Just wanted to share and get some feedback on what I recently read, and am trialling, about going away from the chemicals for portable toilet's. We have a forward folding camper which has been set up to go off the grid and as part of the making this comfortable (happy wife happy life) we have a small en-suite which has a Thetford portable toilet in it, it all works well however the smell from the chemicals seems to go through everything its not a bad smell just a chemical smell so I have researched alternatives and found by putting dish-washing liquid and eucalyptus oil in the top tank and lectric inwash and soaker washing soda (main ingredient is sodium percarbonate) in the holding tank we have eliminated the chemical smell, we also have a small pump bottle with dish-washing liquid and eucalyptus to use a spray. we haven't tested it in the summer months as yet and would like some feedback from people who have tried and tested either our alternative or another alternative and had success.
Thanks
Martin
Delta18 said
10:10 AM Aug 12, 2018
Nappy soaker is a widely used alternative to toilet chemicals, probably every second van uses it.
Resist the temptation to use other additives that can harm septic Dump points.
Your home toilet doesn't use additives in flush water, neither does a port pot.
Radar said
01:04 PM Aug 12, 2018
Yes its a job that needs to be done and wisely.
Ditto to Delta18 well said.
Martin_QLD said
06:32 PM Aug 12, 2018
Yes I agree we have never used chemicals containing formaldehyde and living in the country we are mindful of keeping the septic enzymes in a good balance. We will look into the nappy soaker as an alternative as it does contain some extra ingredients than the lectric inwash and soaker washing soda we are currently trialling. hanks for the feedback
Tony Bev said
02:15 PM Aug 13, 2018
Careful when you buy the Nappy San, or Di San type laundry soaker
You have to read the fine print, as some brands use less than 30% of SODIUM PERCARBONATE
I was always able to buy the 33% ones
Recently I have only managed to buy the 32% ones
I have seen some brands as low as 28%
Martin_QLD said
06:27 PM Aug 13, 2018
Thanks Tony and Bev, we are trialling the Letric brand i looked for the MDS but was unsuccessful however I did find an information sheet and it states it is 100% sodium percarbonate, below is from https://lectric.com.au/pages/faq, my only question would be is the laundry soaker and washing soda the same although the main ingredient is sodium percarbonate.
What is Lectric Washing Soda made of? Lectric Washing Soda is made from 100% sodium carbonate. It is all natural, with no phosphates, dyes, fragrance or colourants
-- Edited by Martin_QLD on Monday 13th of August 2018 06:28:39 PM
-- Edited by Martin_QLD on Monday 13th of August 2018 06:31:22 PM
While searching the web for an alternative toilet chemical I came across an article written by Ian Jenkins a retired Professor of Chemistry and is now Professor Emeritus at Griffith University where he refers to The use of Sodium Percarbonate in Portable Camping. Toilets
Cheers
Google search: Napisan and Lookalikes in portable toilets/ian jenkins
I personally have used both the Vanish and the Woolworth brand Ultra Booster Everyday Plus Laundry Soaker with excellent results. Its worth opening the Attachment where Ian explains his reasons in more detail.
Ian says. Ultra Booster Everyday Plus Laundry Soaker, Nappy Treatment Plus, Laundry Soaker and Inwash Booster, or various similar products available from the major supermarket chains; all contain between 280 and 346g/kg of sodium percarbonate, are made in Australia from local and imported ingredients, and are generally labelled safe for septic tanks for the past 5 years and have found it to give excellent results. You can also use Vanish
When purchasing read the label carefully (the supermarkets sometimes change the name of the product or what is on the label, and the contents are often in very small print). Look for the amount of sodium percarbonate (>300g/kg, is best), safe for septic tanks and surfactants are biodegradable.
Instructions: Add 2 level tablespoons (1 level cap-full) of sodium percarbonate (Ultra Booster Everyday Plus Laundry Soaker, or equivalent) to one litre of water, stir for a few minutes then pour into lower tank of portable toilet (20 lit capacity). Wash any undissolved powder into the tank with a further one litre (4 cups) of water. I also dissolve 1 level tablespoon of sodium percarbonate in the water in the flush tank (9 lit). As with all chemicals, keep out of reach of children and avoid contact with skin, and eyes in particular. Never mix other chemicals with it.
Ian Jenkins is a retired Professor of Chemistry and is now Professor Emeritus at Griffith University.
Yes, they work very well indeed (from experience), but may not be suitable when using a vehicle in very rugged terrain as the tank contents can slosh around violently and find its way into the fan. This is not good for it :(
Personally, I don't follow the usage instructions for sodium percarbonate provided by Ian Jenkins. We prefer to add 1 level teaspoon, dry, after each#2 to the toilet paper in the bowl before flushing. It helps with flushing and I suggest that dissolving it slowly in the tank is better than releasing all of the oxygen quickly.
