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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: McGirr on March 04, 2016, 08:49:28 PM

Title: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: McGirr on March 04, 2016, 08:49:28 PM
Just purchased a portable toilet and unsure what chemicals to buy.

What do people use and does it keep the smell down  ;D

Mark
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: MarkVS on March 04, 2016, 09:00:09 PM
Mark,
Which one did you buy ?


MarkVS
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: shrek4 on March 04, 2016, 09:05:01 PM
We use this.

Have tried nappysan etc which is cheap etc but have found this one to be far better at controlling any odours. About $20-25 for 1L. Worth it I say.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: glenm64 on March 04, 2016, 09:08:35 PM
In the van we just use Homebrand Napisan.
Its cheap and works fine, but the main reason we use it is because its biodegradable, and we can dump it without stuffing up the environment.
We tend to do most of our trips away from the crowds and the Mrs really only uses it for number ones.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: DannyG on March 04, 2016, 09:09:54 PM
We have used all sorts with napisan being the worst and thetford blue being the best but any strong smelling specific portapoti chemical has been acceptable......just ;)
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: McGirr on March 04, 2016, 09:16:13 PM
Mark,
Which one did you buy ?


MarkVS


We got this one

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/221834285505?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/221834285505?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)

Mark
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: McGirr on March 04, 2016, 09:17:58 PM

It will be used for no1 and no2 and no3 also  ;D

Mark
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: oldmate on March 04, 2016, 09:27:44 PM
We have used all sorts with napisan being the worst and thetford blue being the best but any strong smelling specific portapoti chemical has been acceptable......just ;)
X 2
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: MarkVS on March 04, 2016, 09:29:13 PM
It will be used for no1 and no2 and no3 also  ;D

Mark

Nothing can handle your #3's !!!!!!!
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: RebsWA on March 04, 2016, 09:57:39 PM
Tried most brands and Napisan and now only buy Thetford blue and red. Not the cheapest option but absolutely the best IMO.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: sol on March 05, 2016, 05:15:46 AM
We use Aqua Kem Blue Sachets. I wait for them to come on special,at BCF Anaconda etc and buy a few containers. I got some a few months back for $22 each.

        :cheers:
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Desert lover on March 05, 2016, 05:26:32 AM
We use Aqua Kem Green (allegedly more environmentally considerate than the blue -not sure about that though) both for the camper trailer potti and the one on the boat.   As long as you put sufficient chemical in them there should be no odour.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: firefox on March 05, 2016, 06:15:37 AM
We've tried everything.
Blue satchels not bad, but we use the aqua Chem blue., 3 years on the road travelling it's the only that works properly
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: barrel01 on March 05, 2016, 06:21:31 AM
I use napisan and have no real issues with it.

The key is to find a brand with a high level of sodium percarbonate, around 35 %

Most are around 20-22%

3 caps in to start and a bit in the flush tank and then 1/2 a cap each day and we don't really have any issues with smell or breakdown.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: KingBilly on March 05, 2016, 06:25:44 AM
In the van we just use Homebrand Napisan.
Its cheap and works fine, but the main reason we use it is because its biodegradable, and we can dump it without stuffing up the environment.
We tend to do most of our trips away from the crowds and the Mrs really only uses it for number ones.

How is napisan environmentally friendly?  Isn't it just a bunch of chemicals?  Please educate me?

KB
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: brickiematt on March 05, 2016, 06:37:28 AM
I've found the Thetford chemicals to be the best.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Jeepers Creepers on March 05, 2016, 06:41:06 AM
We use some blue stuff we get from the chandlery for the boat in our camper crapper.

Not cheap, but seems to break down ok and keeps the gagging to a minimum when ya tipping the crap out.

No smell in the boat either, but we just load the torpedo tubes and fire away. 
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: cruiser 91 on March 05, 2016, 06:43:03 AM
We have used all sorts with napisan being the worst and thetford blue being the best but any strong smelling specific portapoti chemical has been acceptable......just ;)
X 2
x3
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: solarpanel4 on March 05, 2016, 07:02:39 AM
    Re the Companion product,it is available in 5ltr containers.
    Special orders @ BCF. If you are prepared to wait, free shipping to your place of order (ie.your BCF store)
    Price works out a lot cheaper than quoted above, or was when I purchased it.
    Might have to pre-pay for the product though.


