Bio Pods - no longer effective

catherinef
catherinef Forum Participant Posts: 647
edited July 2017 in Tips for making Caravanning & Touring Cheaper #1

So we had bought Bio pods from Aldi or Lidl and used them very successfully.  This trip out we needed to buy a new supply so bought a pack of 12 from Waitrose.

The smell has been horrendous, so much so I bought another 12 Ariel ones to see if it made a difference.? I'm afraid it hasn't and it looks like we will be returning to regular toilet fluid.

Has anyone else had this?

«13

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2017 #2
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #3

    Trying the bio tabs from lidl for first time. Working fine for me. As David suggests maybe the formulation?

    For us there is less odour than with the toilet fluid that I was using.

  • triky auto
    triky auto Forum Participant Posts: 8,690
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #4

    wink Likewise .!!

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #5

    agree with the above....

    been using Lidl pods for quite a while, but (as we have a new Aldi nr us)  tried a pack of Aldi....IMO not quite as good, but fine.....now back on Lidl Bio, works fine.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,027 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited July 2017 #6

    Could be a dietary thing..........wink

  • catherinef
    catherinef Forum Participant Posts: 647
    edited July 2017 #7

    I did wonder that Takethedog, but the problem seems to be a lack of fragrance.

  • black caviar
    black caviar Forum Participant Posts: 242
    edited July 2017 #8

    Hiya can you tell me what the name of the lidl bio pods are please? Or is it their own brand and how many do you pop in the cassette? Cheers mrs bc:)

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #9

    Formil Biological Capsules .......... no conditioner with these. First trip using them so not sure on dosage. Presently we have been on facility sites for 3 weeks and mainly loo used for number ones. Using one capsule. Not sure whether to double the dose for non-facility sites  laughing

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,663 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #10

    We have been trying out the Lidl Formil pods on this trip and have found they work well,  we use  our own toilet most of the time.

    OH did not tell me the first time she used a bio pod, and I cannot say I  noticed any difference until I came to empty the cassette......the colour was different!

    I think we will be continuing with the bio pods, certainly a good saving over the blue.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #11

    We've just bought some to try them out, going away soon without EHU or facilities. They work out at 13.5p each. Not convinced yet but will try them. smile

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Forum Participant Posts: 3,880
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #12

    There must be more to the effectivness of different bio-pods than just the flavour!

  • briantimber
    briantimber Forum Participant Posts: 1,653
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #13

    Catherinef, if you were happy with the Lidl/Aldi pods, why not give them another try? Were the Waitrose/Ariel ones Bio pods or just plain washing pods? There is a difference, only the BIO PODS do the trick, just plain and simple bio-pods, don't know if the colour ones are as good, never used them. We use our loo for both 1&2 and use two pods per dose, emptying every other day, never had any trouble, much better than the dreaded "blue finger" syndrome of days gone by....cool

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,663 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #14

    Formil is their own brand, we are just using one pod each time.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #15

    We've just finished two weeks on a CL. One Formil pod plus a small splash of 'blue' (about a eggcup full) and the thunder box lasted up to four days without smelling which, considering the heatwave, was pretty impressive.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2017 #16
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #17

     So if they're not effective probably the wrong ones in use, it's got to be Bio for the enzyme content.

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #18

    That's interesting Catherinef. I have always used Aldi bio pods and found them very good. Perhaps it's a formulation thing?. I wouldn't go back to blue before you have sourced either Aldi or Lidl pods and tried those. Personally, I haven't tried the Lidl pods but after reading the posts about them I will try them next time. I know one thing though- since using bio pods I've saved a small fortune on blue!! No danger of spills and much more convenient to use.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #19

    Never having used these bio pods ( and not wanting to wade all through the other thread on the subject wink), might I just ask exactly how you use them? Do you just pop them in whole - presumably the outer membrane disintegrates - or do you pierce them and empty the contents in? We're almost out of blue and might give these a try rather than restocking! 

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #20

    Take  one  at  a  time  out  of  the  box,  M,  WITH  DRY  FINGERS  !!.

