Earlier this year I shared about how poop wipes almost ruined our camping trip, and I promised to follow up with an experiment to discover toilet paper brands that should work better in a camper bathroom. I modeled my experiment after one that Gone with the Wynns did, but I wanted to try different toilet paper brands in hopes of finding the most economical and practical brand to use in our camper. My quest was to find a decent toilet paper (i.e. NOT tissue-paper thin) that still broke down well and would therefore help prevent clogs in our camper sewer system. (Because let’s be honest: If my kids end up wadding up a ton of tissue-paper-thin toilet paper to get the job done, I’m still likely to have a clog issue!)
So for this experiment I tried: Great Value’s Ultra Strong, Costco’s Kirkland Ultra Soft (the single roll pictured), Scott’s Rapid Dissolving, Aldi’s Willow 1000, and Angel Soft. For the experiment I tore off three squares of each toilet paper, put them in a Ziploc plastic bowl with water, put the lid on, and gave each container a shake. Then I let them sit for about 15 minutes. Here is what I found:
Aldi’s Willow 1000 toilet paper was the thinnest of the toilet papers I sampled. I thought because of how thin it was it would break down the best, but as you can see in the picture, it was still holding together quite well. If I tried picking it up it started to break apart, but it did not break down as well as other brands. Final verdict: It was too thin for comfort and didn’t break down quickly, so I will not use it in the camper.
The Angel Soft toilet paper did not break down quickly in the water either. It was thicker than the Willow and held together more. It only broke apart when I tried picking it up. Final Verdict: It didn’t break down quickly enough, so I will not use it in the camper.
Costco’s Kirkland Ultra Soft toilet paper was probably the nicest of the toilet papers sampled, but it held together the most (even when I tried picking it up, the pieces held together and clumped up) so therefore it would not work well in an RV toilet system. Final verdict: No.
The Scott Rapid-Dissolving toilet paper performed the best of those I sampled. It began breaking apart quickly, and it did so without me trying to pick it up. Although it is thinner than Costco’s Kirkland brand toilet paper, it was much nicer than the tissue-paper-thin Aldi WIllow brand. It cost $3.17 for four rolls at Walmart. Final verdict: We would use this in the camper.
Great Value’s Ultra Strong toilet paper was the surprise performer from my experimentation. It was thicker than the Scott Rapid-Dissolving, yet it broke apart in the water. (I even repeated the test with this brand to make sure the results were consistent.) Although it didn’t disintegrate as quickly as the Scott brand, it was breaking down well in the water. It cost $3.36 for six rolls at Walmart. Final Verdict: We would use this in the camper.
Now of course, companies often change how they manufacture their products, so I may need to revisit this experiment. And I recommend you do your own experimentation before deciding which product to use in your camper. The best types of toilet paper to experiment with are brands labeled “septic safe.” Do you have any recommendations for other brands that work well in your camper bathroom? If so please below!
The content of TheTouringCamper.com is intended for entertainment and information use only and is not to be construed as providing professional advice. Extra precautions, additional expert input, and additional research are always advised. See our full disclosure policy here.
Thanks for sharing the TP info!
Hi John! Thanks for reading! Since writing this post we’ve heard from other RVers who have said Scott 1000 is another good option to use in a camper. Happy camping!
Use Great value in the RV as well as in the house. It dissolves really quickly which is great for the trAve trailer as well as the home septic system.
Best for the travel trailer is a good very thorough flushing after every trip. I pull up to my septic tank after nd fill and dump the black tank 3 times and then use the wand with a revolving spray head twice. The water comes out perfectly clear and the tank never clogs and sensors work perfectly.
Especially important before winter storage.
Thanks so much Frank for stopping by and reading–and thanks for sharing your tips! We love hearing from readers about what works well for them!
Ok so now I’m panicked! I’ve used angel soft because it says “septic safe” ack! How do incorrect this?