    Cheers    Jeff
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: fuji on March 05, 2016, 09:36:05 AM
Jimmys Thunderbox with safe to use bags or for the ports potti I use the blue
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Hoyks on March 05, 2016, 10:42:42 AM
How is napisan environmentally friendly?  Isn't it just a bunch of chemicals?  Please educate me?

KB

For starters, everything you eat/drink/what you are made up of is chemicals. So not all are bad and they can re-combine quickly in the right conditions to make something that will kill you, or does nothing.
Drinking petrol will kill you, but burn it and you get CO2 (and a bit of CO) and Water, which are important components of beer.

From wikipedia:
Quote
As an oxidizing agent, sodium percarbonate is an ingredient in a number of home and laundry cleaning products, including non-chlorine bleach products such as OxiClean, Tide laundry detergent,[1] and Vanish.[6] Dissolved in water, it yields a mixture of hydrogen peroxide (which eventually decomposes to water and oxygen) and sodium carbonate ("soda ash").[1]

    2Na2CO3.3H2O2 ? 2Na2CO3 + 3H2O2 [6]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_percarbonate
So as it breaks down in the tank, the excess oxygen combines with the nasties and gets rid of the smells and the sodium carbonate makes the solution more alkaline which also kills the bacteria.

I used whatever nappy soaker I could get with the highest sodium percarbonate content and never had any issues (but I also claim that my crap doesn't stink anyway). I had our used portaloo bouncing around in the back of the ute in warm weather for 3 days (and I seriously abused it on day 1) and there was no offensive odour when I emptied it. The brown slurry wasn't particularly appealing and I didn't get too close, but it was nowhere near as horrendous as I thought it was going to be.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: KingBilly on March 05, 2016, 04:27:32 PM
Thanks for that  :cup:

KB
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: cruiser 91 on March 05, 2016, 05:50:04 PM
I really think it comes down to diet..........................I've tried napisan for local trips and its just ok provided you keep adding the napisan on a daily basis but outside of that its thumbs down for us.................if your lite on the meat and consume more veggies then I think napisan could be ok..............as we travel through a lot of "no fruit fly zones" carrying fresh veggies simply cannot be done, therefore we have a higher protein diet (meat, cheese, eggs, bread etc) intake................hence using Thetford chemicals once off works hands down better in our loo than napisan. Its a case of set and forget.......which I like better.

Tried and tested  ;D   
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: white wheels on March 05, 2016, 06:04:26 PM
Hello all you chemical users...Has anyone heard of Biomagic 100% Biodegradable Environmentally friendly and safe product, we have a Thetford Porta Potty that we used for the first time at Nagambie last weekend it was very warm and humid over the weekend and we had no troubles with breakdown or smells, it isnt a chemical based product and it worked well for us.  Maybe you should try it.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: RebsWA on March 05, 2016, 06:18:14 PM
Another point is how well the chemical breaks down the paper. Nothing worse than empting the cassette and bits of paper stay stuck inside and when/if it gets caught up in the works on the caravan toilets.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: oldmate on March 05, 2016, 06:22:21 PM

Hello all you chemical users...Has anyone heard of Biomagic 100% Biodegradable Environmentally friendly and safe product, we have a Thetford Porta Potty that we used for the first time at Nagambie last weekend it was very warm and humid over the weekend and we had no troubles with breakdown or smells, it isnt a chemical based product and it worked well for us.  Maybe you should try it.

Maybe I will. Thanks.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: alnjan on March 05, 2016, 07:10:10 PM
Jan uses Odour'b'gone tablets.  http://www.odour-b-gone.com.au/index.htm (http://www.odour-b-gone.com.au/index.htm)

Seems to work okay, no smell and everything is broken down to a liquid which is easy to clean the tank. 
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Troopy_03 on March 06, 2016, 08:21:07 AM
Jan uses Odour'b'gone tablets.  http://www.odour-b-gone.com.au/index.htm (http://www.odour-b-gone.com.au/index.htm)

Seems to work okay, no smell and everything is broken down to a liquid which is easy to clean the tank.


