN the tanks. Adding vegtable oil makes the tanks dirty.

I also see posts that warn that chlorine bleach will make plastic waste water tanks brittle. I love that one. Those who make that claim seem to have never noticed that chlorine bleach is sold in PLASTIC jugs.

The idea behind The Geo Method is to use inexpensive, yet very effective, laundry products in NORMAL combination to CLEAN AND SANITIZE waste water tanks.

Water Softener

2005-08-23T09:44:00.000-05:00

The water softener salts are NOT powdered water softener. Those products are used to recharge mechanical water softening systems. It is NOT the same thing. Calgon water softener powder is what I prefer for convenience. Any liquid or powdered water softener should work. Again, print the Calgon water softener page from the link in The Geo Method article, take it to your grocery store's general manager, and ask him to order it for you. Some will order it; others won't. Many Wal-Marts stock the liquid Calgon. You may consider asking them to order it for you.

On a side note, we normally buy Calgon water softener powder at our local Albertson's. When I first started buying it in 2002 the store never had more than four boxes. Over time I noticed that they gradually seemed to be stocking more. Yesterday I noticed that they had devoted a second row of shelf space to it which would allow them to stock 18-24 boxes. Is this apparent increase in demand related to my RVing neighbors switching to The Geo Method? Who knows, but it's interesting. cb

Dear Mr. Bruni:

I would love to try your Geo Method in my RV but am having trouble locating the Calgon Water Softener. Have found large bags of other brands of water softeners labeled as softener salts, don't want to use salts with detergent and chlorine unless you tell me it would work. Am located south of Raleigh, NC, a relatively small town but with 8 supermarkets, Home Depot and Wal-Mart. Nobody knows what I am trying to find.

Thank you for your assistance.

Margarete Peterson

Public806@att.net

Fuquay Varina, NC

You gotta use enough..

2005-08-18T11:48:00.000-05:00

Occasionally, people write to me asking how much water softener, detergent, and bleach to use. I outline it in The Geo Method article. It takes a scoop of laundry detergent in a washing machine to wash clothes. It takes a half cup of Calgon water softener to wash clothes. It takes a cup of bleach to wash clothes. RV holding tanks hold WAY more water than a washing machine. RV holding tanks hold WAY more dirt than a load of laundry. You have to use enough water softener, detergent, and chlorine bleach, to clean RV waste water tanks because they hold more water and dirt than a typical load of laundry.

You'll have to figure how much you need for your tanks. However, if you don't use enough to do the job, don't be surprised when the job doesn't get done. Try again using more.

After doing a search,, need advive on flushing black tank

2005-08-16T12:19:00.000-05:00

This guy needs a reality check. C&P from an RV forum. Here's the link:

http://irv2.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/2636094452/m/2211067951

_________________________________________________

[/QUOTE]

Hmmm. Yes, the "Geo Method". I've seen your plugs on many other forums as well and I appreciate the energy and time you have put into the writeup. However, without any more evidence and scientific support for this method, (other than your "understanding of chemistry, physics, and biology with a smidgen of common sense thrown in for good measure"), I file this with other information I have received from experienced RVers. No better, no worse. I do wonder a bit at your motivation for having a website and Blog just for this subject but maybe it's just my skeptical nature.
[/QUOTE]

"However, without any more evidence and scientific support for this method.." So, you're saying that you need an MIT research project to convince you that laundry products are very effective at cleaning dirt? Wow. That's why I mention a smidgen of common sense in The Geo Method article. The idea is very amusing. An august assembly of Harvard scatologists gathered around a model of an RV waste water system in a state of the art laboratory, with their heads stuck down an RV commode, trying to figure out if laundry products will clean dirt out of a black tank. You must work for the government.