Hi Sarah. Thanks for reading–but don’t panic! 🙂 This experiment with TP brands was just a way to find one brand that broke down the best. From reading various RV forums, it’s my understanding that septic-safe toilet papers are usually fine for RV systems, but some brands/versions do break up better than others. If what you’ve been using hasn’t posed any clog issues, it is probably working fine in your RV system. We had experienced some problems with TP not flushing well through the RV system, so that’s why we were on the hunt for a TP that breaks down really well and fast. Since there are so many TP brands, and companies sometimes change how the TP is produced, it’s helpful to try your own experiment at home to find one you want to use in the camper. And feel free to come share your results here too. Happy camping! 🙂
I researched this. Septic safe is not RV compatible. It can clog your system.
Hi Matthew–thanks for stopping by and reading! Yes, we are beginning to think the same thing, which is why we now test any TP before using it in the RV. There seems to be a wide variance on how fast various “septic-safe” TPs break down. What do you use in your RV?
I didn’t research but I thought septic is not the same thing as an RV. so I’m glad I’m seeing all this info.
Hi Kate–thanks for stopping by! It’s great learning what TPs have worked for others because we didn’t realize there were so many RV-friendly options. Doing your own paper dissolve test is a good way to decide what you are comfortable using in your camper. Happy camping!
Thank you for this article!! We were using Angel Soft by recommendation & we constantly had clogs. We switched to Great Value & love it! I would have never tried Walmart brand paper before reading & I am very happy with the quality and less clogs!
Hi Kristen 🙂 Thanks so much for reading and sharing–I’m so glad the post has been helpful! Happy camping!
We have been using Scott Extra Soft. It breaks down just as well as the Scott 1000 but is thicker.
Hi Jennifer! Thanks so much for stopping by and reading! And thanks for leaving feedback on another TP–that’s great info! 🙂 Happy camping!
We did our own experiment and Aqua Soft by THETFORD was the best for both dissolving and softness. Cost is $.00416 per sheet at our RV dealer. If you live in the Pittsburgh or Cleveland areas Giant Eagle store brand septic safe dissolved almost as well as the Aqua soft and cost only.00167 per sheet!
Hi Fran! Thanks so much for stopping by and reading! And thanks for sharing the tip about other good RV TP options. Happy camping! 🙂
I recently picked up Charmin Essentials by mistake. It seemed much thinner than the Charmin we had used. My thought, try the test in water to see how it did compared to the tissue which is sold for campers. The Charmin dissolved much faster than the rv tissue. May have to try it. It seems soft enough for the bottom too!
Hi Trudy! That’s one version I have never tried, so thanks for sharing! It’s great to know that there are so many brands (and price points) that can work in an RV. Happy camping! 🙂
Thanks so much for great info. We are not in the habit of flushing TP so maybe we will try some of your experiments.
Thanks Val.
Hi Val! Thanks so much for stopping by and reading. Glad it was helpful! Happy camping! 🙂
What about the brand RV dealers sell , are they any good ??
Hi Joe–thanks for stopping by! Other than the Scott Rapid Dissolving TP, we have not purchased any other RV-specific brands, so we’re not sure what the other products are like. But if anyone else has, hopefully they will weigh in with their thoughts here. Happy camping!
When we lived in our sticks and bricks we had a septic system, and a septic tank guy told us Kirkland brand was one of the worst TPs you could use because it doesn’t break down and clogs your system. Charmin was his recommendation because it breaks down very quickly. So when we got our RV, I tested Charmin against the leading “RV” toilet papers. Charmin won, hands down.
Hi Terie–thanks for stopping by and reading! And thanks for sharing the great info! Happy camping!
I have always used Sam’s toilet paper with really good break down.
Hi Ramona! Thanks so much for stopping by! And thanks for sharing your tip on another TP brand to use. Happy camping!
Get a covered garbage can and never put paper in the pooper. Never have a problem again. Take the liner bag out to the garbage daily with all the nasties tied up neatly inside. Had 3 motorhomea and swear by this system.
Hi Susan! Thanks for reading and sharing your tip! It’s always great to hear tips from other RVers. 🙂 Happy camping!
We do this too! I read about it and tried it as a way to boondock longer before having to dump our tank. So far, two of us have made it 17 days without dumping a 28 gallon tank!
We also do this. We have been RVing for 25 years and continue to do this with our new motor home. We empty the can daily and have never had a problem with the tank or odour (I’m Canadian). 🙂
Happy RVing!!
Thank you for the tips!! 🙂 I agree with another commenter about Charmin. We use the Charmin Basic in the yellow package. It was recommended by my parents who RVed for years and seems to work great!
