Five tips to creating a home office in your RV

If you’re working remotely now, why not create a home office in your RV and see the world at the same time? If you already own an RV, it’s just a matter of converting part of the living space to an office, so here are five tips to creating the most comfortable, functional office-on-wheels.

Create multi-purpose spaces
When you’re working with limited square footage, you need as many creative, versatile areas as possible. Some RVs are designed with home offices, so if you haven’t purchased your RV yet, you can look for one of these. But chances are, you’re looking at incorporating a home office into an existing space. One of the most common renovations is to convert the dinette to a dual-purpose area for eating and working. For inspiration, check out this series by Technomadia, which shows how 13 different RVers created custom home offices to fit their various professions and lifestyles.

Prioritize ergonomics
One of the main reasons we recommend multi-purpose spaces is that you can create a workspace with proper ergonomics. You could simply set up your laptop on your dinette table or bed, but your neck and lower back will suffer over time. Make sure you have a chair that supports correct posture, and that your table allows your computer monitor and keyboard to sit at the right height.

Plan for movement
You’ll be parked while you’re working, but make sure your home office setup will survive a bumpy road. Bungee cords are great for securing your computer and other delicate items. Any hard drives you use for digital storage should be solid-state rather than a disc drive. Solid-state drives don’t have any moving parts, so they’re much more resilient to jostling.   

Stay connected
You need internet on the road, and you shouldn’t plan to tether multiple devices to your smartphone’s personal hotspot for eight hours a day. Personal hotspots drain your phone’s battery. Even if you have an unlimited data plan, your connection will be throttled as the hotspot is used for long periods or by multiple devices. Instead, many carriers offer a separate mobile hotspot tool to connect several devices and have internet anywhere cell service is available.

Keep your workspace pleasant and fresh
RVs are relatively tiny living spaces, so your new home office will be located just feet from your kitchen sink and toilet, and the holding tanks that connect to those drains—and you’ll be sitting there for eight hours a day. But don’t worry, because Walex created an entire product line specifically designed to eliminate odors in tiny spaces. We make powerful, easy-to-use toilet and kitchen sink deodorizers, charcoal-infused odor neutralizers, and long-lasting air fresheners. Just visit your local RV dealer and stock up before you hit the road for your next adventure!  

by Thara SP

How often should I empty my RV’s black holding tank?

Living with a black holding tank is one of the less thrilling aspects of a long RV adventure. But caring for your black holding tank will help you avoid common issues like persistent odors, clogs, and false sensor readings. One of the most important things to know about your holding tank is when to empty it (although knowing where to empty it is also handy).

More frequent emptying is not necessarily better, and will actually probably worsen your holding tank issues. If you dump the tank often or keep it hooked up to the campground’s sewer system, the liquid waste will drain out, but the solids will remain. That’s how you end up with residual waste caked to your tank's sides, interfering with sensor readings.

Instead, wait until your holding tank is about 2/3 of the way full so that when you dump it, there’s adequate flow. With two people living in the RV, that shouldn’t be less than one week, but keep an eye on your sensors.

If you have a grey holding tank that also needs to be emptied, dump the black before the grey. The greywater, which comes from your sink and shower, will flush out any remaining solids in your hose.

After a while, you might notice your sensors not reading as well as they used to, or a residual odor emitting from your black tank. When this happens, you can always use a packet of deodorizer to deep clean everything. Commando contains powerful enzymes that break down solids and digest odor-causing bacteria. Just drop in a packet, add water, and wait about 12 hours. Your tank will be good as new.

by Thara SP

Capture attention with the Walex Display

Capture the attention of your customers! Show off the leading brand of RV and Marine deodorizers and cleaners with a beautiful and functional freestanding display.  It is designed specifically to showcase the broad range of Walex products giving the consumer an aesthetically pleasing presentation with products that sell and work.

Walex manufactures products on demand so if you need more products for your customers don't hesitate to place those orders.  Dimensions are 73″ x 27″ x 12″.  Reach out to your distributor of choice to ask about getting one of these displays.

by Thara SP

Keep life on the road fresh with Porta-Pak

Porta-Pak – Two great fragrances – Fresh Scent and Lavender Breeze

Holding Tank Deodorizer & Portion Control System

The #1 portion control product around the world. The pre-packaged water-soluble packet controls odors, breaks down waste and paper, and lubricates valves and seals. Don’t set out on your next adventure without Porta-Pak.  Just drop it in!