In your skeptical mind, what does my motivation have to do with whether or not what I have suggested in The Geo Method works? You make it sound as though I'm trying to corner the market on waste water. It's a statement without meaning intended to baselessly impugn (call into question) my integrity. People who've tried The Geo Method have found that it works really well. Many of us don't want either pickled poop adhering to the insides of our tanks, the blue stuff stink, or an active bacteria colony thriving in our tanks. We just want to be able to clean the tanks easily and cheaply.

Ok, so I set up a homepage and blog for The Geo Method. So, what? What does that tell your discerning mind? The nefarious Mr. Geo wants to know.

As Buggs Bunny would have quipped, "What a Maroon.."

The Geo Method Discussion Forum Threads

2005-08-14T15:10:00.000-05:00

http://www.rvusa.com/forum/main/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4027

http://www.rvusa.com/forum/main/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4026

http://www.afnash.com/forum/view_topic.php?id=929&forum_id=9&highlight=Geo

http://irv2.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/9156094452/m/5071053241

http://www.rvecafe.com/bwater.html

The Geo Method

2005-08-14T01:07:00.000-05:00

DAVID D WILEY wrote:

Just found your information--had heard about it but hadn't read the whole story. I have a question I didn't see addressed in your article--about using bleach in the tanks. I had heard that bleach will damage rubber seals--is this true? Also--chlorine and ammonia don't mix--is there
enough ammonia in urine to make a different and vent dangerous fumes? Taking a whiz into a newly cleaned toilet that has not been flushed will show what I am talking about!

I've been doing this since 2002 with no apparent damage to anything. This includes two six month periods of full-timing. From my experienceThe Geo Method is very effective, inexpensive, AND harmless. cb

The tanks are vented through the roof to the outside. I'm certain there must be at least a chlorine bleach smell, but I've never even noticedthat when flushing the commode or at any other time. cb

In 40 years of RVing we've never had a black tank problem (except when we cracked one going up a bank after crossing a stream!) We dry camp mostly--use minimal water when flushing but dump all sink water, with detergent, into the toilet. We keep water and chemical in the tank when not using it, until we store it for winter. We sometimes go 2 weeks before dumping during hunting season. Fill tanks, if not already so, before dumping. We have found that public dump stations don’t have hoses that will attach to a Flush King, and frankly don't have enough room to carry a non-potable one with us. We pay $5 for each dump--if we then take it home and do a flush, we have to haul it back to the private campground and dump again for the same price before heading for the storage lot. We always use RV paper, and wet-only paper goes into a plastic bag lined waste can, not flushed. We do use a toilet chemical. Can water softener be used with these chemicals? We are using Odor-less at the moment. If not, we could add water softener after dumping, no chemical, with the 5 or more gallons of water we add to the tank. It sloshes the 5 miles home, then 6 more or so to storageafter we unload the trailer.

Don't mix chemicals unless you know what you're doing. All I'm suggesting is using laundry products in normal combination to clean waste water tanks; not mixing something else in there with it. I am NOT mixing chemicals in unusual or novel combinations, and advise others notto do so. cb

I wouldn't make an extra trip to dump. You can use The Geo Method whether the tanks are empty or full of waste water. If the tanks are empty fill them about half way first, then let them sit with water softener, detergent, and chlorine bleach, until you're ready to dump again. I've let the solution sit in the tanks for over two weeks at atime. cb

The Geo Method WILL make the stuff let go of the insides of the tanks. However, without a thorough flushing, my tanks can't move all that stuff out of the drain hole without the Flush King. My tanks sag at thebottom. Your's may be different. cb

Thanks for providing this information. I am going to add a link to our Northwood Owners Forum (Nash, Arctic Fox and Desert Fox trailers and5th wheels).

Great! Thanks. cb

Linda Wiley
Salem, Oregon
2002 Arctic Fox 25R
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the geo method

2005-08-10T12:35:00.000-05:00

If you're worried about dumping into your septic tank at home I suggest going to an RV park with full hook-ups to dump. Two cups of Calgon Water Softener amounts to four laundry loads at a half cup per load. Your washing machine holds far less than 30 gallons.

