Thetford, founded in Michigan, USA in 1963, has set the gold standard in mobile sanitary systems and toilet additives, recently expanding its products to include refrigerators and cooking equipment. The company has since maintained its status as a global leader in mobile sanitation systems and toilet care. Needless to say, your Thetford caravan toilet won’t last long unless you care for it. Regular maintenance is essential to keep off bad odours, prevent issues such as leaks and obstructions and to ensure that the toilet system is functioning well. Cleaning and caring for your portable toilet helps extend the lifespan of its parts for optimal performance and durability.
Routine cleaning and maintenance
Here’s a step-by-step guide on the daily and weekly cleaning routine of your Thetford Toilet.
- Empty the waste tank regularly to prevent overflow and unpleasant odours.
- Use Thetford toilet products to break down waste and neutralise odours. These products keep odours under control while keeping the toilet hygienic.
- Clean the toilet bowl to prevent grime build-up and bad odours. Use a mild cleaning product such as the Thetford Toilet Bowl Cleaner that is safe to use on plastic surfaces while effectively keeping the toilet bowl squeaky clean.
Weekly cleaning
- Check the seals of your caravan toilet to avoid leaks and odours.
- Replace the seals at once if they are worn out or damaged. The Thetford Seal Lubricant preserves the condition of seals and makes them last longer.
- Regular weekly cleaning is essential to avoid health hazards and unsanitary conditions. Thetford’s toilet and bathroom care products ensure that your caravan toilet is clean, hygienic and functional.
Step by step guide on how to clean your Porta Potti
Here’s a simple-to-follow guide on how to clean your caravan toilet:
- First, fill the top flush water tank with water then pour Aqua Rinse to give a protective layer and for waste to go down smoothly. Push the lever to the side and lift it up for the top part to come off.
- Next, turn it around, open and in the spout put Aqua Kem Concentrated (around 50ml), place a little water to activate and return the lid back on.
- Then, press on the pump mechanism to flush and pump the water around. A red colour indicator will tell you if the cassette is already full and if you need to empty it already.
- Lift up to remove the top layer and the lower layer should be emptied at a designated dumping area. Press the vent button to release the pressure inside the cassette or waste holder. It makes it easier to empty out the contents from the cassette or holder to the dumping area.
- Finally, add water, swirl a bit, empty out and place Aqua Kem Blue or Aqua Kem Green Concentrated to make the toilet ready for the next use.
Importance of Thetford toilet cleaning products usage
What sets the toilet care products of Thetford apart from its competitors? The answer is simple. Thetford toilet cleaning products are environmentally-friendly and have pleasant scents that do not irritate the nose. Also, they’re safe to be emptied to a septic tank, unlike most toilet cleaning products. Further, they are specially formulated to prevent damage to your portable toilet and do not use formaldehyde, a cancer-causing chemical.
Recommended Thetford toilet care products
These are the top-of-the-line toilet care products of Thetford:
Flush water tank products
Aqua Rinse Concentrated
This product is suitable for your flush water tank for a hygienic and smoother flush and to ensure that your toilet bowl is in top condition. Aqua Rinse Concentrated comes in a 750 ml bottle with a fresh lavender scent and is safe for use on ceramic bowls, regardless if they’re plastic or ceramic types. Say goodbye to lime scale build-up and say hello to a shiny Porta Potti.
Aqua Rinse Spray
This product has the same formulation with Aqua Rinse Concentrated but comes in a spray bottle. With Aqua Rise Spray, you can enjoy the same benefits such as a fresh lavender scent and a smoother flush to keep your portable toilet in good condition. It’s also septic tank safe (ISO 11734), saves water due to fewer flushes and covers the toilet bowl with a protective layer for a more effortless flush.
Grey water tank products
Grey Water Fresh
Get rid of grease deposits and nasty odours with this product that effectively discharges the tank while reducing deposit formation. Grey Water Fresh is available in a convenient 800ml bottle with a pleasing ocean breeze scent and keeps the grey water cleaner and fresher with every use.
Duo Tank Cleaner
This product is available in a handy 800ml bottle and has a fresh citrus scent. The Duo Tank Cleaner removes grime deposits from the tank with lesser effort since no scrubbing is required plus it also cleans the technical parts of the tank's interior.
Waste water tank/ Waste holding tank products
Aqua Kem Blue Concentrated
This product minimises gas build-up and facilitates easier emptying of the waste water tank by liquefying the waste. Aqua Kem Blue Concentrated comes in a 780 ml bottle, has superior odour control and contains 2 ½ times more fluid concentration for the waste-holding tank. It comes in two variants, lavender and eucalyptus.
Aqua Green Concentrated
The Aqua Kem Green Concentrated is an eco-friendly and effective green toilet fluid that’s totally septic-tank safe. It comes in a convenient 750ml bottle, has good odour control and liquifies the waste for a more convenient emptying of the tank. It effectively reduces gas build-up, too. This product also comes in sachets.
Other Toilet Care Products
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Keep your Porta Potti clean and sparkling with this amazing product that’s safe to use on both plastic and ceramic toilet bowls. The Thetford Toilet Bowl Cleaner effectively removes grease deposits, limescale and soil deposits. It provides a protective layer and has a refreshing citrus scent that lingers, you don’t have to scrub your toilet bowl ever!
Aqua Soft 6 Pack
Make sure to use Thetford Aqua Soft 6 pack toilet paper. It’s super soft and makes it easier to empty your waste-holding tank. This product ensures that there won’t be any damage or malfunctions to the tank, too.
Seal Lubricant
This product lubricates toilet seals so that they won’t dry up and malfunction. Thetford Seal Lubricant solves all your toilet seal issues and makes sure that the toilet valve blades are operating well. It’s safe to use on plastic and rubber and can also be used to maintain locks, hinges and awning rails.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Keep your Porta Potti clean and in good working condition to ensure that it will last for a long time. For more guidance on solving common issues with your portable toilet, kindly check the following information:
How to remove black deposits on the flush water?
You can remove black deposits by mixing 50 ml of Aqua Rinse with Milton cleansing fluid in 15 litres of water and leave the mix on the tank for around 24 to 48 hours. These black deposits are a kind of mould that develops when the tank is not in use. After leaving the mix for up to 2 days, flush it out and empty the tank then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
What to do if deposits are still present in the tank even if using Thetford cleaning products?
See to it that you follow the dosage of the cleaning products based on the label. It is also important that you clean the tank before you start using it to be sure that there are no black deposits during winter storage. You can also refer to the cleaning instructions discussed earlier in this article.
What to do if there are leaks in the waste-holding tank?
If you notice that water is leaking from the tank it could be a worn- out or damaged lip seal.To change the seal, remove the slider from the removal mechanism in the tank, twist and lift the whole mechanism out. Untighten and take the screws out and lift the plunge. Then, pull the damaged or worn-out seal out and replace it with a new one. To avoid leakage, lubricate the rubber seals with Thetford Seal Lubricant regularly. Spray the lubricant liberally also on the valves to keep them smooth and lubricated.
What are the steps to take if the portable toilet doesn't flush well?
If the portable toilet doesn’t flush, check the fuse as it could be due to faulty wires. If so, replace the fuse. You could also check the pump for scales and your local dealer can fix the issue or install a new pump. A faulty flush button may also be the culprit of which you have to replace it with a new one.
Conclusion
Having the essential products for your caravan toilet ensures its longevity and right care. Thetford toilet care products contain safe and eco-friendly ingredients and an irresistible fresh scent. Keep in mind the cleaning tips shared to you earlier to keep your Thetford caravan toilet sparkling clean and in tip-top condition. Enjoy your camping trips!
