Bio Magic is widely used as the chemical of choice in toilet cartridges. The last 5 liter container I purchased was $87.00. I met a fellow traveller recently at Bendigo Showgrounds who told me about his alternative.
From Woolworths, buy Select (Woolworths Brand) Oxygenated Soaker & Stain Remover, in a 2 liter container for $9.45. This product is Phosphate Free and Biodegradable.
After you empty the cartridge in a Dump Point, warm 250 ml water and add 2 tablespoons of Soaker & Stain Remover, then stir to mix. On first use you may want to use 3 tablespoons.
A normal cartridge holds 20 liters. If you use Bio Magic, the measurement is 50 ml in 2 liters of water. This leaves 17 liters and 950 ml usable space remaining in the cartridge.. If you use Soaker & Stain Remover, use is 250 ml water leaving 19 liters and 750 m usable spacel.
jetj said
07:00 PM Jul 28, 2012
Hi Big Gorilla and welcome, I just throw in the soaker powder (sodium percarbonate active ingredient) in the porta potti, no water, just urine essentially and no smell.
valnrob said
08:10 PM Jul 28, 2012
Me too Big Gorilla, been using this for a long time, find chemicals too expensive. You can throw a bit more powder in if you think it is needed before emptying. One 2lt container of nappy wash lasts a long time.
Dougwe said
11:41 PM Jul 28, 2012
I don't have a "Pota Potty" but have a 20lt bucket like container with a toilet seat and lid fitted to it. I got it from a camp supply place many moons back now.
I tried the Woolworths Brand one after reading about it on here, put one cap full into about 2lts of cold water, used two nights for both 1's and 2's and on the third day when I whent to empty in a dump point as there was one in front of the toilet block the smell was pretty bad. Have I done something wrong or do I need more than a cap full.
Dougwe said
11:42 PM Jul 28, 2012
Sorry, welcome Big Gorilla from me, enjoy here and out there.
JRH said
12:36 AM Jul 29, 2012
Dougwe wrote:
I don't have a "Pota Potty" but have a 20lt bucket like container with a toilet seat and lid fitted to it. I got it from a camp supply place many moons back now.
I tried the Woolworths Brand one after reading about it on here, put one cap full into about 2lts of cold water, used two nights for both 1's and 2's and on the third day when I whent to empty in a dump point as there was one in front of the toilet block the smell was pretty bad. Have I done something wrong or do I need more than a cap full.
If you are doing number 2's youneed to disolve at least 2 caps, preferably 3 caps in a liter of water.
Roving-Dutchy said
12:48 AM Jul 29, 2012
You may need more than one capful, and as its so cheap add a bit more each day, it doesn't need much water just enough to start it dissolving, a cup of water is enough, doesn't need to be premixed.The Reject shop at one stage had a 10kg bucket for $8 don't know if they still stock same. Cheers David
Dougwe said
01:16 AM Jul 29, 2012
Thanks JRH and Roving-Dutchy, I had a feeling I would need more. I will give that a try next time I'm out in the playground.
jetj said
01:32 AM Jul 29, 2012
I have seen some recommendations for the better Aldi version. I'm using the real el cheapo though on urine only.
I have found though that the smell is worse in times I have used a bucket than in the p/potti tank.
Hylda&Jon said
01:37 AM Jul 29, 2012
Coles and Woolies generic nappy treatment is possibly the most plugged product on these caravan forums due to their use in porta potties and caravan toilets.
The stuff works great, is cheap and is safe to be disposed of in septic tanks. What more can you ask for?
Cheers
Jon
Big Gorilla said
01:45 AM Jul 29, 2012
Thank you for the welcome. Obviously this subject has been discussed before but I couldn't find it thru the Search facility. I'm not using Nappy San but the Select brand Soaker & Stain Remover. Maybe they are similar products. Mine is a fixed Thetford toilet and cartridge. As I mentioned, I use 2 tablespoons in 250 ml of WARM water. I don't get any odor from the toilet. Maybe use of a bucket doesn't properly seal the unit allowing any odor to escape...
jetj said
01:59 AM Jul 29, 2012
It seems reasonably common knowledge but I've found some still don't know about it. Thank you for posting, it is so expensive to buy bio magic.
Hylda&Jon said
06:37 AM Jul 29, 2012
Big Gorilla wrote:
Thank you for the welcome. Obviously this subject has been discussed before but I couldn't find it thru the Search facility.
A few mentions can be found when you do a search on 'nappysan'
BTW! Welcome to the forum.
Cheers
Jon
Arrabella Avan said
11:42 AM Jul 29, 2012
In addition to the Nappy soaker in the base of the porta potty... any cheap brand will do... I was recently told to use a diluted solution of fabric softener as the bowl rinse for the porta potty. Instead of filling the top 10 litre cartridge with water and a little nappy soaker i now fill a properly labelled recycled water bottle with about 1/4 cup of fabric softener and 500ml of water and use this to rinse the bowl of the potty after use. Smells great and saves on all that extra weight.
beiffe said
03:25 PM Jul 29, 2012
I have a sprary bottle with water and a little Eucalyptus oil in it. I spray the inside the bowl every now and again to give a nice smell.
Another napisan user, Woolies cheap brand.
