Empty the waste using the portable tank as many times as is needed to ensure that you can take it out of action for at least a day. This cleaning method does require patience. Make sure that you are wearing gloves every time you touch the tote, bleach or cleaning products. The tote can be very messy and the chemicals may burn the skin. Surgical latex gloves work great. Or latex free if you are allergic to latex.
Rinse the portable tote out two to three times with water to get rid of any loose debris. Be sure to dump this rinse water into the dump site as well. If possible seal the portable tank and swill the water around inside and then empty.
Make a weak bleach water solution in the bucket, using hot water. Ratio of bleach to water should resemble one part bleach for ten parts hot water. Pour the solution into the portable RV tank and seal it. Leave it to sit with the bleach water inside for three to four hours. If deemed necessary this process can be repeated again.
Empty the bleach water in to the dump site and rinse the portable tank well with hot water. Water heated on the stove will eliminate overuse of the water heater in the RV. Rinse the portable tank and the bucket as many times as needed to eliminate the bleach smell as much as possible. Allow the tank and bucket to dry. This can take a while if the weather is not very warm.
Follow the instructions on the RV tank cleaner an mix it correctly in the bucket. Read the label of the tank cleaner carefully and be sure that there will be no adverse chemical reaction if the cleaner comes into contact with bleach. If the label does not say, there is usually a number to call to find out this information
Pour the cleaning solution into the tank and close the tank. Cleaners with enzymes usually work well as the enzymes break up anything that may be stuck to the inside of the tank. Leave the cleaning solution in the tank for three to four hours or for however long the instructions say to leave it. After this time has passed empty the tank into the dump site.
Rinse the portable tank and the bucket with hot water as many times as is needed to completely clear out the cleaner. Leave both to dry thoroughly.