Hi Lorraine–thanks for stopping by and reading! And thanks for weighing in about the Charmin Basic–great info! Happy camping! 🙂
When I was in Russia, the septic system there cannot handle toilet paper. You would have to put it in a bin. That got me thinking about using a cat litter “Litter Genie” to place the paper in it. If it holds in the used litter smell, it should do the same for used paper. Not only that, but I personally like my wet wipes. This would solve the issue and still allow me to use them. Anyone every tried that?
Hi Kimberly–thanks so much for stopping by and reading! That’s an interesting idea–I haven’t heard of anyone else using the Litter Genie in an RV, but the concept should work well. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
What about a diaper Genie?
A diaper genie would work for this method, and would not take up that much space.
Hi Karen–thanks for stopping by and sharing your idea! Happy camping!
Seventh Generation says RV safe on the package . We use wet wipes and don’t put any paper down the toilet but we use seventh generation at home.
Hi Patricia–thanks for stopping by and reading! And thanks for sharing about Seventh Generation! Happy camping!
I’ve been using Scott’s rapid dissolving for 2 years now and no problems what’s do ever. Won’t use anything else.
Hi Teri–thanks for stopping by and reading! And thanks for sharing your tip on a safe TP! Happy camping! 😊
I live in a 5th wheel while caring for my mother and her property. Needless to say, I had to have my Rv repair guy over to clean out the toilet, black tank early on in the 3 years I have lived here. He said to “NOT” put toilet paper in if you can help it; bag it. At first that grossed me out but it has saved me a ton of “repair” money. He also said that after you dump the tank, fill it and dump it again. You want to really empty the system. He used a wand that you can put down into the tank to try to clean the sides with (bought one), but ultimately, no paper if possible, or minimize what goes in the tank. Also, lots of water with your flushes basically fill the bowl and flush, then fill it again and flush. It will help to have more water in the tank to move it along when you dump it. And finally, i hear that you can drop dishwasher machine “tab”s in there and it will help clean the tank while you are driving, sloshing around.
Hi Dawneen–thanks for stopping by and reading! And thanks for sharing your tip. Those black tanks are indeed temperamental! I had never heard the dishwasher tab idea before! Happy camping!
I’m assuming this is in the US? We use Majesta brand. It completely dissolves when shaken. I believe it is a Canadian company.
Hi Janet–thanks so much for stopping by and reading. Yes, we are in the U.S., but I’m so glad you commented about a good Canadian brand to use. Happy camping!
Thank you so much. I use angle soft but not no more. Lately our RV has a faint smell when we get it out of storage. I have been yelling at my husband that he is not cleaning it well enough but maybe some tp has gotten stuck. I guess I will have to say I’m sorry.
Thanks again for the info.
Hi Lorraine–thanks for stopping by and reading! Glad the post was helpful! 🙂 We find it’s helpful to always test new tp before using it in the camper, so maybe try experimenting with a few septic safe brands to see which works best for you. Happy camping! 🙂
I use poms from Sams club ,haven’t had any problems. When we dump our tank I stop and pick up a bag of ice and put it in the toilet. It helps to remove anything stuck to the sides as you go down the road.
Hi Diane–thanks for stopping by and reading! And thanks for the great tips!
How does it work
I use POM, from Sam’s Club. I tried your test of three sheets in a plastic bowl with lid and shook. The paper disintegrated.
Hi Jana–thanks for stopping by and sharing another great tip on toilet paper! Happy camping!
We just purchased our first motorhome. Read a few articles on TP and several others recommend a Target brand similar to Scott 1000. We haven’t used or had to dump yet. Thanks for the article. Found it on Pinterest. I look forward to reading other articles on your site.
Hi Robin–thanks so much for stopping by! And thanks for the tip on the Target TP. Congrats on the motorhome! We hope you find lots of useful info here–we are so glad you joined us! 🙂
We use a trash can with a lid on it. Any tp can clog your RV, so it’s better not to flush it.