  • Unbeatable odor prevention
  • Convenient zipper bag for easy storage
  • Formaldehyde-free
  • Biodegradable

Hear from our customers:

★★★★★  "Some seemed fine until summer came along and oh boy"
“Since losing our home in the May 19, 2013 tornado in Oklahoma, we decided to buy an RV to live in before instead of rushing right into major decisions. It’s a big adjustment and not knowing a lot about various products; I’ve tried many. Some worked short term. Some seemed fine until summer came along and oh boy, that really tests these products! This is the only one I found that we have absolutely no odor problems with and as long as I put two in when we first empty the tank, then one every 4-5 days, we can go (with two of us), almost three weeks before having to empty the tank and have no odor. These things are great and I’d recommend them to anyone who can’t stay hooked up to sewage to keep your bathroom odor free. I’m totally sold! Great product!”
-Debbie

★★★★★  "Simple and Easy!"
“After each black tank dump, I just put a gallon or two of clean water back into the tank and drop one of these packets in and voila!, no odors until the next time the tank needs dumping. I’ve never experienced any odors in our RV while using this product.”

★★★★★  "Breathe easy, they work!"
“Wow. This stuff works great. I have a small camper and I have a 5-gallon bucket with a toilet seat (also purchased on Amazon) that I use for a potty. I put kitty litter (in a trash bag, of course) and one of these deodorizer packets in the bucket and that sits inside a small privacy tent which is my camping “outhouse”. These deodorizer packets kept things fresh smelling the entire time. If these worked under those conditions then they’ll work anywhere. I definitely recommend this product.”
-Ryan

by Thara SP

Can I leave Commando in my tank for longer than 24 hours?

Some of the most common questions we receive have to do with how long to leave Commando in the black holding tank.

If you don’t leave it in the tank long enough, the enzymes won’t have time to work thoroughly, but people also worry about leaving it in for too long. The short answer is that you should aim to leave Commando in the tank for a minimum of 12 to 24 hours, but there’s no real harm in leaving it longer.

Commando is a pre-portioned product designed to work in as little as 12 to 24 hours for those in a hurry. However, if you need to leave Commando in your holding tank for 48 hours, 72 hours, or even a week, that would be okay and will not harm your holding tank. Each packet contains enzymes that immediately go to work, breaking down waste and paper and penetrating build-up on your tank walls and sensors.

Walex chemists designed the super-concentrated formula to work quickly to eliminate the most robust waste and paper build-up. Although it’s rare to have build-up after using Commando, when used according to instructions, if you continue to have issues due to extreme build-up, you can repeat the process.

If you have further questions about Commando or any other products, call us at 800-338-3155, and we’d be happy to help.

by Thara SP

Where can I empty my black holding tank?

Emptying, or dumping, the black holding tank is an unpleasant but necessary part of RV life. But because the black tank contains a mix of waste, toilet paper, and, often, deodorizing chemicals, laws exist regulating where you can dump.

Dumping laws vary from state to state. Because black water contains a wide variety of bacteria, you should not empty your tank into a public toilet, a river, or the ground. Doing so could earn you a hefty fine, depending on your location.

If you’re stationed at home, you can empty the tank into your septic system, but only if you use septic-system safe deodorizers like Bio-Pak in your wastewater. Bio-Pak is a biocide-free, formaldehyde-free formula that uses natural enzymes to break down waste and paper in the tank.

Other deodorizers work by killing bacteria, which septic systems require to function correctly. If you’re using one of these products, you’re better off dumping your tank in the municipal sewer system.

If you’re on the road, you can empty your tank at a public dumping site. These are located at campgrounds, and some truck stops (call ahead to make sure). These dumping sites often have less stringent rules about what chemicals you can dump. These laws vary from state to state, so again, call ahead to make sure you don’t violate them.

These laws regulating chemicals allowed in dumping sites can be confusing, so give us a call if you have any questions. We offer several deodorizing formulas in both drop-in packets and liquids, and we can help you figure out what product is best your needs.

by Thara SP

Products to Help You Winterize Correctly

Before you put your RV in storage after the last trip of the year, you need to winterize it thoroughly. Otherwise, when you take it out next spring, you’ll face many issues, from mechanical damage to foul odors. Walex, the odor control experts, can help you with the latter.

Campers generally use three Walex products to winterize: Commando (black tank cleaner), Elemonate (grey tank cleaner), and Odor Absorber (air freshener). Here is how we recommend using these products to winterize.

 

Commando – Black Holding Tank

 

  1. Empty the tank and rinse it out
  2. Drop one Commando packet in
  3. Fill with water above the sensors
  4. Allow 12 to 24 hours for the powerful enzyme formula to penetrate the residual waste caked to your tank walls and sensors and thoroughly lubricate your valves and seals. Then empty again.