The chlorine bleach is necessary if you want to kill odor and germs in the tanks. I put it in and dump it several days later. By that time the bleach has broken down and is no longer present.

Keep in mind that I only use The Geo Method once in several (4-10 - I don't actually count) waste water tank dumps. Once the tanks are clean they're easy to maintain.

No, I haven't done a study. These are common laundry products used by literally tens of millions of Americans every day while doing laundry. These products are also VERY effective in cleaning and sanitizing RV waste water tanks. The reason for this is that the stuff contained in waste water tanks is essentially the same kind of dirt we all get on our clothing and linens. Considering the vast amounts of these products used on a daily basis across the country, if they damaged waste water systems we'd all have been in deep trouble long ago.

Karen Hudick wrote:

I came upon your website through some links in an RV forum and have but a few questions.

I generally dump my tanks (30 gallons each) into my home septic system upon my return home because we use the RV as a mobile motel and rarely have access to dump facilities. When our septic system was being installed, I spoke with the designer and he recommended that we refrain from dumping concentrations of chemical into it at one time. He noted that chlorine products and the bacteria in our tanks did not mix well and that any concentration of chemical could upset the ecology of the tanks significantly.

I noted that your technique uses considerably more water softener in one tank load than one would use to wash several loads of laundry and the same is true of the chlorine bleach (which we don't use at home).

Have you ever done an actual study (rather than a theoretical/academic projection) of the impact of introducing the contents of both a gray water and a black water tank ( using your technique) into a home septic system in such concentrations at one time? I'd be interested in the results.

With best regards,

Mike Hudick

Manheim, PA

Chlorine Bleach

2005-07-17T18:33:00.000-05:00

Not happy with the title of "World's Most Popular Germ-Killer", bleach is also used in great quantities by industries worldwide. An enormous commercial market for industrial bleach exists, where it used for wastewater treatment, drinking water disinfection and textile and paper manufacturing. It is used to treat sewage and industrial wastes to reduce odors and increase digesting efficiency. Hypochlorite bleach neutralizes sulfer hydrogen gas (SH) and ammonia (NH3). It detoxifies cyanide baths in metal finishing industries and treats cyanide effluents created by gold mining. Bleach is also used to recover precious metals from manufacturing solutions. Air scrubbing systems use bleach to destroy pathogens and neutralize gases. Without bleach, much of the food processing done in North America would not be possible. It is used to clean dairy equipment and food processing equipment, in fruit, vegetable, mushroom, hog, beef, poultry, fish and maple syrup processing. One of the first uses for commercial uses bleach was its use as a cotton whitener. It remains one of the most important chemicals used in textile manufacturing. Bleach is also used to whiten paper, soap, straw, wood and many other organic products.

5THWHEELFORUMS.COM

2005-07-12T14:50:00.000-05:00

http://escapees.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/372602561/m/866604605

Link to the knife fight on Escapees Forum.

admin@5thwheelforums.com wrote:

5THWHEELFORUMS.COM
Charles
I'd first like to introduce myself as the creator, designer/administrator (whatever you want to call it) of 5thwheelforums.com - a site that is going to be totally dedicated to 5thwheels.

We would like to post your GEO method (un-edited) on our website. I know it’s a controversial method to some but its one we use & believe in and know would benefit others as well.

I know some forum moderators would simple "cut&paste" your article but that’s not the way to a healthy, growing & thriving forum. Its your work & you deserve the credit for it.

5thwheelforums.com history - We just started this site and have not yet released it to the search engines. We are working with several RV industry product manufactures and testing their products followed by detailed write-ups of the products installation, use & performance. We purchased 2 identical Forest River Wildcat 29BHBP 5thwheels for use as testing platforms of various products to feature on our website. If we like the product we will ask the manufacturer to advertise on our site with a link back to their store or dealers store. We don't want to invest in or manage any inventory- our job will be to get traffic to the website. Once we have enough quality information for new visitors to read and come back to then we will start advertising in Trailer Life magazine as well as other forums.