That’s one reason why we are excited about putting a composting toilet in our Silver Streak camper remodel. We’ll no longer have to worry about any clogs–and we are going to reroute some of our grey tank lines to the old black tank to maximize our tank capacity, so it will be a win-win. 🙂
I thought the dissolving tabs are supposed to break it all down. Am I wrong? (new to RVing)
Hi Anne! Thanks for stopping by and reading! I know some of the dissolving tabs advertise that they break down toilet paper and such, but how well it works probably depends on whether consumers follow the product instructions. The brand we buy says that you have to add 5-7 gallons of fresh water with each blue tab. We never add that much water at the beginning because we’d run out of tank space pretty quickly (our black tank is way too small for a family of five!). Using the dissolving tabs though has worked great for us–and they definitely control odors!
Seriously? Just buy RV toilet paper. Walmart carriesit- there is no excuse to not have RV TP!! There is no cost difference. Make sure you have water in the bowl when you go and you won’t have problems. Septic safe TP is for Home septic systems.
Performing test one cup water in glass jar, drop in one sheet TP, shake once and let sit) as we speak using two brands. The one the RV dealership just sold us (yuck) and Great Value Ultra Strong from Walmart. GVUS is already breaking on and the super expensive, super thin paper is still intact after 1.5 hours.
Hi Susan–thanks so much for stopping by and reading! And thanks for sharing your results with the TP test!
We are new to rv’ing and a home septic systems. Because we are pretty ignorant on the subject, I thought it would be best to just buy small lidded trash cans for both and then I wouldn’t have to worry about either. I bought these lovely little rectangular shaped “Simple Human” brand metal trash cans with a foot pedal opener from Bed Bath and Beyond and they are great. They take their own brand Size R bags that can be found at BBB with the cans. The rectangle shape fits great in small spaces and are very nice looking. I have never had an odor problem in the rv or the house. Inside is a removable very well made plastic can that can be taken out and washed. This has solved our problem . I figure nothing in the septic or rv tank beats anything and everything no matter how well someone thinks it breaks up or is recommended!
Hi Mary–thanks so much for stopping by and reading! And thanks for sharing your tip. 🙂
Thank you for this article! I’m just back into RV’ing and needed this information! I’ve found my body is allergic to the RV bath tissue I’ve bought from my local RV outlet! So this is a very much appreciated article!!!!!
Glad it was helpful! And welcome back to RVing! 🙂
I have lived in my 5th wheel for a year and half full time set up on an lot. I have not had any problems using toilet paper of any type also wipes. I shut my tanks both black and grey and drain into septic tank. I am on a shared septic tank so it keeps the gas from backing into camper. I do rinse out my black tank from time to time but have not had any problems with TP clogging or building up.
Hi Gerald–thanks for stopping by and reading! And that’s great that your system is performing so well! What kind of fifth wheel do you have? Sounds like it was designed well. 🙂 Happy camping!
Great articles, wish I would have read them sooner! Well, I’ve been RV’ing full-time for 10 days now. Never even guessed there was a problem with tp and wipes. I have a clogged toilet in my 5th wheel now. I used the toilet just as I did when I lived in a duplex— flush tp & wipes down the toilet, no problems with many years of flushing wipes. I uh, have an “anomaly” in my rear end so I have to use wipes (TMI? lol). Never even thought about using a bag (ick!) to collect my wipes. I use Kirkland tp but haven’t tested it YET. Sigh, now to try to get the toilet unclogged of those wipes!
Oh dear! Hope you can get it all remedied quickly and easily! Good luck!
On a recent camping trip with our grandkids we used the Great Value Ultra Strong and it didn’t dissolve very well at all. I should have tested it at home first since you did say mfrs change the way they make products. I put a piece in some water earlier today and it sat there for a good half hour. Didn’t seem to break down much at all. Thank you for doing these tests though. Going to see if I can find that Scott brand you mentioned.
I actually tried a Scott’s 1 ply I found at the Dollar Tree and it didn’t break down at all. 🙁 Was kind of hoping it would since the price was definitely right! 🙂
Hi Linda! Thanks for stopping by and sharing about the TP. That’s good to know that the Great Value appears to have changed. We now have a composting toilet, so I haven’t tested TP brands/products recently. The Scott Rapid Dissolving TP can usually be found in the RV/auto area and it usually comes in four packs. It does dissolve well, but it is very thin. Good luck!
Just put in a bidet and it works great.