Hi. We have bought a 2nd hand van with a combo shower and toilet. On our first outing this weekend we have discovered a foul stale urine smell in the compartment which houses the toilet cassette. After inspection we found a small pool of putrid liquid under the cassette in the space for storing chemicals. We cleaned the compartment with hot soapy water and then tried the following: Bicarb of Soda and left it for a couple of hours with no improvement. Next we tried a solution of vinegar and borax which made it smell better for a few minutes. Then we tried Pine O Clean disinfectant. Now it smells like disinfected urine. The overwhelming smell still persists. Can anyone give us some advice on what to use to get rid of the smell. The compartment is completely plastic. TIA K&L
Dougwe said
07:44 PM Oct 25, 2015
Welcome to the gang Kimsay, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Try using the cheap version of nappy san. Put a capful in warm water and disolve then into the canister, half fill with water, close toilet and leave for a couple of days, Removing canister every day and give a gentle shake to swish it around unless you are on the move. If you are not on the move and at home just leave the canister out. Rinse a few times and could be fine. If that doesn't work maybe try Milton baby bottle cleaner in the same way.
I do what I have suggested in my grey water tank every couple of weeks and keeps the smell away.
Woody n Sue said
07:57 PM Oct 25, 2015
And it's welcome from us two 2 good advice from Dougwe also have you sorted how the liquid got under the cassette ?
Dougwe said
08:06 PM Oct 25, 2015
Oops, I might have misread that. Try the method I suggested in the canister anyway but if it is the copartment the canister slides in, sounds like it didn't seal at some stage. Try the nappy san method but not as much of course. Leave it sit there for a day then with gloves on give it a good rinse out by hand. Might work and worth a try anyway.
Happywanderer said
09:00 PM Oct 25, 2015
Welcome from me too. Perhaps wipe the area out with Eucalyptus Oil or Lavender Oil, go through a few different Oils till one works. I'd say it's been there for a while and ingrained in the plastic.
Maybe spray with Glen 20, leaves a very fresh clean smell.
Gazzburger said
09:08 PM Oct 25, 2015
If it is a theytford check the Oring under the slide if it is worn it will let liquid past and it will lay under the cassette
Baz421 said
09:52 PM Oct 25, 2015
Try the pine o clean Eucalyptus (the green one) it is good, rather than standard pine o clean. That's all we ever use.
There is also a "black wash" detergent for greasy clothes (OMO brand I think) try washing canister out with that if still bad.
-- Edited by Baz421 on Sunday 25th of October 2015 09:53:26 PM
The Doo crew said
10:53 PM Oct 25, 2015
Adult kids did the same thing in our bus, peeing in the toilet late at night with NO cassette installed, didn't discover until a month later, what a pong !!!!
Bicarb in hot water, washed & rinsed again & again until it was almost gone then pinocleen wiped.
Aus-Kiwi said
12:44 AM Oct 26, 2015
I would try a a paste of bicarbonate of soda and leave 24 hours ..or more ...
the rocket said
08:38 AM Oct 26, 2015
Helli kymsay, i din,t know the answer to your question i just wanted to say hello. Regards. Rocket n strop
jade46 said
10:21 AM Oct 26, 2015
There is a product called "Nilodour"
It is used in industry for nasty smells.
Give it a go
Buy the proper Thetford chemicals including the ''no more smells'' one for the flush water. We've never had an issue. We also lube the O-ring at the blade with olive oil. Giving everything a thorough swill out, scrub, clean & wipe over avoids any odors.
banjo said
12:13 PM Oct 26, 2015
Lots of good ideas apart from one above, the so called "proper chemicals" are nothing more than formaldehyde and are extremely toxic ! I and many more have soon learned that there are far more eco and health friendly additives for a cassette toilet.
Anyone that tells you to use toilet chemicals, well no more said.
Nilodour does work well though.
Bruce and Bev said
01:59 PM Oct 26, 2015
more and more of the "eco-friendly" RV cleaners and such like meant for for general toilet cleaning inside and out no longer are toxic and we use a product for inside the cassette made in the USA (no, not China with an Amercian flag stamped on it) - it has no formaldehyde, breaks down solids and toilet paper and leaves a nice smell when the rubber blade is opened.
I have spoken by email to the master importer of this product to Australia (he on-sells the smaller packs to Camcec to retail and his company sells the bigger packs to builders and event organisers who use porta loos (although when you walk past some the smell is strong enough for the whole thing to fly off (obviously not well maintained).
Brian is correct though that virtually all products like this a few years back were toxic - but in places like the States and Europe, the manufacturers have had to come up with new products that are genuinely safe and don't damage the environment or destroy the decomposition bacteria in septic tanks
Onedodger said
02:56 PM Oct 26, 2015
Because it is under the cassette then I would soak a small sponge in water that has soluble Eucalyptis oil added at about 50 50 rate place under cassete in the space available and leave for a few day or until it has dried out. Eucalyptus odour will over power any other smell and will get rid of the unpleasant odour but it will take a few days as the urine has probably permeated the compartment.
Like said above use nappisan that has percarbonate in it the higher the better % . About I/2 a cup mixed would be strong enough in the holding tank. If you have a top tank that the flush water comes out of add a small amount of soluable Eucalyptus oil to it about an egg cup full per fill.