A little often..... and using more is not necessarily better.
Cheers,
Peter
Blues Man said
07:58 AM Sep 20, 2018
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Sodium percarbonate is used to clean beer lines . If you know a calerman ask him if he can get you some ..
Just wanted to share and get some feedback on what I recently read, and am trialling, about going away from the chemicals for portable toilet's. We have a forward folding camper which has been set up to go off the grid and as part of the making this comfortable (happy wife happy life) we have a small en-suite which has a Thetford portable toilet in it, it all works well however the smell from the chemicals seems to go through everything its not a bad smell just a chemical smell so I have researched alternatives and found by putting dish-washing liquid and eucalyptus oil in the top tank and lectric inwash and soaker washing soda (main ingredient is sodium percarbonate) in the holding tank we have eliminated the chemical smell, we also have a small pump bottle with dish-washing liquid and eucalyptus to use a spray. we haven't tested it in the summer months as yet and would like some feedback from people who have tried and tested either our alternative or another alternative and had success.
Thanks
Martin
Nappy soaker is a widely used alternative to toilet chemicals, probably every second van uses it.
Resist the temptation to use other additives that can harm septic Dump points.
Your home toilet doesn't use additives in flush water, neither does a port pot.
Yes its a job that needs to be done and wisely.
Ditto to Delta18 well said.
You have to read the fine print, as some brands use less than 30% of SODIUM PERCARBONATE
I was always able to buy the 33% ones
Recently I have only managed to buy the 32% ones
I have seen some brands as low as 28%
What is Lectric Washing Soda made of?
Lectric Washing Soda is made from 100% sodium carbonate. It is all natural, with no phosphates, dyes, fragrance or colourants
-- Edited by Martin_QLD on Monday 13th of August 2018 06:28:39 PM
-- Edited by Martin_QLD on Monday 13th of August 2018 06:31:22 PM
Sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate are different products. Don't confuse them, stick to sodium percarbonate.
While searching the web for an alternative toilet chemical I came across an article written by Ian Jenkins a retired Professor of Chemistry and is now Professor Emeritus at Griffith University where he refers to The use of Sodium Percarbonate in Portable Camping. Toilets
Cheers
Google search: Napisan and Lookalikes in portable toilets/ian jenkins
Link: The use of Sodium Percarbonate (Napisan, Ultra Booster Everyday ...
caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/.../Napisan-academic.doc
I personally have used both the Vanish and the Woolworth brand Ultra Booster Everyday Plus Laundry Soaker with excellent results. Its worth opening the Attachment where Ian explains his reasons in more detail.
Ian says. Ultra Booster Everyday Plus Laundry Soaker, Nappy Treatment Plus, Laundry Soaker and Inwash Booster, or various similar products available from the major supermarket chains; all contain between 280 and 346g/kg of sodium percarbonate, are made in Australia from local and imported ingredients, and are generally labelled safe for septic tanks for the past 5 years and have found it to give excellent results. You can also use Vanish
When purchasing read the label carefully (the supermarkets sometimes change the name of the product or what is on the label, and the contents are often in very small print). Look for the amount of sodium percarbonate (>300g/kg, is best), safe for septic tanks and surfactants are biodegradable.
Instructions: Add 2 level tablespoons (1 level cap-full) of sodium percarbonate (Ultra Booster Everyday Plus Laundry Soaker, or equivalent) to one litre of water, stir for a few minutes then pour into lower tank of portable toilet (20 lit capacity). Wash any undissolved powder into the tank with a further one litre (4 cups) of water. I also dissolve 1 level tablespoon of sodium percarbonate in the water in the flush tank (9 lit). As with all chemicals, keep out of reach of children and avoid contact with skin, and eyes in particular. Never mix other chemicals with it.
Ian Jenkins is a retired Professor of Chemistry and is now Professor Emeritus at Griffith University.
Maybe consider the SOG air extraction unit.
Very effective. Been on this forum before also.
http://www.caravanparts.com.au/landing/sog-toilet-kits/sog-toilet-vent-kit-type-3000a-for-dometic-ct3000.html
Yes, they work very well indeed (from experience), but may not be suitable when using a vehicle in very rugged terrain as the tank contents can slosh around violently and find its way into the fan. This is not good for it :(
Personally, I don't follow the usage instructions for sodium percarbonate provided by Ian Jenkins. We prefer to add 1 level teaspoon, dry, after each#2 to the toilet paper in the bowl before flushing. It helps with flushing and I suggest that dissolving it slowly in the tank is better than releasing all of the oxygen quickly.
A little often..... and using more is not necessarily better.
Cheers,
Peter
Or you could go to the home brew shop.