Reasons Your RV Toilet Smell Like Urine And Here's How To Get Rid Of It

‍An RV toilet shouldn’t emit any smell in the cabin or outside of the RV. If your toilet’s seals or other parts are worn out they need replaced ASAP.

The smell of urine in your RV toilet indicates an issue with one of the seals. Whether you own a standard RV toilet or an eco-friendly composting toilet, if the smell persists then it can be a real hindrance. The smell is a sign that something is wrong with your toilet.

Below I’ll teach you how to get rid of that foul smell in your RV toilet with some tried and tested tips and tricks. I’ll also go over some maintenance tips if the issue needs fixing.

‍How To Get Rid Of Odors In An RV Bathroom

Here are some things you can do to clean up the odor.

Remove the lid from the toilet tank and rinse it with water. If there are any spots of mold or mildew, you may need to use a bleach solution to remove them.

Wash out your tank with soap and water, then wipe down the inside of it with a cloth dipped in vinegar as well. This will help get rid of any lingering smells that might still be there after cleaning out your tank.

Keep an eye on where grime tends to gather around your RV toilet so that you can clean this area regularly when needed (more often if you have children using it).

Troubleshooting RV Toilet Odors

Checking an RV Vent Pipe

The first step to fixing the problem is to make sure you have a properly-placed vent pipe. The vent pipe carries the waste from your toilet into a holding tank in your RV, where it will be treated with chemicals before being dumped at an approved dumping station.

If you’re not sure whether or not you have one of these pipes, check by looking under the toilet seat or behind the bowl at ground level. If there is no pipe, then your manufacturer may have failed to include one—in this case, talk to them about getting an upgrade kit installed onto your camper van so that you can use it without smell issues.

Clean and Drain an RV Black tank

The first thing that you should do to get rid of RV toilet smell is to clean your black tank and drain system. You can do this by pouring some bleach into the tank, stirring it around with a long handled brush, letting it sit for about 15-20 minutes then flushing everything out using water from a hose or bucket. If you don’t have access to clean water, use a paper towel or rag instead of your hand (you don’t want to end up with that stench on your hands).

How often should I clean my black tank?

You should be cleaning out your black tank once every few months at least but if you notice any bad smells coming from there then obviously something is wrong and you need to fix it right away.

When in doubt, just start cleaning and see where things end up – sometimes bad odors are caused by buildup in parts other than just inside the toilet itself so take care not only when doing routine maintenance but also during any other times where there may seem like something might be amiss inside those pipes too.

After dumping, let fresh water run for a few minutes before turning off the valve

After dumping, let fresh water run for a few minutes before turning off the valve. This will flush out any leftover waste and ensure that you don't get a bad smell when you turn on the water again.

Since most RV toilets are emptied manually, the user must open an access hatch on top of their tank to access its contents before dumping them in an appropriate place (like an RV dump station). For this reason, it's important that you make sure your tank is clean after every use—and this includes emptying out any residue left behind as well as cleaning around where you empty your toilet tank so it doesn't smell up other areas in your rig!

Using Cleaning Solution In RVs

Toilet bowl cleaner – It's time to break out the big guns. A good toilet bowl cleaner will help you get your toilet smelling clean and fresh again. Just be sure that you're using one specifically designed for a toilet, as many general bathroom cleaners are too harsh for this sensitive fixture.

Bleach and water solution – You can also use bleach in a solution with water to get rid of urine odor from an RV toilet. Fill the bowl with the mixture and let it sit overnight before flushing it away in the morning.

Enzyme cleaner – This is another option that uses cleaning enzymes to break down biological stains and odors on contact. If you haven't already bought an enzyme-based product for other areas of your RV, this would be an excellent place to start!

Vinegar/water solution – Vinegar is also known for its antibacterial properties which makes it great at getting rid of urine smells left behind after using your RV restroom facilities! Mix equal parts vinegar with warm water in a spray bottle then thoroughly mist down all surfaces within range such as walls etcetera until dry.

Sealing an RV Toilet

A product that is safe for septic tanks, the environment and easy to apply is a must.

If you want it to last, the sealant needs to be of high quality.

If you have problems with sewage smells, try these tips.

In addition to taking care when you use it, there are other things you can do to help prevent your RV toilet from smelling like urine.

Clean the bowl regularly: Use a brush with stiff bristles and some water to clean the inside of the bowl every few days. Do not use harsh cleaners or chemicals; just make sure that you get any debris out of there. This will keep smells at bay because bacteria will not have time to build up on their own in the absence of anything else for them to feed on (i.e., your waste).

You can use readily available household products to keep your RV's toilet smelling fresh.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to keep your RV’s toilet smelling fresh, there are several household products that can help. Baking soda is a great disinfectant and deodorizer that’s safe for humans and pets alike. Simply sprinkle some into the bowl before flushing, or add it to a cup of hot water and use this as an alternative to commercial cleaners if the smell remains strong after cleaning. Vinegar is another natural option; while it might not be as powerful as baking soda, it will neutralize odors without leaving behind any unpleasant smells of its own.

If the odor persists, the next step is to contact your local service center. The smell could be caused by a leak or an issue with your RV's plumbing system, which requires professional attention.