Using The Toilet

[TheWM]

Now this is going to seem real stupid, but no changes there.

Gearing up for our first trip tomorrow and I'm a bit confuddled.

I (believe) I have a thetford c-200 judging by the manual (I have a Rapido 9010DF). 2 main questions, I have read on other threads about filling the flush water tank. Do I have one??? I assumed that water would be drawn from the main water tank. Secondly, do I need to put anything in the cassette before use? I was planning on good old plain water and washing up liquid when it is getting used.

As a supplementary question - toilet paper, cheap one ply stuff, or can anything be used? I'm not actually planning to use the toilet but the kids and missus will.

 

[TheBig1]

Oh and btw - do I need to pour it all directly into the cassette or a bit of bio with water down the trap?

normal routine is empty the cassette and charge it with chemicals before refitting it into the toilet. pour down the spout. you will normally see the cassette emptying cap is also marked to show how much blue to use

 

[FULL TIMER]

Not by any means an exhaustive study but a few weeks ago I stopped off at a local "caravan store"

Thetford blue chemical £14 for 1 litre
Elsan blue £15 for 4 litres

I'm sure you can get both a lot cheaper elsewhere. Don't want to start a price war, just offering the comparison.

Sounds about right , all though I've found the Elsan to be far superior and a lot thicker so use less,

 

[TheWM]

Thanks. I think investigating that there's already stuff in it. I flushed and the missus commented that it smelt perfumy. Will top up with some bio powder to be safe.

 

[DavidG58]

if you are taking wife and kids don't put anything in you will be emptying it twice a day at least waste of chemical

love the fact that a toilet thread has 30+ replies in under an hour, god bless this forum, best £10 I ever spent

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[TheWM]

if you are taking wife and kids don't put anything in you will be emptying it twice a day at least waste of chemical

I worry about this! Especially as by midday I'll be inebriated...!

 

[daveandsan]

[Qndj, post: 1457102, member: 27036"]Do you possess a large cork ?[/QUOTE]
I miss read that at first.

 

[pappajohn]

For god sake dont get blue on your hands or clothing.....takes a lifetime to get it off and is worse than "engineers blue"

It stains anything it touchs so pour it in the spout before replacing the cassette, not down the bog, unless you have a steady hand and excellent aim.

 

[DiggerJon]

Note number 4 - avoids splashback and lots of cleaning!

Rules for a weekend with my three grandsons

 

[gibbon]

We use the cheap recycled bog roll, seems to be the same as the posh stuff from caravan/ Moho suppliers.
We stopped using the blue stuff & now chuck in a couple of bio washing sachets.
We have no probs.
When facilities allow daily emptying we don't use anything, just empty after we've both done our big jobbies, simple

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[DanielFord]

For convenience we use the sachets, you don't get the chemicals on your hands, and no chance of spilling:
http://www.thecaravanshop.co.uk/toilets-chemicals/sachets/aqua-kem-sachets-qty-15/prod_79.html

It's a simple job to set up, open the toilet and pour in some water, then add one sachet. I have to say we do use the expensive loo paper, it seems to break up in the cassette much better than normal loo roll.

Our motorhome does have a separate flush tank, I will grab a photo later to show you what the fill point looks like if you have one.

 

[Hollyberry]

Colouring on the loo chemical will stain anything and everything it touches.
Sainsburys cheapest bio powder. Put 1 measuring cupful down tje toilet. There will be no smell except laundry soap when emptying cassette. No fancy flush liquid needed ( you're just adding chemicals to the sewage system)

 

[Larby]

Note number 4 - avoids splashback and lots of cleaning!

Rules for a weekend with my three grandsons
View attachment 66552

Same note my other half pins up for me............

 

[TheWM]

So - disposal of waste, is there a lever I can pull and drive off so it slowly eeks out over the road?

Just kidding! I'm unsure of disposal points at this show so can I just bung in down the toilet at home, or outside toilet drain?

 

[Theonlysue]

As I fulltime, I empty every day,
And just flush when I put cassette back, giving a good rinse when I can.
Chemicals would work out very expensive.
When loo used, I close flap and leave a bit of water on top.
Stops any smells.
Also, some campsites do not allow the blue, both here and abroad.

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[DanielFord]

So - disposal of waste, is there a lever I can pull and drive off so it slowly eeks out over the road?

Just kidding! I'm unsure of disposal points at this show so can I just bung in down the toilet at home, or outside toilet drain?

The shows usually have a disposal point, just ask where it is when you get there.
When we have visited somewhere without a disposal point we do empty our cassette down the home toilet.

 

[hovisbrown]

Ok, I think it may well have all been said:

1. Half fill a pint glass with water put 2 sheets of paper in and stir, if it breaks up quickly then its fine.
2. We use the cheapest Bio washing tablets/pouches from Aldi or Lidl, plus about 1 litre of water, have done for over 2 years now, works brilliantly.
3. And last but not least I can't emphasise how important it is to develop a good aim.