Which contains 30% or there abouts Sodium peroxycarbonate, which is Sodium Percarbonate. The same stuff found at around 34%, in the cheaper nappy soakers. Napisan also contains other stuff, and may not be as of higher concentration of sodium percarbonate as the cheaper brands. Probably better off buying bulk Sodium Percarbonate from home brew supplies or off the net.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: UIZ733 on March 06, 2016, 08:43:25 AM
This all reminds me of the amazing;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfPpTeR_760 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfPpTeR_760)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne8almxjqlU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne8almxjqlU)
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: muzza01 on March 06, 2016, 10:29:52 AM
We used the Thetford chemicals the first few times but I have been using Napisan for some time now and it works pretty well. I also put lavender disinfectant in the top tank so it has a pleasant smell when you flush.  More Napisan needs to be added after a day or two to help with the process but overall it works for us.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Rob C on March 06, 2016, 02:56:08 PM
Thetford Blue for me.
Plus a good clean when we get home keeps the smells away.

Rob
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Coiled on March 06, 2016, 08:36:30 PM
Hello all you chemical users...Has anyone heard of Biomagic 100% Biodegradable Environmentally friendly and safe product, we have a Thetford Porta Potty that we used for the first time at Nagambie last weekend it was very warm and humid over the weekend and we had no troubles with breakdown or smells, it isnt a chemical based product and it worked well for us.  Maybe you should try it.

I have been using BioMagic for about 15 months now and am very happy with it. Odours are quite bearable (better than when using blue chem in my opinion) and is safe for dumping into pit toilets etc. If you have used chemicals prior though you do need to 'treat' your tank and the old chemicals will leach out of the plastic and cause the biomagic to be less effective.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Alan Loy on March 07, 2016, 06:54:22 AM
Can anyone refer me to some info about Biomagic?  Their web site doesn't say much  ???
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: edz on April 20, 2018, 05:14:13 PM
Wifes not realy sold on the Composting toilet idea , So we have been doing some research on Portable dunnies and found this   "   SOG  "  unit, Be easy enough to DIY and not have the roughly $400 AU  [ 200 GBP ] price tag ..
They reckon NO CHEMICALS needed with this unit .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oggqyC3jQGE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oggqyC3jQGE) any one using a similar or NO  chemical toilet set up in their vans etc ...
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Throbbinhood on April 23, 2018, 12:37:55 PM
I use cheap home brand Napisan stuff. High sodium percarbonate, highest I can find at coles. Cheap as chips.

Works well, Mix 2 Scoops with 1L boiling water in bottom Tank before I go. Then add a scoop every couple of days if it gets nasty.

Smell is always fine, no issues there.

Sometimes need to give the bottom tank a bit of a swish to get the toilet paper to move around. Anyone else have this issue?

Also anyone else ever have issues flushing the toilet paper down the hole? Last time I needed a stick to poke it in lol. Maybe i need different toilet paper.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Fizzie on April 24, 2018, 12:23:17 PM
Also anyone else ever have issues flushing the toilet paper down the hole? Last time I needed a stick to poke it in lol. Maybe i need different toilet paper.

We run with Aldi Napisan as well.

I got a bottle brush to use as a dunny brush if needed, then when we get home, the brush is rinsed out with boiling water & disinfectant.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Throbbinhood on April 24, 2018, 05:26:47 PM
We run with Aldi Napisan as well.

I got a bottle brush to use as a dunny brush if needed, then when we get home, the brush is rinsed out with boiling water & disinfectant.

Seems better than my random bush stick idea hahaha
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: plusnq on April 24, 2018, 06:31:04 PM
Seems better than my random bush stick idea hahaha

Bypassing the portaloo completely are you? 😂😂
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: DrewXT on April 25, 2018, 11:27:15 AM


Maybe i need different toilet paper.

You don't use the three sea shells??

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Cruiser 105Tvan on April 25, 2018, 02:57:42 PM
Thetford, market a brand of quick dissolving 'toilet paper'.

