RV toilet paper manufacturers may just be trying to wipe you clean. Well, in a monetary sense. Ever notice how toilet paper in the RV section looks awfully similar to the one-ply stuff in the regular TP aisle? One key difference is the price. If you’ve shopped both sections, you’ve noticed that the toilet paper in the RV section is much more expensive. But why? Is this because it costs so much more to produce this “specialized” paper? Or is it a tactic to gain more profits?
RV Toilet Paper: Why so Stinking Special?
Overall, RV toilet paper is specialized, but not necessarily that special. It is specialized in the way that it is made, that is it is typically one, sometimes two-ply, but most importantly it is rapid-dissolving. However, rapid-dissolving is not unique to the RV industry. Folks with a septic system should use similar types of toilet paper. Overall the answer is not so straight-forward as to whether you really need RV toilet paper. It really depends on who you ask.
An article in RV Life seems to suggest that as long as you keep your tanks clean and they are not getting clogged, you’re likely fine with whichever type of TP you choose. Trail and Summit advises that as long as it is rapid dissolving, it is safe for your RV black tank. They also published a list of rv safe toilet paper. To sum it up, RV toilet paper is special, in that it will break down quicker than other types. However, it is not so special that it should cost more. We’ve used toilet paper bought from the regular aisle many times, and continue to do so. The one important factor is that it is rapid-dissolving or “septic-safe.” So what works for us?
Septic-Safe = RV-Safe
In our experience, any type of septic safe toilet paper has been fine. What we use the most often are two different Scott brand types. The Scott 1000 type is a normal go-to for us. The drawbacks are that it’s very thin, but on the flip-side you get a lot off sheets per roll, apparently 1,000 to be exact. The next type is the Scott Comfort Plus. It’s a bit more comfortable, as the name suggests. The negative though, is that the rolls aren’t as large as the 1,000 type, so we go through it a little faster.
On Amazon (links provided) ensure you notice the different size options. You can save a lot more money in the long run by buying the bigger pack, of course.
Overall, whatever type of toilet paper you use, ensure it is rapid-dissolving. Also, use plenty of water in your black tank. For us, this means flushing a little extra water down. We also dump water from our dehumidifier into our toilet every once in a while. Finally do not always leave your black tank valve open. You need to keep it closed with plenty of water to ensure the waste and toilet paper have time to break down. Usually a few days is good for us. Much longer, especially after five or six days, will make for an awful smell.
What works for you? RV toilet paper, septic-safe, or do you get crazy with three-ply? Let us know if you want in the comments below. As always, please keep it clean and thanks for reading!
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