Why You Should Clean Your Motorhome Water Tank

1. Stop Bacteria Growth & Bad Smells

Water sitting in a tank for weeks can develop:

• Bacteria
• Algae
• Biofilm (slimy layer inside pipes)
  These can cause stomach issues. Stale water, develops:
• Musty smells
• “Plastic” taste
• Sulphur/rotten-egg odours
  Cleaning removes what causes those smells, and helps the water taste better.

2. Remove Scale and Sediment

Over time, minerals in water leave limescale.
This can:

• Block pipes
• Reduce pump performance
• Cause tank sensors to fail

Cleaners like Puriclean dissolve limescale and buildup, helping prevent damage to filters, protecting the pump, and reducing contaminants that can accumulate in the water heater.

How To Clean Your Water Tank

Drain the tank, add your chosen cleaner with fresh water, run it through all taps, let it soak, then drain and refill until the water runs clear.

How Often Should You Clean Your Motorhome Water Tank?

Regular Use (weekends, holidays)

• Every 6 months
  Ideal spring + autumn clean.

Full-time use / Long trips

• Every 3 months

If water tastes/smells odd

• Clean immediately

After winter storage

• Clean before first trip of the year.

If filling from questionable water sources

• Clean more often (every 1–2 months).

Which Is Better: Puriclean vs Bleach vs Specialist Cleaners?

1. Puriclean

Best for: regular cleaning, removing limescale, descaling pipes
Pros:

• Food-safe
• Cleans AND sanitises
• Removes algae, scale, slime
• No strong chemical smell
  Cons:
• More expensive than bleach
• Needs dissolving

Use Puriclean if:
You want a safe, reliable, all-round cleaner.

2. Bleach (unscented household bleach)

Best for: deep sanitising / killing bacteria
Pros:

• Very cheap
• Fast at killing bacteria and viruses
  Cons:
• Doesn’t remove limescale or biofilm
• Can leave smell if not flushed well
• Easy to use too much if not careful

Use bleach if:
Your tank smells bad, hasn’t been cleaned in years, or you want a strong disinfect.

3. Specialist Cleaners (Thetford, Camco, Elsan, etc.)

Best for: extremely dirty tanks, bad odours
Pros:

• Gentle on plastics and seals
• Designed for RV systems
• Can remove chemical tastes and stubborn scale
  Cons:
• Most expensive
• Often unnecessary for regular use

Use specialist cleaners if:
You have sensor problems, heavy scale, or ongoing bad taste issues.

Best Routine?

For most motorhome owners, the ideal routine is:

Regular clean:

➡️ Puriclean (every 6 months)

Occasional deep sanitise:

➡️ Bleach (once per year or when needed)