We have used the above mixture for about 10 years and we still have no toilet generated odours.
Oh and another thing using nappi san or sard and the like you wil have a product that is also usefull when clothes washing.
Bevandy2 said
11:55 PM Oct 26, 2015
Sounds like you may have some mechanical fault, for what it's worth we(I) use a generous lid full of Napisan when I dump the dunny, and then I chuck in a bit of eucalyptus oil into the bottom tank as well, only a little, a teaspoon or so, and leaves a nice smell and clears the sinuses as well, clears the tubes whilst meditating on the days activities.
I usually go over the whole dunny with Orange Power spray and wipe as well, leaves it all fresh and ready to "go", and I'm a bloke, how's that for house trained?
I don't put any additives in the top tank, I found Napisan was clogging the works, clear clean water is OK for that.
The Thetford chemicals are unfriendly, and the pink stuff for the top tank breeds algie.
Aus-Kiwi said
12:12 AM Oct 27, 2015
Either mechanical issue or some body needs some sights on the old fella ! Lol
Phil C said
07:01 AM Oct 27, 2015
Ah I love this subject. NOT
Just to throw a spanner in the works, would CLR do any good to help get rid of this nasty? And would CLR be any good in. The cassette for a few weeks to descale the beast? Not too sure the effect CLR will have on plastic.
I saw an interesting sign over the steel wall one day, it said " we aim to please, you aim too please"
Cheers
patrol03 said
04:30 PM Oct 27, 2015
Great stuff that CLR Phil. A cupful of that in a half full cassette of water for 24 hours cleans it up like new.Swish it around a few times and leave it on each side for a few hours for excellent results.
Aus-Kiwi said
02:33 AM Oct 30, 2015
So it seems .. Best if I just have half a cup before breakfast ? Lol
Try using the cheap version of nappy san. Put a capful in warm water and disolve then into the canister, half fill with water, close toilet and leave for a couple of days, Removing canister every day and give a gentle shake to swish it around unless you are on the move. If you are not on the move and at home just leave the canister out. Rinse a few times and could be fine. If that doesn't work maybe try Milton baby bottle cleaner in the same way.
I do what I have suggested in my grey water tank every couple of weeks and keeps the smell away.
Welcome from me too. Perhaps wipe the area out with Eucalyptus Oil or Lavender Oil, go through a few different Oils till one works. I'd say it's been there for a while and ingrained in the plastic.
Maybe spray with Glen 20, leaves a very fresh clean smell.
Try the pine o clean Eucalyptus (the green one) it is good, rather than standard pine o clean. That's all we ever use.
There is also a "black wash" detergent for greasy clothes (OMO brand I think) try washing canister out with that if still bad.
-- Edited by Baz421 on Sunday 25th of October 2015 09:53:26 PM
Bicarb in hot water, washed & rinsed again & again until it was almost gone then pinocleen wiped.
Helli kymsay, i din,t know the answer to your question i just wanted to say hello. Regards. Rocket n strop
It is used in industry for nasty smells.
Give it a go
www.pharmacyonline.com.au/catalog/product/view/id/23146/
Anyone that tells you to use toilet chemicals, well no more said.
Nilodour does work well though.
I have spoken by email to the master importer of this product to Australia (he on-sells the smaller packs to Camcec to retail and his company sells the bigger packs to builders and event organisers who use porta loos (although when you walk past some the smell is strong enough for the whole thing to fly off (obviously not well maintained).
Brian is correct though that virtually all products like this a few years back were toxic - but in places like the States and Europe, the manufacturers have had to come up with new products that are genuinely safe and don't damage the environment or destroy the decomposition bacteria in septic tanks
Because it is under the cassette then I would soak a small sponge in water that has soluble Eucalyptis oil added at about 50 50 rate place under cassete in the space available and leave for a few day or until it has dried out. Eucalyptus odour will over power any other smell and will get rid of the unpleasant odour but it will take a few days as the urine has probably permeated the compartment.
Like said above use nappisan that has percarbonate in it the higher the better % . About I/2 a cup mixed would be strong enough in the holding tank. If you have a top tank that the flush water comes out of add a small amount of soluable Eucalyptus oil to it about an egg cup full per fill.
We have used the above mixture for about 10 years and we still have no toilet generated odours.
Oh and another thing using nappi san or sard and the like you wil have a product that is also usefull when clothes washing.
I usually go over the whole dunny with Orange Power spray and wipe as well, leaves it all fresh and ready to "go", and I'm a bloke, how's that for house trained?
I don't put any additives in the top tank, I found Napisan was clogging the works, clear clean water is OK for that.
The Thetford chemicals are unfriendly, and the pink stuff for the top tank breeds algie.
Just to throw a spanner in the works, would CLR do any good to help get rid of this nasty? And would CLR be any good in. The cassette for a few weeks to descale the beast? Not too sure the effect CLR will have on plastic.
I saw an interesting sign over the steel wall one day, it said " we aim to please, you aim too please"
Cheers
Great stuff that CLR Phil. A cupful of that in a half full cassette of water for 24 hours cleans it up like new.Swish it around a few times and leave it on each side for a few hours for excellent results.