Regards
Paul

 

[WynandJean]

This is how it goes:-

caravan toilet:

Wyn

 

[sedge]

we use formil bio ..most important thing is tell others in the van when you have cassette out to empty have been used without...real sh..t of a job

In both vans we have had, when the cassette is out the black cover at the base of the toilet pan is open, and usually the outer locker door is open at the time, so either daylight or a whistling wind is coming through the hole to greet you - in which case - cross yer legs !

 

[Eeyore]

Tips from (many) years experience !:

If you get the blue fluid on any clothing wash it well and then- the important bit- hang it to dry in the sun. It is photosensitive and any stains will completely disappear if you do this.

Instead of arranging toilet paper on the pan unfold a cheap, single ply paper napkin and do the necessary in that. When you've done the whole lot slides tidily down the hole leaving no trace. Don't go for the fancy expensive coloured ones.

Bio laundry liquid is preferable to powder. If you've seen the effect of the build up of powder on the dispenser tray of a washing machine then you would not wish it to happen to the works inside your cassette. The enzymes in the liquid digest your productions and break them down into smaller bits, which are easier to get through the spout.

When going up and down mountains open the trap of your loo a small amount before you start. This allows air pressure in and out of the cassette to equalise and stops any possible " blow back" when you come to use the loo ! Very nasty....

If you do empty it down a domestic toilet make sure you do it slowly. Many domestic toilets can't cope with a sudden large influx of liquid and solids. The bill for specialist bathroom cleaning is quite high.

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[sedge]

The added advantages about using eg Lidl's Formil bio liquid instead of any 'Blue' 'Green' etc stuff, apart from the fact it's mega cheap, is that if it's precipitating persistently or howling a gale, he or she that has the job of emptying the cassette can come inside and pour said liquid down into the cassette via the bowl.

We actually invested in a washing-up brush specifically for the purpose of scrubbing the toilet bowl at the same time as adding the Formil (though yes of course we used it when using Thetford or Elsan fluid too!) - we used to have one in the caravan (1981 Avondale) to use with the Porta-Potti so why wouldn't we?

They make ideal loo brushes in such confined spaces and keep the things pristine - get under the rim and all the nooks and crannies great. If there's somewhere you can hang it, great, otherwise leave it to dry out once the bowl and it are absolutely clean, then stick it in a polythene bag and stash it way again so it doesn't fly round the bathroom when you move off again.

 

[TheWM]

These are all brilliant posts. I never knew I'd learn so much about toilets. Thanks folks.

 

[TheCaller]

We actually invested in a washing-up brush specifically for the purpose of scrubbing the toilet bowl

Snap.

Doesn't everyone?

 

[Popeye]

when you have cassette out to empty

when somebody uses the loo with the cassette out

I wouldn't risk it, always put the replacement cassette in place whilst emptying the full one, then once emptied switch them again that way your new one will always be "New".

 

[TheCaller]

I never knew I'd learn so much about toilets

There are three topics that rule motorhome life.

Does the fridge keep your drink of choice at the optimum temperature.
Toilet management.
Grey water disposal.

Arrange into your personal order of priority.

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[gibbon]

These are all brilliant posts. I never knew I'd learn so much about toilets. Thanks folks.

Yes, it won't be long before you too are obsessed with all things to do with efficient camping toilet operation

 

[Eeyore]

I once met a man who. after a nasty experience with a grandson using the loo while the cassette was out, kept a small Union flag on top of the cassette and used to stick it through the hole when the cassette was out. We've never felt the need to go that far.

 

[dappleduck]

This is how it goes:-

caravan toilet:

Wyn

brilliant...feeling cheesed off...until I saw video.......you deserve a medal wyn.........whose the helpful gent laughing..........id have his guts for garters...where is the chivalry in the male species these days.............laugh....I couldn't stop. sorry wyn....you did a mans job//////////////////

 

[Deleted member 29692]

There are three topics that rule motorhome life.

Does the fridge keep your drink of choice at the optimum temperature.
Toilet management.
Grey water disposal.

Arrange into your personal order of priority.

Are A-frames legal in Spain?

 

[WynandJean]

Oh I can't take any credit. It was at a caravan servicing company and the previous owner had ommited to empty it I believe. I think the staff did an excellent job. It never fails to make me laugh even after seeing it so many times.

Wyn

brilliant...feeling cheesed off...until I saw video.......you deserve a medal wyn.........whose the helpful gent laughing..........id have his guts for garters...where is the chivalry in the male species these days.............laugh....I couldn't stop. sorry wyn....you did a mans job//////////////////

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[Wickolad]

I use elsan blue thick formula, decent perfume to it, I also mix a bit of elsan pink basin flush with water in a small spray bottle such as an empty Mr muscle or glass cleaner bottle, a quick spray in the pan assists in a more 'non stick surface' and a quick spray in the pan after flushing leaves a nice perfume fresh pan ready for the next person.