    Then  drop  one  into  the  cassette  after  you  have  emptied  &  rinsed  it,  the  moisture  from  rinsing  will  allow  the  jelly - like  container  to  dissolve  &  Bingo,  job  done.

    However  I  must  say  Don't  expect  Miracles  --  it  might  take  a  couple  or  three  'emptyings'  for  the  full  benefit  of  tank  cleaning  to  become  apparent.

    If  you  visit  an  accessory  store  you  will  almost  certainly  find  that  Dometic  etc  have  started  selling  their  fluid  in  identical  looking  pods.  They  come  in  about  6"  diameter  plastic  screw  top  containers  but  at  Dometic  prices  of  course.

    I  carry  one  such  canister  purely  for  use  where  the  site  owner / manager  requests  it  for  their  septic  tank  purposes. 

    Brian

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #21

    Thanks for that, Brian. Might well give it a go now! smile

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2017 #22
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #23

    Go  for  it,  M  --  you'll  save  enough  to  be  able  to afford  a  brew  at  half  time  in  the  colder  seasons  !!laughing

    Aldi / Lidl  BIO PODS  Rule  !!

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,636 ✭
    1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2017 #24

    Go for it, M. We also use a couple in the tank with the hot water emptied out from the van on out last journey home, and this really helps to keep the cassette clean.

  • caravanerkarl
    caravanerkarl Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited July 2017 #25

    Question from someone only been at this a little while.

    Does the blue (or green) not break down the solids in the cassette as well as help with the niff? or do these Aldi/Lidl pods (I assume washing machine pods) also do the same job?

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #26

    The  Aldi / Lidl  pods  ( MUST  be  their  Biological  ones  !! )  do  exactly  the  same  job  as  the  Blue  and  Green  fluids,  Karlprust.  But  they  have  the  advantage  of  not  dripping  on  your  feet  nor  staining  fingers  etc,  but  smell  rather  better  and  are  certainly  cheaper.  And  as  you  have  surmised  they  are  the  washing  machine  jobbies,  that  is  why  they  actually  keep  the  toilet  tank  so  much  cleaner  after  they  have  been  used  for  a  while.

    Of  course,  if  you  don't  like  the  results  you  can  always  bung  'em  in  the  washer  !!

    Brian   A B M

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,190 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #27

    Interesting, we've been using the Lidl bio ones for more than a year and they've been fine. On our last trip, some of which was in the very hot weather, we noticed they didn't seem as effective regarding smell. (Wondered if it was cos the container had been open since last year but couldn't think it would be.) Used the organic fluid a couple of times smell seemed better. Started a new container of Lidl pods and noticed a slight smell, it was rather warm again. Could it be a heat thing? I do hope not, we think they do at least as good a job as the fluid for a fraction of the price. We will continue to use pods and we haven't finished the organic fluid yet so can alternate if necessary.

    Be interested in others observations.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #28

    We've just been trying them. OH not happy, no smell but not working otherwise. One more try out but I think we'll be back on the usual blue.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #29

    Could  it  be  worth  using  TWO ( 2 )  pods  if  the  weather  gets  hot ??  Just  for  a  trial,  of  course.

     

    Should  I  find  they  ain't  working  as  well,  I  think  I'll be  heading  to  the  Dometic  variety  full  time ( I use  them  when  septic  tanks  require  it ) --  dearer  I  know  but  much  cleaner  on  my  size  11  paws  !!

  • catherinef
    catherinef Forum Participant Posts: 647
    edited July 2017 #30

    We did try 2 pods at one point last week and didn't seem to make much difference.

  • triky auto
    triky auto Forum Participant Posts: 8,690
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #31

    cool Bio pods in "Waitrose" in vinyl packets on the lower shelf's are £3.00 for 12 and £4.59 for 24.These are working well in my sewerage tank,even in the current hot weather .surprised.Upon drain-off,the effluent smells like a washing machine.Obviously only trial and error will determine how many to use ,,depending to the W.C usage and size of tank.S***T happens !! undecided.

Categories