They call it "Aqua Soft", they also discourage the use of normal 'Loo paper' in their 'porta potties'.
I got some from BCF.  So most stores that handle 'Thetford products' would probably stock it.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: VKPrado on April 26, 2018, 10:48:43 AM
Thetford, market a brand of quick dissolving 'toilet paper'.

They call it "Aqua Soft", they also discourage the use of normal 'Loo paper' in their 'porta potties'.
I got some from BCF.  So most stores that handle 'Thetford products' would probably stock it.

I have to fully agree with this. The Thetford paper does seem to break down easier than normal paper. The process all works good if the toilet gets a good shake which mine does when getting carted around in the back of the camper.

We also use the Thetford green solution in the bottom tank and the red in the top.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: trinityalyce on April 26, 2018, 11:02:09 AM
As newbies to the world of ports-potties... does the Aqua Soft toilet paper make THAT big of a difference? Because my math is saying $10 for 4 rolls vs $10 for 20 rolls of e.g. Quilton... 🤔 If it does make a huge difference, sure, happy to get the stuff... but otherwise I've got better things to spend my money on!
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: DannyG on April 26, 2018, 11:14:58 AM
As newbies to the world of ports-potties... does the Aqua Soft toilet paper make THAT big of a difference? Because my math is saying $10 for 4 rolls vs $10 for 20 rolls of e.g. Quilton... 🤔 If it does make a huge difference, sure, happy to get the stuff... but otherwise I've got better things to spend my money on!

Spend your money on better things...we do!
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Chappie on April 26, 2018, 11:42:49 AM
Try the enviromentally friendly / recycled stuff.  We have been using it with biomagic toilet chem for the last 6 or so years without too much trouble.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: GBC on April 26, 2018, 11:49:35 AM
As newbies to the world of ports-potties... does the Aqua Soft toilet paper make THAT big of a difference? Because my math is saying $10 for 4 rolls vs $10 for 20 rolls of e.g. Quilton... 🤔 If it does make a huge difference, sure, happy to get the stuff... but otherwise I've got better things to spend my money on!
I grew up with septic friendly loo paper. My portaloo is strictly luxury 4 ply embossed goodness haha. Never had an issue emptying it. I also use any of the 'oxy' laundry soakers with potassium carbonate. It works as well as any chemical I've tried and is better for the environment than most. The soaker activates once it is thrown in, so you need to keep feeding your loo a sachet/spoon a day as you use the loo. Yes, I also give mine a bit of a shake to even things out.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Fizzie on April 27, 2018, 08:05:55 AM
As newbies to the world of ports-potties... does the Aqua Soft toilet paper make THAT big of a difference? Because my math is saying $10 for 4 rolls vs $10 for 20 rolls of e.g. Quilton... 🤔 If it does make a huge difference, sure, happy to get the stuff... but otherwise I've got better things to spend my money on!

Watching a video yesterday on tips for setting up your van & so on & the girl there mentioned the special paper, but then said she just uses cheap 2-ply paper out of the supermarket as it breaks down just as quickly at a fraction of the price :D
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: trinityalyce on April 27, 2018, 08:53:14 AM
Good to know guys, thanks!
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: Charlie Brown on April 27, 2018, 09:31:07 AM
If you want to know how your “normal” paper breaks down, stick a few sheets in a bottle, fill with water, shake and leave stand for a few hours.  Give it another shake and see what you reckon.  Seen a video a few years back with a few different super market brands and the expensive porta loo stuff and there was no difference, except price.  Oh, I think the recycled stuff made out of, and feeling like, tree bark, was a bit slower to break down.
Title: Re: Portable Toilets- what chemicals to use
Post by: tryagain on April 29, 2018, 11:42:57 PM
If you want to know how your “normal” paper breaks down, stick a few sheets in a bottle, fill with water, shake and leave stand for a few hours.  Give it another shake and see what you reckon.  Seen a video a few years back with a few different super market brands and the expensive porta loo stuff and there was no difference, except price.  Oh, I think the recycled stuff made out of, and feeling like, tree bark, was a bit slower to break down.

Here is one, a slightly different conclusion to what you remember seeing though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPT__7WK4eM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPT__7WK4eM)