I have run out of thetford pink. 6 days to go before I can get to anywhere that has any. I am sure the use of it is simply fragrance etc, but no way to get hold of any more. Stupidly thought I would get some on site, but they have run out, and the only local shop that normally sells elsan also run out.
Ah well, water it is then........ Can someone let me know if it is simply fragrance. I can't see too much harm coming from just using water alone.
I dont think any harm will come of it - but you may get bacteria growing in the flush tank - this can lead to "black bits" when you flush. I would say that it wont be a problem so long as you fill it up with pink as soon as you can.
The biggest cause of "black bits" seems to be the Thetford pink chemical itself. I used to have it in a PortaPotti when I used Thetford pink. Since we got the caravan, I started using Elsan pink and never had a problem.
Some caravans don't even have a separate flush tank and take the flush water straight from the water tank, therefore cannot have any pink (unless you fancy washing in it and drinking it) So no, shouldn't do any harm going without it. It does tend to leave a bit of a non stick barrier on the bowl though that stops "things" sticking to it.
Definately don't be tempted to make do without the blue chemical or try adding a substitute chemical. When chemicals are mixed (including bleach and urine) gasses are given off. The last thing you want is your toilet cassette filling up with chlorine gas.
You may find that a whiff of stale pee might start to manifest itself after a few days.LOL!!!!!
For years we didn't bother with PINK but noticed that for some reason with our current caravan, the toilet remained more fragrant with its use rather than without it.
Thanks - Will have to change the cassette very soon. Have plenty Blue legsdown so I am ok there. Our last caravan suffered with black bits in the flush after using thetford pink. I thought it was more the first over wintering that did it as it was fine in the first season out, but it was a nightmare to get rid of once it was there.
Not looking forward to the possibiity of it again, but cannot be helped this time round.
Why bother with 'pink' in the water flush. We have an onboard water tank & therefore flush with plain water. Never had a 'nasty niff' & with use of the blue (or green) in the holding tank, all is well!
------------- Harvey 15.8.1995 - 18.11.2010. Run free, sweet boy x
"Legs" is correct......NOT using pink will NOT give you black bits. The main difference is you lose the lubrication of the bowl.
Our previous van had no flush tank, and for the last 2 years we have only used plain water in our current header tank. We are now usinf Elsan pink, just to see if it makes a difference.
If you get black bits, Milton should get rid of them.
I think it also softens the water so you don't get a build-up of limescale in the tank. This may not be a problem where you are though but worth checking.
As on one of the above posts, I have always used thetford pink but then started to get the black bits. So I changed to another make of toilet flush and the bits have dissapeared.
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Topic: Thetford Pink - Oops
) So no, shouldn't do any harm going without it. It does tend to leave a bit of a non stick barrier on the bowl though that stops "things" sticking to it.
