Potty train me!

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vantastic

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I'm new to motorhomes and I've installed a Thetford c220 cassette toilet in my van conversion. Still haven't used it and it had a few more knobs than my toilet at home.

First of all it has a lever you slide to the left or right to open or close a flap on the cassette itself. This is my biggest question, is this normally open or closed? Just from looking at it if someone would use the toilet without opening the flap they'd make a lot of mess and that has me really worried.

I've seen toilet liners for sale. Are they really necessary?

Can you keep chemicals in the tank all the time? Say we only use the van every other weekend or so for a couple of months. Can I wait 3 months before cleaning?
 
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The “ slider” will remain closed unless you’re actually using the toilet. It prevents any smell from the waste in the cassette invading your van!
Some people keep the slide closed, use the toilet, CLOSE the lid, then open slider to release waste to cassette, flush, close slide. Or open slide, use, flush, close slider.
Waxing the bowl will help to keep it clean and “ cling free”
Liners ? More plastic pollution in the world, imo.
I used the cheapest Sainsburys own brand laundry powder in my cassette instead of chemicals ( which stain like hell and are also quite nasty chemicals). .No nasty smells when emptying.
If you’re wildcamping and need the cassette to last a bit longer before emptying, don’t flush but use an old water bottle filled with water and maybe a drop of disinfectant, squirt that instead of flushing to use less water, or use a spray bottle.
I wouldn’t leave any waste in your cassette when you get home if your van will be parked up—- it won’t be pleasant when you do have to empty it :)
 
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I think Hollyberry has answered everything except: no you can’t leave it 3 months without cleaning. Empty and rinse daily then put in fresh chemical and a little water. By chemical, I mean the cheapest biological washing tablets or powder you can find. I use two ????? tablets, just because they are a bit easier to use. If you can’t do it daily, then every 2-3 days max. If you leave it for a week it may be a bit Pongy. There are official Thetford chemicals: blue or green. Way, way too expensive and can damage septic tanks if that is where you dispose of it. I’m of the open flap, use, flush, close flap persuasion. The real trick is to learn to aim so that it doesn’t hit the sides. You’ll have to figure that out for yourself.
 
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My big worry was that someone (me, most likely) would forget to open the flap before using. But you say that isn't a problem, you can actually use the toilet with the flap closed.

Empty and rinse daily? Yikes! I (perhaps naively) thought the magic chemicals completely neutralised everything. Ok, will keep that in mind.

You say you use washing powder instead of chemicals. That's handy, and just as good as the "official" fluids? I must say I'm not a fan of the bubblegum scent so using regular laundry detergent would be nice.

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I'm a bio man too but bakers yeast is just as good.
Most important thought is if you are going down the bio path you must clean out the cassette of any and all chemicals. The Bio bugs are delicate and you can easily kill them. We never flush but we have a spray bottle of mixed bio washing liquid to spray the bowl and wipe it clean with toilet tissue. Open the flap before performing no2's it's so much less messy.
 
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I use happy bowl liners. Saves water to clean bowl.
 
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We never used to open the flap until after use for about 2 years - then read the instructions one day when bored and found out we should open the flap before using - we now do whatever the mood demands so don’t worry can be either without causing any harm.

We don’t empty every day when using the van but alway give it a good clean out once we get home.
 
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Next to the flush button is a red light which comes on when it's full. No real need to empty every day. I wait till mine is full before emptying, otherwise, what's the point of having the cassette's capacity and not using it? Thetford would have made the cassette a quarter the size of it was meant to be emptied daily or every other day.
 
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Our routine with the loo-
Open flap, open lid, use loo, paper into a bag lined bin (we use scented nappy bags-biodegradeable) flush loo & clean, close flap, close lid.
Empty loo paper bin every morning after last use.
Empty cassette every 2-3 days depending on how much usage it gets, use bio clothes washing liquid-cheapest possible.
If you leave the paper out the cassette will last longer!

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Te one thing I remember from reading the instructions, after many years of (Thetford cassette) use, is that the flap should not be opened or closed while your weight is on the seat, apparently it can damage the mechanism.
 
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phil1946 said:
Te one thing I remember from reading the instructions, after many years of (Thetford cassette) use, is that the flap should not be opened or closed while your weight is on the seat, apparently it can damage the mechanism.
Click to expand...

I think you'll find they are referring to the toilet lid. If you sit on it when closed it may damage it.
 
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Vic. Parsons. said:
Next to the flush button is a red light which comes on when it's full. No real need to empty every day. I wait till mine is full before emptying, otherwise, what's the point of having the cassette's capacity and not using it? Thetford would have made the cassette a quarter the size of it was meant to be emptied daily or every other day.
Click to expand...
Thetford designed the size based on their chemicals , so I think that if you use the Thetford chemicals you can leave it a week or so without emptying if you really want to, but if you go the less aggressive bio detergent route daily emptying is better. Also if you have a SOG, any smell is blown outside so you can leave it longer

ive tried using the Hoppy Bowl Liners, but get really fed up with singing the song every time I used it. If your aim is not good, a cross of tissue does the same thing, without the song!?
 
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Mr Chrysalis said:
Thetford designed the size based on their chemicals , so I think that if you use the Thetford chemicals you can leave it a week or so without emptying if you really want to, but if you go the less aggressive bio detergent route daily emptying is better. Also if you have a SOG, any smell is blown outside so you can leave it longer

ive tried using the Hoppy Bowl Liners, but get really fed up with singing the song every time I used it. If your aim is not good, a cross of tissue does the same thing, without the song!?
Click to expand...