Covers many ills LOL
Regards Brian
jules47 said
09:09 PM Jul 29, 2012
Hi - welcome Big Gorilla - we use the "homebrand" nappy soaker, two capfulls disolved in about 2 litres water, for the bottome tank, and in the top tank we put a full bottle of disinfectant concentrate - available in supermarket - there are a couple of home brands, but I prefer the lavender "Myo" brand - it is 3 times concentrated, leaves a nice smeel whenever you "flush". Another tip someone told me is to occasionally - maybe when cleaning the van after a trip or whatever - in the empty loo cassette, put some citric acid in with a bit of water, and swirl it around, let it sit for a while - gets rid of the uric acid crystals that sometimes gather. citric acid is available in the cooking section of the supermarket.
ken thomas said
10:43 PM Jul 29, 2012
Hey Doug You said your S**t did not stink,being a blue blood and all that Ken
Cruising Granny said
11:17 PM Jul 29, 2012
When I was using my dunny on board, I used a borax and ammonia mix. I only ever used it for 1's, definitely no solids, not even paper. I now am parked about 200 metres from the amenities and take every opportunity to walk there as I don't get much exercise. Since my adrenal gland was removed I don't go during the night. That's a relief! (sorry about the pun)
Happywanderer said
01:16 AM Jul 30, 2012
I only ever use my porta-potti for 1s during the night. Like some else said above I keep a labelled bottle full of Napisan, cheap brand, made up in water as use from there to flush. Never bothered filling the top tank when I found that concertina'd thing doesn't seem to work.
Dougwe said
01:24 AM Jul 30, 2012
ken thomas wrote:
Hey Doug You said your S**t did not stink,being a blue blood and all that Ken
I must have had muck on the pluck at the time Ken.
Hylda&Jon said
01:49 AM Jul 30, 2012
jules47 wrote:
Hi - welcome Big Gorilla - we use the "homebrand" nappy soaker, two capfulls disolved in about 2 litres water, for the bottome tank, and in the top tank we put a full bottle of disinfectant concentrate - available in supermarket - there are a couple of home brands, but I prefer the lavender "Myo" brand - it is 3 times concentrated, leaves a nice smeel whenever you "flush". Another tip someone told me is to occasionally - maybe when cleaning the van after a trip or whatever - in the empty loo cassette, put some citric acid in with a bit of water, and swirl it around, let it sit for a while - gets rid of the uric acid crystals that sometimes gather. citric acid is available in the cooking section of the supermarket.
From memory, Disinfectants kill bacteria so they would destroy septic systems who use bacteria to do their job. Not the best idea when travelling as you don't always have too many choices where to empty the toilet and sometimes the only place is a toilet which uses a septic tank.
jules47 said
01:55 AM Jul 30, 2012
Never thought of that one Hylda and Jon - was told to use it by another traveller. Might have to rethink that option.
JRH said
07:15 PM Jul 30, 2012
A quick spray on the bowl and seal with some Olive Oil will help keep the seal soft and working properly also it helps prevent the so called skid marks.
Bio Magic is widely used as the chemical of choice in toilet cartridges. The last 5 liter container I purchased was $87.00. I met a fellow traveller recently at Bendigo Showgrounds who told me about his alternative.
From Woolworths, buy Select (Woolworths Brand) Oxygenated Soaker & Stain Remover, in a 2 liter container for $9.45. This product is Phosphate Free and Biodegradable.
After you empty the cartridge in a Dump Point, warm 250 ml water and add 2 tablespoons of Soaker & Stain Remover, then stir to mix. On first use you may want to use 3 tablespoons.
A normal cartridge holds 20 liters. If you use Bio Magic, the measurement is 50 ml in 2 liters of water. This leaves 17 liters and 950 ml usable space remaining in the cartridge.. If you use Soaker & Stain Remover, use is 250 ml water leaving 19 liters and 750 m usable spacel.
I just throw in the soaker powder (sodium percarbonate active ingredient) in the porta potti, no water, just urine essentially and no smell.
I don't have a "Pota Potty" but have a 20lt bucket like container with a toilet seat and lid fitted to it. I got it from a camp supply place many moons back now.
I tried the Woolworths Brand one after reading about it on here, put one cap full into about 2lts of cold water, used two nights for both 1's and 2's and on the third day when I whent to empty in a dump point as there was one in front of the toilet block the smell was pretty bad. Have I done something wrong or do I need more than a cap full.
If you are doing number 2's youneed to disolve at least 2 caps, preferably 3 caps in a liter of water.
Cheers
David
I have found though that the smell is worse in times I have used a bucket than in the p/potti tank.
Coles and Woolies generic nappy treatment is possibly the most plugged product on these caravan forums due to their use in porta potties and caravan toilets.
The stuff works great, is cheap and is safe to be disposed of in septic tanks. What more can you ask for?
Cheers
Jon
A few mentions can be found when you do a search on 'nappysan'
BTW! Welcome to the forum.
Cheers
Jon
Instead of filling the top 10 litre cartridge with water and a little nappy soaker i now fill a properly labelled recycled water bottle with about 1/4 cup of fabric softener and 500ml of water and use this to rinse the bowl of the potty after use.
Smells great and saves on all that extra weight.
Another napisan user, Woolies cheap brand.
Covers many ills LOL
Regards
Brian
Another tip someone told me is to occasionally - maybe when cleaning the van after a trip or whatever - in the empty loo cassette, put some citric acid in with a bit of water, and swirl it around, let it sit for a while - gets rid of the uric acid crystals that sometimes gather. citric acid is available in the cooking section of the supermarket.
You said your S**t did not stink,being a blue blood and all that
Ken
I now am parked about 200 metres from the amenities and take every opportunity to walk there as I don't get much exercise.
Since my adrenal gland was removed I don't go during the night. That's a relief! (sorry about the pun)
I must have had muck on the pluck at the time Ken.
From memory, Disinfectants kill bacteria so they would destroy septic systems who use bacteria to do their job. Not the best idea when travelling as you don't always have too many choices where to empty the toilet and sometimes the only place is a toilet which uses a septic tank.
A quick spray on the bowl and seal with some Olive Oil will help keep the seal soft and working properly also it helps prevent the so called skid marks.