Reducing toilet smells

DJMikeyT replied on 11/06/2020 23:42

Posted on 11/06/2020 23:42

Hi. After lockdown ends, to stay safe, lots of us are going to have to use our loos for all of our bodily functions instead of using the toilet blocks (as we do at the moment). I will come straight out with it, is there any way of reducing poo smells while you are using the chemical toilet? 

replied on 13/06/2020 08:32

Posted on 13/06/2020 08:32

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

SteveL replied on 13/06/2020 08:38

Posted on 13/06/2020 08:32 by

There have been several posts mentioning additives in rinse water but its not an option if the van (like ours) uses fresh water from an onboard tank. However this is the third van we have had like this and its not a problem.

Posted on 13/06/2020 08:38

Nor our MH. I don't think it would make the drinking water taste very nice.😂 It has the advantage that you don't run out of flush water unexpectedly. Plus the pink fluid used to cause horrible black bits, that took lots of tank flushing to get rid of.

DJMikeyT replied on 13/06/2020 08:49

Posted on 12/06/2020 19:50 by obbernockle

We used to use chemical toilet additive in the rinse tank and waste cassette. About 10 yeras ago we came across people (mainly Germans at that time) using a SOG system. We thought they were typical Germans and very tight with their money in the house keeping department, but eventually realised that this was the right way to deal with the issue. We also came across ceramic toilet bowls used often by the same people and these are much cleaner than the plastic ones, because they rinse easily. They are very easy to clean just as at home.

We have had ceramic toilet in our caravans ever since, and always a  SOG. We stopped using the horrible smelling chemicals which we find are worse than the smell they are trying to hide. A properly installed SOG, used correctly, is the cleanest and most hygenic system. We get no smell in the caravan and we dont use chemicals. 

The SOG system evacuates air and odour from the toilet bowl, and partly from the toilet room. Anyone who has used a toilet on a ferry or an aircraft has experienced the same thing.

Air moving over the matter in the cassette breaks down the solids in the cassette quickly. When it's time to empty the cassette there is a short time of smell at the disposal point. Not a smell of horrible chemical, but of decomposing human waste. So what? That's what it is and it will not hurt anyone. Whistle a happy tune whilst pouring and all will be fine. 

For those with a plastic toilet bowl the rinse water really needs a small amount of additive in the rinse reservoir to soften the water and help clean the bowl and leave a coating on the surface of the bowl. This makes the surface slippier, and avoids staining.  A bio toilet pod is fine for that, Avoid softener as this can clog the rinse pump and may solidify when the reservoir is drained. 

Posted on 13/06/2020 08:49

Thanks for the comprehensive reply. I have a C400 series Thetford toilet and had never heard of the SOG system until this thread so I'm grateful for you and the others who have mentioned it. Sounds like a good solution to me. The two options seem to be vent through the door or through the floor. Either would be fine for me as our awning doesn't cover the cadette door. I wondered whether you've fitted the kit yourself or whether you got someone to fit it? If you did it yourself, how easy was it? I'm pretty good at DIY but don't mind paying someone local to Cardiff to do it. 

no one replied on 13/06/2020 08:56

Posted on 12/06/2020 22:13 by EmilysDad

@Obbernockle: Anyone who has used a toilet on a ferry or ....

Toilets I've used on ferries have use the same/similar set up to a Grey Funnel Liner ie it uses some of the sea water it's sat on/in to flush the toilet. Grey Funnel Liners used to just flush overboard .... they might very well have improved over the years 🙄

Posted on 13/06/2020 08:56

All vacuum systems and microbiological reactors now, ie waste goes in and 'drinkable' fresh water comes out the other end!

older grey liners still store and dump tongue-out

millie8 replied on 13/06/2020 09:23

Posted on 13/06/2020 09:23

We always use our own toilet.  Neutradol gel, the one in the little white pot is the best for smells we have found.  They do a regular and stronger one.  Cheap and lasts for ages.  Keep the box and foil lid and pack away for travelling.  Always use the proper chemicals and leave a little of the pink liquid after.  

obbernockle replied on 13/06/2020 15:28

Posted on 13/06/2020 08:49 by DJMikeyT

Thanks for the comprehensive reply. I have a C400 series Thetford toilet and had never heard of the SOG system until this thread so I'm grateful for you and the others who have mentioned it. Sounds like a good solution to me. The two options seem to be vent through the door or through the floor. Either would be fine for me as our awning doesn't cover the cadette door. I wondered whether you've fitted the kit yourself or whether you got someone to fit it? If you did it yourself, how easy was it? I'm pretty good at DIY but don't mind paying someone local to Cardiff to do it. 

Posted on 13/06/2020 15:28

I have fitted the same kit to 3 caravans since 2008. They have all had the door outlet. Leave the filter housing in the door when you sell the caravan and re-use the rest of the kit. Have a look on the SOG uk web site and you will see the models for different toilets and the installation. Provided you are a reasonable DIYer you should be fine. I change our carbon filter once a year when I deep clean the toilet grey waste and fresh water installations. We were doing about 140-150 nights per year including 3 months or so in Spain/Portugal each winter until recently, but last year we did 70 nights (getting older) so the kit  gives good service for the cost. Weve had the SOG kit for 12 years, so 1450 nights is not a bad for the original £111. We are stil using the original air pump!

dreamer1 replied on 14/06/2020 21:44

Posted on 11/06/2020 23:42 by DJMikeyT

Hi. After lockdown ends, to stay safe, lots of us are going to have to use our loos for all of our bodily functions instead of using the toilet blocks (as we do at the moment). I will come straight out with it, is there any way of reducing poo smells while you are using the chemical toilet? 

Posted on 14/06/2020 21:44

Always amazes me why owners have a mental block regarding using the on board toilet facilities, they are absolutely brilliant we have a Coachman 675 Laser 2019 and it is beautiful, flush toilet an amazing size shower, heated, carpeted its stunning, why would you not use your own bathroom. We mainly use caravan and motor home sites and the facilities are excellent but we very rarely use them, I know we pay for them so some people will say we are wasting our money but if its the site you like there is no option. we do use club sites with no facilities without a  problem. We have no issues with smells of any kind, no more than you get at home.    

Pippah45 replied on 15/06/2020 10:47

Posted on 15/06/2020 10:47

As well as the above - Febreze but not the extra strong one that is too strong and makes the dogs sneeze!  

 

I use Zoflora in the flush too.  

obbernockle replied on 15/06/2020 20:53

Posted on 15/06/2020 10:47 by Pippah45

As well as the above - Febreze but not the extra strong one that is too strong and makes the dogs sneeze!  

 

I use Zoflora in the flush too.  

Posted on 15/06/2020 20:53

How much do you put in? We use Zoflora for certain jobs and its excellent  but its quite expensive. 

hitchglitch replied on 16/06/2020 20:23

Posted on 14/06/2020 21:44 by dreamer1

Always amazes me why owners have a mental block regarding using the on board toilet facilities, they are absolutely brilliant we have a Coachman 675 Laser 2019 and it is beautiful, flush toilet an amazing size shower, heated, carpeted its stunning, why would you not use your own bathroom. We mainly use caravan and motor home sites and the facilities are excellent but we very rarely use them, I know we pay for them so some people will say we are wasting our money but if its the site you like there is no option. we do use club sites with no facilities without a  problem. We have no issues with smells of any kind, no more than you get at home.    

Posted on 16/06/2020 20:23

Use water - empty waste - fetch more water. Backwards and forwards all day long, although a bit easier with a motorhome. That’s why people use the sanitation blocks but needs must.

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