Hoping you can recommend which products are best for:
Keeping toilet clean
Reducing smell
Protecting seals etc
Any other tips greatly appreciated 😀
TIA
TCx
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Vango and Outwell Tents > VW Camper and various Vango and Outwell awnings dependent on stay location and duration > Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Brindisi and Vango Air Awning.
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How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
A lot of the choices seem to come down to individuals preferences on the perfumed smell of them! Some are overpoweringly strong and to many of us unpleasant in themselves!
I think it's almost universal (from bitter experience!) that you should NOT use the 'pink stuff' (especially the Thetford product!!!!!) in the top tank! It grows black algae almost as soon as added, which is both unsightly in the flush water AND worse, can cause blockages in the pump and pipes!
Some sites INSIST on bio friendly (no formaldehyde) fluids to protect their waste tanks 'bio culture' and keep the system functioning properly.
I personally have found Elsan Superkem (https://somersetcampervancompany.co.uk/shop/product/elsan-superkem-2ltr/) to be entirely satisfactory at all levels. The more subtle smell is acceptable, it's very effective at breaking down waste matter (solids!) and remains effective at odour control longer than some other products, you can use it in both flush water and waste tank, it's also a concentrated formula, so only one smaller bottle to carry to do all jobs. It's suitable for all systems as formaldehyde free. One other benefit is that if you accidentally spill it the staining will fade naturally, unlike some products who's staining is impossible to remove!
Bizarrely, despite being the manufacturer of a huge proportion of caravan toilets, I and others find Thetford chemicals to be some of the worst on the market at a number of levels! - I didn't even finish up the complementary bottles that came when I bought the van, I disliked so much about them!
Many will advocate laundry products (fabric softeners, detergents etc.) as a substitute for dedicated chemicals, but my view is that they may damage very expensive components of the toilet system (they are untested and unproven in any scientific way - only 'claimed' to be unharmful by people who cannot actually back up that with anything more than they've used them!), if you are spending money anyway on 'products' why not use the proper stuff, the cost per use is minimal anyway and you have reassurance it's fit for purpose. Another aspect is that the proper chemicals have a biocidal effect, rendering the contents of waste tank risk free, other products almost certainly don't! You'll be lucky if you never get a bit of splashback when emptying the tank, some CDPs are better than others for that, but reassuring to know it's risk free when it happens!
Many will say that you don't need any additives to the flush water, and indeed systems drawing from general water tanks rather than dedicated flush tanks only use plain water, but I've found the Elsan Superkem in the flush (I use a minimal amount, less than instructions suggest), keeps the bowl clean and fresh and I rarely have to clean it.
Bit of a Marmite subject, so likely strong views expressed in favour of or against products and practices!
I don't have a separate flushing tank, and water for flushing the toilet comes from the integral water tank of my van.
I use Thetford Green plus Thetford Pink spray for the bowl.
I chose the green fluid for its environmental friendly credentials and being septic tank friendly, as Thetford so claims in their adverts.
DK
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As Monty has already said, for us, it all comes down to fragrance. When we first got a caravan many years ago, it came with a bottle of Thetford Blue. When we used it for the first time the fragrance made me feel sick so we had to find an alternative. We tried Elsan Blue which was better but still made me feel a bit nauseous and then, for a number of years we used Elsan Organic Green which was better still.
A few years ago I saw an advert for Camperlife toilet chemicals which come in a range of fragrances. We started with the Dark Cherry fragrance which was good and since then we have also tried the rose fragrance and citrus fragrance and they have all been good. The thing I like about them is that they don’t smell of chemicals, and because they are super concentrated, you only use the tiniest amount each time so the bottle lasts for a very long time. The one downside of them is that they are so concentrated that the blue colour stains the inside of the toilet cassette and anything else that it touches but I can live with that because at least the fragrance is acceptable for me.
I think that they all do roughly the same job in terms of breaking down waste so it is really a matter of personal preference. I would recommend trying out a few different ones and finding the one that suits you the best.
Our squeamish toilet fairy has a strict “liquid only” rule. (Yes I know that means we don’t stay on sites without toilets.) As our flush pump is still seized up (not a priority to sort it, winter job), we flush around the bowl with a small jug of water from the washroom sink with a splash of Dettol in it. Smells fresh.
Once we’ve sorted the pump, or drained the flush tank externally, I’m not sure we’ll use it again as it’s ridiculously awkward to fill, you have to take a watering can with a long spout away with you or hold a funnel in place.
We don't usually bother with it, and our preference is for sites without loos. Don't have a problem. Actually we have a big bottle of the green which we were persuaded (coerced) into buying at one particular site.
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 17/9/2023
I don't have a separate flushing tank, and water for flushing the toilet comes from the integral water tank of my van.
I use Thetford Green plus Thetford Pink spray for the bowl.
I chose the green fluid for its environmental friendly credentials and being septic tank friendly, as Thetford so claims in their adverts.
The only Thetford product I ever use is the toilet bowl cleaner, would never use any of their other products.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 18/9/2023
Our squeamish toilet fairy has a strict “liquid only” rule. (Yes I know that means we don’t stay on sites without toilets.)
We are the same, except for night-time emergencies. Due to neck and back problems I always try to minimise lifting and carrying, but neither of us has any problem taking a stroll over to site facilities during the day. We are normally out most of the day anyway.
This post popped up just at the right time as I only have a small amount of Elsan Blue toilet liquid left and was about to purchase another bottle in the next few days from the local caravan accessory shop. Having searched online for the Elsan Superkem I have now ordered a bottle off Ebay so I will see how it compares to the standard Blue toilet liquid.
Similar to Monty's experience we also had issues with Thetford black (pink) for the top tank. That was a couple of seasons ago and since then we've used Comfort fabric conditioner with out any issues at all. For the waste tank we now use Elsen Blue which is just fine. I would mention the loo is only used for liquids.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 18/9/2023
..... I’m not sure we’ll use it again as it’s ridiculously awkward to fill, you have to take a watering can with a long spout away with you or hold a funnel in place.
I do have a watering can (multipurpose - fill flush tank, add couple of litres of water to freshly emptied waste tank, rinse off splashes from waste tank, wash mud off aquaroll/grey water tank before stowing at end of stay etc. etc.) but have also used an old screenwash 5L bottle that had it's own detachable spout hidden behind the label, kept full of 'mix' for quick refill of tank when it runs dry at the most inconvenient moment!
Wow, glad I posted. Lots of advice and opinions here. Thanks so much everyone x
------------- “It is great to be a blonde. With low expectations it's very easy to surprise people.”
Vango and Outwell Tents > VW Camper and various Vango and Outwell awnings dependent on stay location and duration > Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Brindisi and Vango Air Awning.
Found our Nivana ❤️
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Topic: Best toilet fluids and why please
via mobile 18/9/2023 at 10:53am
