RV and Marine Toilet Paper

You will often see advice warning against using ordinary toilet paper in RVs and marine toilets.  This is based on the stated need for RV and marine toilet paper to break down properly so it doesn't interfere with tank sensors or clog tanks and drains.  The same thing applies to porta-pottis used for camping and on boats.  But, is it really necessary?  Well, yes and no.  Yes you do need to be careful what you put into RV and marine toilets and porta-pottis.  No, it doesn't necessarily have to be the expensive RV or marine branded toilet paper.

I recently read an article on line from an RVer who has used "ordinary" toilet paper in their RV for more than two decades without having any issues.  Some popular name brands including Scott and Charmin, claim their products are "septic and sewer safe" and claim they are OK to use in RV and marine toilets.  Anything that is indeed septic safe, might be OK to use in RV and marine toilets, but, remember, septic tanks are lot bigger and have a lot longer to break down waste than RV and marine holding tanks do.

So, what is so special about RV toilet paper?  Two things come immediately to mind:  higher cost and lower quality.  OK, I guess that sounds a little cynical.  The lower quality is usually attributed to the need for it to break down quickly.   Light weight, thin, single ply sheets for example.  The higher cost is simply a marketing gimmick.   So, do you really need it or not?  Well, yes and no!  You must use a toilet paper that will break down appropriately but it does not have to be the expensive product branded for RV use.  Many cheap single ply brands of ordinary toilet paper will break down properly.

If you have any concerns about whether your preferred toilet paper is OK to us in your RV or marine toilet, there is a simple test you can do.  Put a sheet or two into a quart jar filled with water and shake it.  If if breaks down quickly, it is OK.  For an idea of what not-OK tissue does, do the same thing with a facial tissue.  You will probably see it doesn't break down for a long, long time.  If you see similar results with any toilet paper, do not use that in your RV or marine toilet.  Anything that breaks down quickly is OK.  I typically use cheap toilet paper from Dollar Tree.

While it appears that most toilet paper will be safe to use in RV toilets, so-called flushable wipes are not.  Just try a flushable wipe in the above mentioned test and you will see why.  It will remain in tact for hours if not weeks!  Things like that will definitely cause problems in RV holding tanks.

One other caution:  don't use too much toilet paper.  If things get extra messy, flush before you create a big clump of paper in the toilet.  Large clumps are more likely to cause build up and clogs and will be slower to dissolve.   Don't be too stingy with adding water for each flush.   You don't want to waste water, but you do want to use enough to get the job done!  Every flush at home uses 3-5 gallons of water, depending on the age and efficiency of the toilet.  You need enough water in your black water tank to allow solids to break down and be flushed out when dumping.  As a basic rule, I suggest at least filling the narrow well at the bottom of your RV toilet with water before depositing solid waste.  It will help control initial odors as well as help with flushing and break down.  Then be generous when flushing, both to clean the bowl and to provide enough liquid in the black water tank for proper breakdown and disposal of waste.

Toilet paper with multiple layers and with embossing that compresses the fibers will  break down slower than simple, single layer products.   Likewise, any dyes or perfumes that may have been added can interfere with holding tank chemicals.  In order to save money, I usually use the cheap toilet paper I can buy at dollar stores instead of buying expensive "RV toilet paper".  However, since that is usually single layer it might not be strong enough for everyone.  Like the author of the above mentioned article, I have used cheap toilet paper for nearly 40 years of RVing, camping, and boating without any problems.  If you have any questions about what is safe for you to use, do the simple test described a couple of paragraphs above.  If your favorite residential paper passes the test, feel free to use it in your RV, boat, and porta-potti.  If it fails find an alternative that breaks down properly.

Flush well!