Beginners Guide to Caravan Toilet Chemicals – What Chemicals Do You Need?

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Caravan toilet chemicals are not the most exciting thing about owning a caravan, but they’re extremely important, for obvious reasons. If you want to make sure you have a good time on the road, a working toilet is key.

If you’re new to caravans, you might be unsure of what type of chemicals you need. What’s the difference between blue and pink toilet cleaning? Where does green fit in? Are liquids better than tabs?

Let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about toilet chemicals for your caravan.

What Do Toilet Chemicals Do?

If you think about your caravan as a home on the road, it makes sense why you need to take special consideration for the toilet. After all, it’s not like you have a septic tank out in the middle of the woods. The biggest difference between a caravan toilet and your toilet at home is that your home toilet uses a lot more water. Caravan toilets don’t carry waste away, they use a small amount of water to deposit waste into the blackwater tank. Because of this, you need a way to keep your caravan toilet working well while also controlling odours.

That’s where caravan toilet chemicals come in.

Most chemicals for caravan toilets work by helping break down tissue and waste, preventing these things from building up in the tank and potentially blocking it. Because they facilitate waste breakdown, they help control odour, too. Your blackwater tank is likely very close to your toilet, which makes it really easy for odours to make their way back up into the bathroom. If the odours are bad enough, they may take over the whole caravan. So, odour control is important.

There are a few different types of toilet chemicals for a caravan. Here’s a quick review of the types of things you’ll see when shopping.

Blue Caravan Toilet Chemicals

Blue toilet cleaner is probably the most common. Its job? To biologically break down waste, ensuring that everything is easy to dispose of. To use it, pour it into your waste tank. It also helps prevent odours and gas buildup.

thetford 202196 aqua kem blue toilet sachets the original

If you’re looking for an effective blue toilet cleaner, here are a few options to consider:

Green Caravan Toilet Chemicals

Green toilet chemicals do the same thing as blue, but they’re considered a more environmentally friendly option. The chemicals aren’t as harsh, and many are safe to use in septic tanks.

bio pak walex camper alpine fresh natural enzyme deodorant

Some good green toilet chemicals are:

Pink Caravan Toilet Chemicals

Pink chemicals are a little different to blue and green. Rather than going into the waste tank, pink toilet chemicals maintain the bowl and make sure it smells good. It coats the bowl, preventing grime and coating the bowl with a protective layer that helps solid waste flush easily and prevent limescale from occurring in the bowl.

pro kleen pink toilet chemical rinse solution fluid

Tabs and Sachets

Many people prefer dry chemicals, like tabs and sachets, to liquid chemicals. The biggest benefit is dry chemicals are much easier to store. They’re lightweight, compact, and premeasured, too, so you don’t have to worry about measuring anything. That means that not only are you sure to use the right amount of chemicals, but there’s also no risk of spilling.

The only downside is that many people don’t like the residue that some dry chemicals leave behind. They tend to look gritty and aren’t as visually appealing. Dose options are a little more limited, too.

Liquid Chemicals

Liquid chemicals are generally concentrated, so a little goes a long way. They’re generally more environmentally friendly, too, since you’re using less plastic for more product. Although it may be a little more difficult to store, the bottle lasts a long time, so you don’t need to keep replenishing your supply.

elsan organic toilet fluid and toilet rinse bundle isolated on white background

If you’re interested in liquid concentrates, we listed some individual products above. Many people like to use both blue or green and pink chemicals since they work a little differently. Here are some good multipacks to consider:

Which Is Better?

As for toilet chemical colours, you can’t really say which is better because it depends what you’re looking for. Blue and green chemicals work more directly in the waste tank, while pink chemicals are meant to treat the bowl. There are a lot of great options for each, though, so take a look at the products listed above to decide which is the right chemical for your needs. One thing you should note, though, is that green chemicals are considered more environmentally friendly than blue. Read the labels carefully, though, as some blue chemicals are less harsh than others.

As for liquid vs dry tabs, again, this is down to personal preference. If you have a lot of room for storage and prefer to buy in bulk, liquid concentrate is probably the best choice. On the other hand, if you want something light, portable, and easy to measure, dry tabs or sachets will do the trick.

The most important thing about choosing a chemical for your caravan toilet is to make sure it’s compatible with the kind of toilet you have. Some chemicals may be too harsh as many cassette toilets have seals and other more delicate parts that need protection. You should be able to easily find this information on the label.

As far as what toilet chemicals are essential, you really only need a blue or green chemical that acts in the tank to help break down waste. Pink chemicals are a bonus, and some people think they’re well worth it.

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