 

Elemonate – Grey Holding Tank

 

  1. Drop one Elemonate tablet into your sink drain
  2. Run your faucet for a few seconds to dissolve it
  3. Wait 24 hours to allow the enzymes to dissolve any grease and organic sludge and freshen your holding tank. The tablet will release a fresh lemon scent.
  4. Empty the holding tank to prevent freezing.

After you’ve winterized the rest of your RV, you can place an Odor Absorber inside to keep the air fresh throughout its time in storage. Odor absorber is a gel product, infused with a layer of charcoal, that eradicates and absorbs odors. When you open the container, the formula goes to work, neutralizing odors for up to 60 days.

Call 800-338-3155 for more details or purchase Commando, Elemonate, and Odor Absorber at premium RV Dealers world-wide.

 

by Thara SP

Get rid of grey holding tank odors with Elemonate

When it comes to preventing RV holding tank odors, you might focus on treating and cleaning your black holding tank, which contains water flushed from your toilet. But your grey holding tank, which captures water from your shower, kitchen sink and bathroom sink, can also emit foul odors, due to food waste and grease that often slips down the drain.

Walex’s grey holding tank treatment, Elemonate, is a rapid dissolve tablet that uses enzymes to dissolve grease and organic sludge that accumulates in the tank and drain lines. Not only does Elemonate destroy odors, but it also gives off a fresh lemon scent. And because the tablets are pre-portioned, you don’t have to worry about measuring or spilling; just drop it in.

Find Elemonate at premium RV dealerships worldwide.

Hear from our customers:

★★★★★  "Easy and Fast"
“No need to measure out 8 ounces of liquid from a 32 ounce jar of holding tank treatment. These are a loosely formed briquet that smells "lemon fresh" and you simply drop one into the sink, run a little bit of water over it and that's it. It melts down really fast and coats your drain pipes on the way down to the holding tank so that the whole system gets refreshed and deodorized. We like them well enough that we have now set up a recurring order and they ship some to us every few weeks.”
-Dempsy 

★★★★★  "Helps freshen your grey water tank"
"I like how simple this product is to use...you simply put a tablet of Elemonate in your sink, run some water on it til it washes down the drain, and it goes to work. I usually perform this operation before a trip so the chemical gets to work while I am using/filling the grey tank...in my experience, it does freshen your gray tank."
-Oliver

★★★★★  "A must-have!"
"One of the best items I started buying for my motor home. We used to get a smell well driving. For a very long time we thought is was a sewer smell from a black water. It turned out someone suggested it could be from our gray water. So I got a package of these. They work amazing and no more smell."
-Amber

by Thara SP

Planning a vacation in 2020? Three reasons to make it an RV trip

Since the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, we’ve watched many aspects of our life change, including the way we travel. The typical vacation that includes airline flights, hotel lodging, restaurant dining and other mass entertainment might not be feasible for awhile, and even if it is, many people will be reluctant to embark on such a holiday.

There is one type of trip for which social distancing is not only possible, but an inherent part of the experience: RV travel. Your recreational vehicle can take you anywhere and contain everything you need. If you’re new to RVing and considering planning an RV trip, here’s why 2020 is the year to do it.

Greater flexibility

It’s hard to plan a trip not knowing what attractions will be open to the public, and at what capacity. But the mobile nature of RV travel means you’re less committed to a specific itinerary or destination. Say, for example, that you plan to kayak at a beautiful lake only to find out the week before that the boat ramps have closed. You can fairly easily reroute your trip, because all you really need is a spot to park your camper.

Peaceful solitude

For many, the appeal of an RV trip is trading in the bustle of everyday life for peaceful solitude. Since the pandemic outbreak, solitude is the norm. There are no big shows to attend, no summer concerts to watch, and no athletic events experience or take part in. But rather than mourn the loss of these stimulating social outings, embrace the feeling you get from quiet time spent in nature. It might be a different kind of thrill, but you’ll still find excitement sitting around a campfire with close family or cooling off in a mountain stream.

