Toilet Chemicals

[Ausgold]

Hi All, we have arrived in England this week and purchased a motorhome so we can tour the UK and some of northern Europe over the next 6 months. I am a bit familiar with the use of the Thetford toilet system, but am wondering if here there are advantages/issues in the cooler weather with the use of liquid chemicals versus the drop in teabags type chemicals? Secondly where is the best place to purchase the preferred chemical are they widely available or does one have to find a specialist caravanning shop?

 

[colinm]

Go Outdoors are a good source of chems, also as you are in Europe for 6 months Lidl/Aldi might well have an 'offer' on middle lisle at sometime. Take your choice as to bags or liquid.
Next there will be the 'use bio washing liquid' posts, never found it as good.

 

[Okta]

Lots of places insist on you using septic tank friendly chemicals because the standard blue ones destroy their eco system. We use Solbio because one site specified specific brands and this was one of the 2 they accepted. Most sites will be happy with the “green” types as long as they don’t contain any formaldehyde which is the big NO for any septic tank.

 

[r4dent]

Over here people use either depending on their preference.

I'm a "tea bag" person, so much less hassle.

In general they are only available in shops that sell caravan or camping equipment.
They are readily available on line.

 

[colinm]

Lots of places insist on you using septic tank friendly chemicals because the standard blue ones destroy their eco system. We use Solbio because one site specified specific brands and this was one of the 2 they accepted. Most sites will be happy with the “green” types as long as they don’t contain any formaldehyde which is the big NO for any septic tank.

Yes forgot to mention that, we mostly use 'when nature calls', but have used other brands, iirc the Aldi 'green' is made by same company.

 

[chrishunter]

Go Outdoors are a good source of chems, also as you are in Europe for 6 months Lidl/Aldi might well have an 'offer' on middle lisle at sometime. Take your choice as to bags or liquid.
Next there will be the 'use bio washing liquid' posts, never found it as good.

Its bio washing gel for me in the toilet and the rinse the cheapest from Aldi,smells nice.

 

[trevskoda]

Same here , bio from ldle with no bother, just light brown water after a week use, i empty down my garage loo and no stink.
It must be in the loo for at least a week for it to break down richard the thirds.

 

[Moonraker 2]

Yep bio powder for me. It's probably got chemicals but I'm hoping it's less than that blue stuff.

 

[korky]

Same here , bio from ldle with no bother, just light brown water after a week use, i empty down my garage loo and no stink.
It must be in the loo for at least a week for it to break down richard the thirds.

Exactly, after only a day or two bio has no effect. If you leave it as long as a week, as I have occasionally if I've arrived home and then forgotten to empty, it's all broken down anyway. I use Aldi detergent pods, they don't break down anything either but you're adding detergent to the cassette which I think helps with rinsing and the formation of scale. I don't think you really need anything.

 

[molly 2]

I don't think their is a good answer to the debate just personal choice,

 

[trevskoda]

I don't think their is a good answer to the debate just personal choice,

Should we then just flush this subject down the toilet then.

 

[Jo001]

bio powder for me. It's probably got chemicals

To be fair, if you wash your laundry with it, it goes into the system anyway.

So unless there's a massive difference between one drain and another, how much does it do?

 

[oppy]

Should we then just flush this subject down the toilet then.

Nah, just let it go through the motions !!

 

[wildebus]

Go Outdoors are a good source of chems, also as you are in Europe for 6 months Lidl/Aldi might well have an 'offer' on middle lisle at sometime. Take your choice as to bags or liquid.
Next there will be the 'use bio washing liquid' posts, never found it as good.

I would go along with the "just use the 'proper' stuff and not washing liquid tabs

But I will throw in one more comment ... do NOT get Solbio. some people swear by it - others swear AT it and think it stinks (I am in that camp). Even if it will work, the amount of decontamination needed of an existing cassette will waste a lot of precious time of your holiday.

 

[TeamRienza]

The poo in a bag brigade are obvious by their absence on this thread.

Personally I don't use any chemicals and just empty every day where possible. The built in extractor seems to retain odours in the cassette when in use. Perhaps I have a stronger constitution than some, or no sense of smell.

Davy

 

[molly 2]

Think we got a long way to to compete with water companies on pollution.

 

[trevskoda]

The poo in a bag brigade are obvious by their absence on this thread.

Personally I don't use any chemicals and just empty every day where possible. The built in extractor seems to retain odours in the cassette when in use. Perhaps I have a stronger constitution than some, or no sense of smell.

Davy

You must drink a lot of beer down there having to empty every day.

 

[GeoffL]

As someone who has seen what happens when folks get this wrong; an impassioned plea! Whatever you use, please make sure that it's septic tank safe. Some laundry detergents (particularly bio ones) 'poison' septic tanks and it takes an expensive pump-out to put it right.

 

[Okta]

You must drink a lot of beer down there having to empty every day.

There is a difference between emptying every day and having to empty every day though I probably do drink too much water . I empty the loo as a matter of a daily routine. A lighter cassette is easier to handle and I don’t have to keep a close watch on the level, when the light comes on it is too late and usually at an inconvenient time.

 

[Bear]

Think we got a long way to to compete with water companies on pollution.

Oh yes should see the sewage reports around our Lil Island!

2 toilet system here lol

No 1 in usual loo with non bio tabs

No 2 in a compost loo....