Toilet chemicals in France and Spain

[Jo001]

Hi guys. Where can you buy toilet chemicals on the continent? Obviously at motorhome dealers, but if you don't chance upon one of these, are there any retailers like bricomarches that reliably have them? I know we bought some in France before, but I have also asked in loads of shops that don't have them. We use the laundry sachets as an emergency back up but for longer trips we'd rather not have to carry loads with us.

Thank you in anticipation of your advice,

Jo

 

[Roger Haworth]

Why bother with chemicals when you can install a SOG system for £100 odd? I have used one on my van toilet since 2011 and must have saved at least £100 odd pounds on chemicals during that time!

SOG Toilet Kits, SOG Systems

These systems stop smells in the toilet brilliantly and are much better for the environment.

 

[Jo001]

I had never heard of these. Worth thinking about, thanks Roger.

 

[Steve121]

Why bother with chemicals when you can install a SOG system for £100 odd? I have used one on my van toilet since 2011 and must have saved at least £100 odd pounds on chemicals during that time!

SOG Toilet Kits, SOG Systems

These systems stop smells in the toilet brilliantly and are much better for the environment.

This was one of the first 'extras' we installed, even before the conversion was fully completed. Can't imagine life without one now.

 

[El Veterano]

We use bio washing machine liquid, in France, Spain and UK. Haven't bought any toilet chemicals in years, cleans out the cassette a treat as well! So the answer is, any supermarket (although bio products are a little harder to find in France than they are here in UK)

 

[iampatman]

We use bio washing machine liquid, in France, Spain and UK. Haven't bought any toilet chemicals in years, cleans out the cassette a treat as well!

Plus one for this. Why buy nasty, expensive chemicals? Bio tablets do the job just as well.

Pat

 

[carol]

I couldn't find any bio ones in Lidl or ALDI in France and Spain last year....

 

[listerdiesel]

I don't know how to save 'hundreds of pounds' by using a SOG unit. Two litres of blue toilet fluid has lasted us for a couple of years with some left, I think it was a fiver on offer at Halfords.

Save the money by not installing a SOG unit perhaps?

Peter

 

[carol]

I'm not sure how a SOG is beneficial as it doesn't breakdown the contents, just eliminates smell. Is that correct?

 

[Steve121]

I'm not sure how a SOG is beneficial as it doesn't breakdown the contents, just eliminates smell. Is that correct?

Not correct; the contents breaks down naturally due to the extra oxygen:

The decomposition process for sewage and toilet paper is accelerated by the increased flow of oxygen so that no additional chemicals are required. Ordinary toilet paper, not special for chemical toilets, should be used so that this is decomposed completely.
Flexibility when wild camping etc as no requirement to use a chemical WC Toilet emptying point and normal toilets can be used for emptying due to the lack of chemicals. You can also empty whenever the chance arises safe in the knowledge that a fresh batch of chemicals isnt going to be wasted.
Unwanted aromas no longer present inside motorhome even when SOG System is in use.
Emptying process easier as the contents of the cassette are decomposed more than without SOG.​

 

[maxi77]

In Portugal Leroy Merlin sell Thetford chemicals at almost reasonable prices so I would expect it would sell it in their stores elsewhere.

 

[saxonborg]

I'm not sure how a SOG is beneficial as it doesn't breakdown the contents, just eliminates smell. Is that correct?

A SOG installation only vents the odours from the cassette to the outside of your van,there is no special treatment. We use the biotabs like others have suggested,they maintain a pleasant smell in toilet compartment.

 

[listerdiesel]

Steve:

You sound like a SOG salesman

We've never felt the need for yet another thing to go wrong, motorhomes are complicated enough already.

Peter

 

[Tbear]

Another vote for Bio but if you cannot find Bio then ordinary will do. Works better when you are moving so contents get mixed up. I can see how a Sog could help if you are static for long periods. Nothing at all will work but a little help is beneficial. People have also suggested yeast or malt vinegar to get a good bacterial growth going.

Richard

 

[Steve121]

Steve:

You sound like a SOG salesman

We've never felt the need for yet another thing to go wrong, motorhomes are complicated enough already.

Peter

Still waiting for a commission cheque

 

[Steve121]

A SOG installation only vents the odours from the cassette to the outside of your van,there is no special treatment. We use the biotabs like others have suggested,they maintain a pleasant smell in toilet compartment.

Wrong.

 

[barryd]

I am sure I have read that a lot of people with Sogs still use the blue stuff as well.

Maybe they are a good thing until you end up sat outside one when its in use on a hot still day.

Ive never found any of the tablets, washing powder etc any good. Im with Peter on this one. 5 litres of blue costs less than a tenner and lasts ages. Mind you we ran out in France this year and couldn't find it anywhere. I just didnt bother. To be honest it wasnt that big a deal. A bit harder to get rid of but not that bad.

 

[richardstubbs]

If you're by the coast then boat chandlers normally sell the chemicals, along with lots of other handy camping type stuff. There's a particularly good one in the boatyard at La Rochelle. There's one right by the aire at Meschers sur Gironde too, to name a couple.

All the big French supermarkets have blue and usually green but only in the summer. Motorhome dealers are everywhere though.

I can't bear the smell of the blue stuff, so we switched to using the green (don't mix them though...), but I don't think it works all that well. We use Asda smart price bio liquid now and it seems to work better (than green, not blue). And it keeps it lovely and clean! You have to empty them frequently anyway really, especially in hot weather, and at least with washing liquid you're not putting formaldehyde or some other horrible stuff down the drain.

 

[TJBi]

I'm not sure how a SOG is beneficial as it doesn't breakdown the contents, just eliminates smell. Is that correct?

Quite apart from the contents breakdown argument already posted by Steve121, there is the fact that a SOG is beneficial because you do not have to use any environmentally harmful chemicals.

 

[Clunegapyears]

Napisan works a treat

Fulltiming and so far 5 months in Italy. Have not found tablets anywhere, so been using a combination of bio washing liquid, sometimes sachets, with the recent addition of Napisan. Breaks down well and no odour. To prevent smells, we have found it is important to put enough of whatever you are using in.