No stress over mass transit, lodging, and dining

Even if we do our best to avoid large gatherings of other people, we could still contact germs on frequently touched surfaces. Many pre-pandemic vacations involved countless brushes with such surfaces, such as a taxicab door handle, a hotel lamp, or a restaurant menu. Rather than packing bottles of hand sanitizer and obsessively wiping down every surface, you can travel, sleep and eat in the safety and comfort of your recreational vehicle. You will need to pack the right products to sanitize your own germs, but that’s where Walex comes in. Our sanitizing and deodorizing products are both easy to use and effective at keeping your RV fresh and clean throughout your next vacation. Give us a call at 800-338-3155 or purchase wherever RV products are sold.

by Thara SP

Bio-Pak Offers a Powerful Biocide-Free, Environmentally Friendly Holding Tank Treatment

As the world becomes more conscientious about protecting the environment, it’s essential for RV dealers to offer environmentally friendly alternatives for the increasingly eco-conscience RV user. Using more eco-friendly products isn’t necessarily synonymous with using an inferior product. Natural enzyme-based products like Bio-Pak, made by Walex Products Company, Inc., offer many alternative benefits to using entirely chemical and biocide-based products.

What is the definition of an enzyme? – A substance produced by a living organism which acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.

How does it work? – Enzyme holding tank treatments accelerate the break- down of organic materials in waste while also helping to neutralize foul odors. Enzyme holding tank treatments help to digest paper and waste to allow for a more efficient and fluid dumping process.

Environmentally Friendly – With many regulatory changes on the horizon across the country (California in particular), properly working enzyme-based products like Bio-Pak offer a solution that is formaldehyde-free, biocide-free, bio- degradable, and septic system compatible.

Sensor and Tank Cleaning – Holding tanks are a messy part of RVing, but they don’t have to be if using the correct type of product. Bio-Pak offers the breakdown of waste and paper with no need for special toilet paper. The advanced enzyme formula rapidly digests residual waste build-up on tank walls as well as waste and paper that may build up on the sensors. Using Bio-Pak regularly will help keep your tank healthy and clean. It will also lubricate valves and seals.

Septic System Safe – Often RVers may not be informed on where their waste goes after dumping the holding tank. In this case, it would be wise to use an enzyme-based product like Bio-Pak if there is a possibility of dumping into any septic system. These enzymes help with the proper digestion and keep the system healthy because they are compatible with the existing bacterial microflora in the septic tank. Bio-Pak is also formulated with enzymes to directly manage tank and septic malodors emanating from sulfides and amines, including ammonia.

Portion Control – The beauty of using a product like Bio-Pak is having the power of portion control. Knowing you can throw in one quickly dissolving, water-soluble, odor control packet in the tank helping to freshen up the RV is a huge bonus in a small area. It’s simple – just drop it in and, one packet will treat up to a 40-gallon tank.

Odor Control – Having an odor in a confined living space can make for unpleasant trip or vacation. It’s important to use a holding tank product that will provide not only superior digestion but also have excellent odor control. Often odor can be from residual build-up on the tank walls. Breaking down the wall waste build-up with a strong enzyme-based holding tank treatment will help to keep those foul odors from creeping up into the RV. Bio-Pak currently comes in two powerful fragrances, Alpine Fresh and Tropical Breeze.

Hearing from satisfied customers is the best form of advertising. A Bio-Pak customer, E. Quinn states, “GREAT environmentally-friendly replacement for harsh chemicals in my RV black & grey water tanks! I have been very pleased with how this product worked for me – dissolved solid waste really well, and I had no odors from my tanks at all.”

Bio-Pak is manufactured by Walex Products Company in Wilmington, N.C. Dealers can order Bio-Pak from their distributor of choice.  Walex products are available at premium RV and Marine retailers world-wide.

by Thara SP

Capture attention and create sales with the new eye-catching Walex Freestanding Display!

Capture attention! Show off the leading brand of RV and Marine deodorizers and cleaners with a beautiful and functional freestanding display.  It is designed specifically to showcase the broad range of Walex products giving the consumer an aesthetically pleasing presentation with products that sell and work.  Dimensions are 73" x 27" x 12".  Reach out to your distributor of choice to ask about getting one of these displays.

by Thara SP

Walex’s Bio-Pak offers a biocide-free, formaldehyde-free, and septic system safe solution.

Natural Enzyme Deodorizer & Waste Digester

Bio-Pak provides portion control and is easy to use with no messy liquids – just drop it in! The environmentally friendly enzyme formula starts working immediately to control odors and break down waste and paper in the waste tank.  Liquefies all types of toilet paper, eliminating the need for special toilet paper!  Continued use ensures that pipes, valves, and seals will be trouble-free.

  • Pre-packaged portion control
  • Removes odors and breaks down waste and paper
  • Cleans residual waste and paper on walls and sensors
  • Biocide-free
  • Formaldehyde-free
  • Safe for septic tanks
  • California compliant - California Health and Safety Code 25210.2

by Thara SP