It has been suggested by someone who *knows*, that vinegar is a good
medium for clearing out persistant residue in a narrowboat toilet holding tank.

Apparently you leave it in to soak for about 24 hours before
thoroughly flushing.

Has anyone any practical experience with this?

It has been suggested that it wouldn't be a good idea in plastic tanks
as vinegar might harden the seams. Do we have any feed-back before we
try it?

Tony
holding back on the Basingstoke Canal

This is a common technique, practiced by many cruisers. When I lived aboard, I always
kept a gallon of vinegar in the head so I wouldn't forget.

Peggy has endorsed this in the past (this from last March):

Vinegar ONLY dissolves mineral buildup, it won't do much for dirt and
grime and won't dissolve soap scum, grease or hair.

You're right that I recommend it though...a cupful down the toilet once
a week. Just don't leave it sitting in the bowl. Vinegar will damage
rubber. A cupful flushed through the toilet doesn't stick around long
enough to hurt anything, but it'll destroy a joker valve left to soak in it.

Btw...this is WHITE vinegar we're talking about, not cider. Because
white vinegar is more acidic than cider, it does a better job of
dissolving sea water minerals.





"canalman" wrote in message
om...
It has been suggested by someone who *knows*, that vinegar is a good
medium for clearing out persistant residue in a narrowboat toilet holding tank.

Apparently you leave it in to soak for about 24 hours before
thoroughly flushing.

Has anyone any practical experience with this?

It has been suggested that it wouldn't be a good idea in plastic tanks
as vinegar might harden the seams. Do we have any feed-back before we
try it?

Tony
holding back on the Basingstoke Canal

Jeff Morris wrote:
This is a common technique, practiced by many cruisers. When I lived aboard, I always
kept a gallon of vinegar in the head so I wouldn't forget.

Peggy has endorsed this in the past (this from last March):

Vinegar ONLY dissolves mineral buildup, it won't do much for dirt and
grime and won't dissolve soap scum, grease or hair.

I did say that...but I've never said that vinegar will dissolve sludge
in holding tanks--which is what he's asking.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Jeff Morris wrote:
This is a common technique, practiced by many cruisers. When I lived aboard, I always
kept a gallon of vinegar in the head so I wouldn't forget.

Peggy has endorsed this in the past (this from last March):

Vinegar ONLY dissolves mineral buildup, it won't do much for dirt and
grime and won't dissolve soap scum, grease or hair.

I did say that...but I've never said that vinegar will dissolve sludge
in holding tanks--which is what he's asking.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

It has been suggested by someone who *knows*, that vinegar is a good
medium for clearing out persistant residue in a narrowboat toilet holding
tank.

Apparently you leave it in to soak for about 24 hours before
thoroughly flushing.


In the 16 years we have had our boat the pipes in our head has only cloged up
with salt and whatever once. After that we used vinegar in the pipes and
holding tank at least twice a year. No problems since, so I guess it works. We
also use it in the sink drains. I use it to clean the carbon off stove parts
and a lot of other things. It seems to be a good solvent.

I use it to clean the salt out of my outboard too.

Dick

Dick wrote:
with salt and whatever once. After that we used vinegar in the pipes and
holding tank at least twice a year. No problems since, so I guess it works.

I can't imagine that only using it twice a year would accomplish
anything. To prevent mineral build up in the head discharge hose, I
recommend a cupful down the head once a week.

We
also use it in the sink drains. I use it to clean the carbon off stove parts
and a lot of other things. It seems to be a good solvent.


Be very careful what you mix with vinegar... some chemical
combinations--such as bleach and vinegar--can be even more lethat than
bleach and ammonia. And never let it stand where rubber parts can soak
in it...'cuz a soaking in vinegar will swell and distort them.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Dick wrote:
with salt and whatever once. After that we used vinegar in the pipes and
holding tank at least twice a year. No problems since, so I guess it works.

I can't imagine that only using it twice a year would accomplish
anything. To prevent mineral build up in the head discharge hose, I
recommend a cupful down the head once a week.

We
also use it in the sink drains. I use it to clean the carbon off stove parts
and a lot of other things. It seems to be a good solvent.


Be very careful what you mix with vinegar... some chemical
combinations--such as bleach and vinegar--can be even more lethat than
bleach and ammonia. And never let it stand where rubber parts can soak
in it...'cuz a soaking in vinegar will swell and distort them.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

This is a common technique, practiced by many cruisers. When I lived aboard, I always
kept a gallon of vinegar in the head so I wouldn't forget.

Peggy has endorsed this in the past (this from last March):

Vinegar ONLY dissolves mineral buildup, it won't do much for dirt and
grime and won't dissolve soap scum, grease or hair.

You're right that I recommend it though...a cupful down the toilet once
a week. Just don't leave it sitting in the bowl. Vinegar will damage
rubber. A cupful flushed through the toilet doesn't stick around long
enough to hurt anything, but it'll destroy a joker valve left to soak in it.

Btw...this is WHITE vinegar we're talking about, not cider. Because
white vinegar is more acidic than cider, it does a better job of
dissolving sea water minerals.





"canalman" wrote in message
om...
It has been suggested by someone who *knows*, that vinegar is a good
medium for clearing out persistant residue in a narrowboat toilet holding tank.

Apparently you leave it in to soak for about 24 hours before
thoroughly flushing.

Has anyone any practical experience with this?

It has been suggested that it wouldn't be a good idea in plastic tanks
as vinegar might harden the seams. Do we have any feed-back before we
try it?

Tony
holding back on the Basingstoke Canal

I just asked her that very question, as I have a holding tank with lots
of "residue" in it that prohibits an accurate reading of its level. She
suggests putting some Wisk detergent in it to slosh around and clean up
the greasy residue so that i can see how much stuff i have in it.

It will be easier in my trailerboat or another that moves around a lot,
but should still be an improvement, I think. At least it's a cheap fix,
even if it doesn't work.

Capt. Jeff

Messing In Boats wrote:
I just asked her that very question, as I have a holding tank with lots
of "residue" in it that prohibits an accurate reading of its level. She
suggests putting some Wisk detergent in it to slosh around and clean up
the greasy residue so that i can see how much stuff i have in it.

Detergent will emulsify any buildup of animal fats (present in
waste)...which makes it effective when it comes to unclogging holding
tank sensor sending units...but to my knowledge, it won't do a thing
when it comes to dissolving sludge in holding tanks.

As with most problems, the best cure is prevention...as described in my
first reply to this thread.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html