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Unpleasant odour from sink or shower (grey water tank)

Smells usually come from food particles and residue trapped in the grey water tank. Unlike a round tank, the grey water tank is a box shape with corners where scraps can sit and decompose. Normal emptying doesn’t always remove these bits, so you’ll need to clean and flush the tank using a suitable RV grey tank cleaner.

Diagnostics & Steps to Resolve:

  1. Contain the odour
    a. Put the plugs in the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and shower to reduce smell while you prepare

  2. Empty the grey water tank
    a. Go to a dump station
    b. Open the grey water outlet and drain the tank completely
    c. Close the outlet when finished

  3. Get a suitable cleaner
    a. Purchase an RV grey water tank cleaner/deodoriser (available at hardware stores e.g., Bunnings, Mitre 10 or RV stores)
    b. Follow the product label for dosage and contact time

  4. Dose the tank
    a. Add the cleaner via a sink or shower drain as directed on the bottle

  5. Fill to at least 50% to soak all internal surfaces
    a. Fill the fresh water tank
    b. Turn on taps to run water into the drains until the grey water tank is ~50% full (watch your tank level indicators)
    c. Wait for the time stated on the cleaner (e.g., 1–4 hours), keeping the grey outlet closed

  6. Flush the tank thoroughly
    a. At a dump station, open the grey water outlet and drain completely
    b. Close the outlet, then refill the fresh water tank
    c. Turn on kitchen and bathroom taps to send another 25–50% of fresh water into the grey water tank
    d. Open the grey outlet again and drain fully to rinse
    e. Close the grey outlet when done

  7. Ongoing tips to prevent odour
    a. Strain or wipe food scraps before they go down the sink
    b. Empty the grey water tank daily when on powered sites and after long driving days

Need help? Still noticing odours after cleaning? Call Wilderness On-Road Support on +64 9 255 5300.