"Green" toilet chemicals

geoffeales
geoffeales Forum Participant Posts: 322
edited August 2021 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Stocking up for our trip next month we were bewildered by the range of toilet chemicals now available. There was a time when it was blue and pink and that was that, now there's tablets, flush and waste combined, and an array of "eco friendly" products too. I was just wondering if the club has any policy on "green" chemicals (or non-chemical) and what folk think of the combined flush and waste products? Are there any sites that insist on "green" only?

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2021 #2
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  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #3

    I never use any flush fluid. It's unnecessary in my opinion. I don't add anything to the cistern at home so......

    Some sites insist on green fluid. We encountered one in Lincs and it's a general request in the Outer Hebrides.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #4

    Agree AD. They are all we use nowadays. We empty daily usually in MH, pods are easy to use and store. 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2021 #5

    Same here David and I usually empty after 5 days ... when we move

  • heddlo
    heddlo Forum Participant Posts: 872 ✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #6

    “We wanted to take the opportunity, ahead of your upcoming visit, to let you know that we can only accept green fluid with your toilet waste as it is not a chemical emptying point”

    We had a stay on a CL recently that asked that we only use green toilet fluid because of the above reason.  I don’t  understand all the ‘ins and outs’ of septic tanks but wouldn’t bio pods upset the balance of these tanks - if they have one?  We have used bio pods occasionally but jury’s out on whether we liked them enough to continue.

  • geoffeales
    geoffeales Forum Participant Posts: 322
    edited August 2021 #7

    thanks for comments so far, I always thought the header tank (pink) fluid was all part of the mix to dissolve the waste completely, i.e. working with the blue stuff. I now wonder if this is why we go through pumps with such monotonous regularity, clear water wouldn't clog them up half as much. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #8

    The pink flush stuff has no purpose in the cassette but I think the myth is that it helps clean the bowl. It has a huge bonus for the manufacturer in that they can sell you two bottles instead of one but many of us swear it is the cause of the black gunge that forms in the tank.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited August 2021 #9

    Five days? surprised You need more roughage in your diet, ET.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #10

     Yes, we've been asked to do the same at an upcoming CL (if we don't have it they will sell us some) but we use a green product anyway and don't use pods. I presume these would have to be non bio which are not effective in a cassette. In a septic tank bio products reduce the efficiency.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #11

     How do places get permitted to be a CL when they do not have a chemical emptying point?   It is a stated requirement of a CL to have "drinking water, chemical emptying and dry rubbish disposal."

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited August 2021 #12

    we were at a CS last week which had a septic tank and they asked us about toilet chemicals..

    i said i normally use Aldi Bio wash pods (like many others) and would these be OK.

    no, was the answer, could we please use non-bio pods...an easy swap, we now carry a pack of both.

    still cheap as chips, works really well and seems to cover all eventualities.

    i have a half used Thetford 'blue' bottle in the garage....will i ever use it?

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #13

    Bio pods contain enzymes which gobble up fatty deposits etc on clothing this has the same effect on solids in a cassette. Non bio has no enzymes so they're not effective in a cassette. Green toilet fluid is the only option. We prefer this because of their action on bacteria too. I'm not convinced that pods reduce bacteria in a cassette but can't find the info I need. smile

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #14

    Elsan Green for the last 4 or 5 years now. One bottle to carry, can be used anywhere, 75ml fluid and 2L of water to get things going. A splash in the flush tank just to keep the bowl clean. Empty every 4 days or so and copes fine with 30+c. 

    Colin

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2021 #15
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  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #16

    Non bio are just detergent based, dissolve grease etc. You are basically attempting to "wash" the contents of your cassette if you use them. wink

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #17

     I have used pods (bio) for some time when travelling.  They do make the inside of the casette nice and clean. When travelling there is a lot of agitation, which is what would happen in a washing machine, but I'm not so sure about when stationary.  The pod will disperse in static water but how effective is the solution then on breaking down waste without any agitation?  The main problem we notice is lack of odour control.

  • kenexton
    kenexton Forum Participant Posts: 306
    edited December 2021 #18

    May I support TW's comment re pink fluid causing the black gunge in the flush tank.I had to dismantle the flush set up on our toilet because the pump impellor was solid with black gunge caused by gunk growing on the pink flush.Since I went back to just water- no further issues.

    We do carry a very small bottle of green fluid in the space under the cassette,as we have come across green fluid only CLs and once on a site in France.

    Mostly use blue in the cassette.

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,681 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2021 #19

    I stocked up at the beginning of the year with about 8 x 2L cartons of Aldi's toilet fluid and also bought a couple of their green version, thinking it would be handy to have if we went on a CL that insisted on 'green'.  When I got home and looked at the description of the contents - they were identical!

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2021 #20

    Maybe that’s why I think their green works as well as the blue😂😂