One of the biggest challenges when managing an RV is making sure the right chemicals are used.
You will want to ensure the RV is prepped in a manner where it does not break down and all of its components continue to function as required.
This is why it’s important to take your time and pinpoint what will be put in the RV black tank. This includes asking, can I put pine sol in my RV black tank?
No, you cannot put pine sol in an RV black tank. The negatives of doing this include removing good bacteria from the tank, producing inefficient results, and making the setup unsafe. It’s only recommended to use approved RV holding tank chemicals.
You will want to look at everything being put in the RV black tank as it needs to be safe. If you use the wrong holding tank chemical in the RV, this will have consequences.
This article will point out the main reasons to not use pine sol in an RV black tank.
Table of Contents
Reasons To Not Use Pine Sol In An RV Black Tank
1. Removes Good Bacteria
It starts with the bacteria.
Most people assume bacteria are only supposed to be bad. This is why you will believe putting pine sole in the RV black tank is fine even if it removes bacteria.
No, this is untrue.
If bacteria are removed from the RV black tank, this will cause issues with the solids.
They will not break down as easily, which is not good for the black tank. You have to be particular about what is put in the holding tank for this reason alone.

2. Inefficient
You will want to think about what is efficient and what is not.
It is important to make sure you are going with a solution that is straight to the point and will work well in all situations.
This is one of the most important elements to consider when you are adding chemicals to an RV holding tank. It needs to work.
Pine sol will go into the RV black tank and then not do its job.
This is why you have to look at using chemicals that are going to work well when they are in the system and are not going to get in the way.
3. Use Approved RV Holding Tank Chemicals
You will want to think about using approved RV holding tank chemicals.
There are noted solutions that do work well in situations such as these and are not going to get in the way of what you are doing.
This includes things such as a drain valve lubricant or RV antifreeze.
You will want to make sure these are the chemicals you are putting to the test while seeing good results. If you don’t do this, you are going to have to face the consequences of being in a situation such as this.

4. Potentially Unsafe
It is important to note that this could be a potentially unsafe solution when in the RV black tank.
A lot of people will want to put something as simple as pine sol in the RV holding tank because it is something they have heard being used in other scenarios.
Yes, it will go into the RV holding tank but then it is not going to be good for the tank’s longevity. This is going to cause the solids to build up to the point it will damage the tank.
You have to be selective about what you are doing and how things turn out.
When a tank is not in the right state, you are going to give rise to new issues. These are not good for you and will do more damage than good over time.
Be selective about what you are doing and make sure you are not pushing things down the wrong path.
Final Thoughts
Can I put pine sol in my RV black tank?
You should not put pine sol in an RV black tank. This will do considerable damage and is inefficient. The main issues include removing good bacteria from the holding tank causing issues with how the solids break down inside.
It’s important to only use RV-approved holding tank chemicals.
These are vetted chemicals that are going to work well in the holding tank and are not going to get in the way. You have to consider this when choosing what works and what does not.
You will want to take your time when pinpointing the right options for your needs. Look into this and then make sure you are trending down the right path.
If you use the wrong chemical, it will do more damage than good to the RV. It’s best to focus on this and only use chemicals that will help break down the solids in the RV black tank.