We invite you to take a look at www.5thwheelforums.com & tell us what you think but please don't post about it in any other online forums.

Thank You
Travis Chrystal
Administrator - 5thwheelforums.com

The Geo Method

2005-07-12T14:47:00.000-05:00

I've not recommended it with every tank. I only do it occasionally. Every time is unnecessary. The whole Geo Method is an occasional thing. RV plumbing materials are the same as household plumbing materials as far as I can tell. Chlorine bleach shouldn't affect RV plumbing any more than it affects household plumbing. Bouncing down the road, and freezing temps, causes RV plumbing damage. I don't believe chlorine bleach, especially in the concentration I'm talking about, has an affect. Do the math yourself. Bottled chlorine bleach is usually a 5% solution. Dump a gallon of it in a 40 gallon tank and where does that put the percentage? Regardless, ther're just plain old plumbing materials. Hasn't done mine a bit of harm - unless you take into account the lives of billions and billions of germs that I've killed..

Dale Smith wrote:

Thanks for your input. I have been told though that washing machine seals are of a material that bleach does not attact, where as seals in RV’s are not. I am going to continue with bleach, but certainly not every tank full. Thanks again.

Dale

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Bruni [mailto:cbruni@mindspring.com]
Sent: Monday, July 04, 2005 12:04 PM
To: dlsmith1@comcast.net
Subject: Re: The Geo Method

Yes, it is a problem. Dopes who slept through high school chemistry, and lack the common sense of ordinary laundry experience, spout off nonsense about chlorine bleach damaging plumbing. But then, dopes spouting nonsense relating to all sorts of things is a common problem and not limited to ordinary housekeeping. It's a good thing folks like us can figure it out on our own. Don't you agree?

Trellix Mailer wrote:
name: Dale L. Smith
 
email: dlsmith1@comcast.net
 
comment: Some say the bleach will and does attack the seals of the dump valves etc, do you see
such as a problem?
 
Thanks,
 
Dale
 

GEO Method?

2005-07-12T14:46:00.000-05:00

All this stuff is INTENDED by the respective manufacturers to be mixed together to do laundry. I'm not playing with chemicals. I just figured out that plain old laundry chemicals do an excellent job in cleaning the wastewater tanks. It's essentially the same kind of dirt found in dirty laundry - think about it. That's why The Geo Method works so well.

Jeffrey Torsrud wrote:

My VistaPrint Electronic Business Card Hi Charles:

Very interesting article on your Tank Cleaning Method.

One question comes to mind, can you mix all these things in the Tank together, without a Chemical Reaction of some sort.

Will Bleach react with Calgon or Laundry Detergent?

Appreciate your feedback.

Jeff

question on the geo method

2005-07-12T14:44:00.000-05:00

I stopped using the blue stuff in late 2002 when I first tried detergent, water softener, and chlorine bleach. The solids don't stick to the tank and just drain out. However, you still need plenty of water to flush all that loose stuff down that relatively small hole. I use the Flush King to accomplish that. Also, from what I could tell when I used to use the blue stuff it was more for odor control and a germicidal, than effective at breaking anything down.

Don't fret over this stuff. I only do it occasionally (NOT with each tank full) when I think it's time. I don't have an odor problem. That includes spending several weeks in Augusta, GA, with temps normally over 90 degrees, and occasionally over 100 last summer.

Good luck.

Glenn Harm wrote:

Hi Charles,

I've been using the Geo method for all 3 weeks that I've been an RV owner! [grin] So far so good!

...anyhow, one question that I'm not 100% sure on. Certainly the Geo method keeps the tanks as clean as possible, but do you still use the stuff that is designed to break down the waste, or do you find that unnecessary.

Thanks!

Glenn