I use the 40 shot stuff, it's cheaper than Thetford chemicals and the one I use (the clear one) is safe for septic tanks.
 
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Another vote here for Happy Bowl liners. These are made of paper and biodegrade in the same way as toilet paper does. We only use them for No 2s and leave the flap open so it goes straight through taking the liner with it. No mess on the bowl which only needs a short flush to wash down.

In the tank we use Bio washing liquid normally used for cleaning clothes. We usually buy Lidl's Formil in either capsules or concentrated liquid form.

We empty it every couple of days. The capacity of the cassette is small.

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We use the proper Green chemicals as we have a sceptic tank at home where we do the final empty. Rarely a smell.
With 2 people in you’ll need to empty it approx every 3 days. Somet8mes we empty it earlier if we think we’ll not have the chance to empty the next day. Depends where you’re travelling.
We empty it when we get home from a trip too, though not necessarily straight away ??.
We also clean the loo with flash after each ‘holiday’.
We bought a flush spray to spray on after each use but forgot to take it away with us ... I wonder if this is what Hollyberry means by waxing it?
 
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We have a SOG, so slider always open, no chemicals or bio empty most days but no more than 2 days and weekly spray the bowl with silicon.
Always carry a spare cassette mechanism.
Cheers
Ed
 
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vantastic said:
My big worry was that someone (me, most likely) would forget to open the flap before using. But you say that isn't a problem, you can actually use the toilet with the flap closed.

Empty and rinse daily? Yikes! I (perhaps naively) thought the magic chemicals completely neutralised everything. Ok, will keep that in mind.

You say you use washing powder instead of chemicals. That's handy, and just as good as the "official" fluids? I must say I'm not a fan of the bubblegum scent so using regular laundry detergent would be nice.
Click to expand...

Think of it like a child’s potty. You can pee or poo in it, then open slide, flush, close.
The important things are if you have contents in the bowl close lid before sliding liver to empty. And keep toothbrushes in a cupboard. They should be a minimum of 6 feet from a toilet. ( god can’t you tell I ran a children’s nursery ! And wash your hands ?)
 
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For flush spray, use water and fabric conditioner, spray the bowl firs then commence bombing mission. The fabric conditioner is very sloppy so refused skid Mark's and helps flush water spread over the whole bowl easier.

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We use a spray bottle with ' pink ' diluted in it. This is because I aquired a 2L bottle ages ago and still using it. I like the idea of the fabric conditioner though.
I wouldn't use Zoflora though, it has a nice strong smell but is phenol based so may attack plastics and rubber seals.
I would empty loo on returning from a short trip, I empty daily if possible because rarely stay anywhere more than one night and you can't be sure emptying facilities will exist in a working state at the next stop. Using bio wash fluid, it is cheap so empty as often as possible.
 
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As you can see, there is no right or wrong way !
One important thing no one has mentioned yet it to lubricate the flap once home and cleaning up. I do have the Thetford lubrication spray but others will use anything from olive oil to silicone spray.
 
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We use Tesco Biological washing liquid - half a capful each refill. This is normally good for up to 4 days (for us) but if facilities are available I empty every day. On return home the cassette gets a thorough clean and, unless it's going to be very cold, leave it charged. Note - don't use too much bio fluid or it tends to make quite a strong chemical smell - less is more!

Oh yes, flap open every use, and we also use the spray bottle rather than flush every time if it's not needed. Saves refilling the water tank every day.

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A useful tip...
If you aren't the only one to use the toilet make up a warning card saying 'DO NOT USE' and place it on the closed lid when emptying the cassette.
Nothing worse than cleaning fresh turds out of the cassette locker when you return from the elsan point.
 
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vantastic said:
My big worry was that someone (me, most likely) would forget to open the flap before using. But you say that isn't a problem, you can actually use the toilet with the flap closed.

Empty and rinse daily? Yikes! I (perhaps naively) thought the magic chemicals completely neutralised everything. Ok, will keep that in mind.

You say you use washing powder instead of chemicals. That's handy, and just as good as the "official" fluids? I must say I'm not a fan of the bubblegum scent so using regular laundry detergent would be nice.
Click to expand...

I’ve done that, but only when having a wee!! But it does give you a strange tingly feeling when the level hits your testicles!!

you will open the flap immediately then!! X
 
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Vic. Parsons. said:
I think you'll find they are referring to the toilet lid. If you sit on it when closed it may damage it.
Click to expand...
No can confirm from experience if you open the flap while your weight is on the toilet one it will take a lot of force to open it and two as in my case can pull the gasket out i was lucky it was just the rubber gasket easy to replace my caravan repair friend said normally it damaged the blade mechanism
 
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ianthebuilder said:
I’ve done that, but only when having a wee!! But it does give you a strange tingly feeling when the level hits your testicles!!

you will open the flap immediately then!! X
Click to expand...
... are you trying to tell us you're a bit 'droopy' due to the effect of getting old Ian? :LOL:
 
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Minxy Girl said:
... are you trying to tell us you're a bit 'droopy' due to the effect of getting old Ian? :LOL:
Click to expand...
Like a farmer's audible reversing sensor?

Pig reversing sensor.jpg
 
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