Can you empty caravan toilet in normal toilet?

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When I began out as a caravanner, I had no idea how to empty the Caravan Toilet Cassette, but let me tell you, I soon learnt! It’s amazing how much we take for granted with having the ability to go to the toilet, then simply flush it all away with the push of a button. For caravanners and RVers, the task becomes a little more involved. Not only do you need to store your own waste and cart it around with you, but then you have to dispose of it yourself as well! The process for how to empty a Caravan Toilet Cassette is very simple and can be done at any public Dump Station around the country. Here’s the full guide on how to empty a caravan toilet cassette, plus lots of extra tips and advice to help keep things running smoothly for you in this crappy department.

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How do Caravan Toilets Work?

There are two main components to the caravan toilet. You’ve got the toilet itself, which sits inside your caravan bathroom or ensuite. Then you’ve got a flap, which opens up to the removable cassette below and is accessible from a hatch outside of your van.

Thetford Cassette Toilet

Step 1

Open the flap inside the toilet (handle located around the front or side of the toilet), then open the toilet lid. NOTE: Some people prefer to keep the flap closed (with a dash of water on top) while they’re using the toilet, then open it up afterwards. But, I’ve found that makes too much unnecessary mess. I want the contents down in that cassette as soon as I can!

Step 2

Do your business. And yes, it’s perfectly fine to poop in the caravan toilet. It all gets mixed up and emptied out the same. If you’ve got a toilet and you need to go, then use it.

Step 3

Flush the toilet with the little ‘flush’ button. Little flushes can be more effective (and use less water) than a big, long flush.

Step 4

Once the water and contents have gone down into the cassette tank, close the toilet lid

Step 5

Don’t forget to close the flap in the toilet. Take it from me, you don’t want to close that flap unless the toilet lid is down… otherwise you risk getting a nice splash in the face!

Flushing Tanks

Some toilets have a separate flushing tank that needs to be filled via the hatch outside the caravan. The light there will indicate when it’s full. Alternatively, many of the toilets are plumbed into the main caravan water tanks, so as long as your tanks have water, you can flush the loo.

How to Empty a Caravan Toilet Cassette

It might be a crappy job, but one that needs to be done if you’re using an onboard ensuite. Here’s how to empty a caravan toilet cassette.

Step-by-step Instructions

Step 1 – Open the toilet access hatch

Open up the door on the exterior of your caravan, which gives you access to the toilet cassette.

Step 2 – Lift the lock & remove

Lift the orange lock and slide the cassette out of the hatch.

Step 3 – Agitate the cassette

If you haven’t been on the move, it helps to agitate the cassette a bit to help break down the contents as you’re making your way to the Dump Point.

Step 4 – Open the spout

Twist around the outlet spout and remove the cap.

Step 5 – Release the pressure

Hold the cassette horizontally with one hand using the handle. With your other hand, push the orange button in to allow air into the cassette, which releases the pressure (and helps the contents flow out).

Step 6 – Empty the cassette

Tip the cassette up to empty out the contents. You might need to give it a good shake if there are still some solids and toilet paper that hasn’t broken down.

Step 7 – Rinse cassette

Use the hose provided at the dump point to add a litre or two of water into the cassette (through the spout). Swish the water around in the cassette to give it a good rinse. Repeat this a few times until you feel it’s clean enough. It helps to add a squirt of detergent into one of the rinses for a deeper clean.

Once rinsed, you can then add your toilet chemicals to the cassette.

Put the cap back on the spout and fold the spout away. Slot the cassette back into it’s hatch and make sure the orange lock has clipped back in. Close the hatch door and lock it with your key.

VIDEO: Emptying the Cassette

To see me in action, emptying out the Thetford toilet cassette, press play on the video below, where I take you through it all step-by-step. I guess I pulled the short straw, because it somehow ended up permanently being my job! To be honest, I didn’t mind it. I do have to mention that it was mostly men that I bumped into at the local dump points though…

Where to Empty Toilet Cassettes in Australia

Caravan toilet cassettes must be emptied into designated Dump Points, which can be found all over Australia. Most (but not all) towns will offer a free Dump Point for travellers, especially with caravan and camper ensuites becoming increasingly popular. Most Caravan Parks are fitted with a Dump Point as well, so if you’re staying in that type of accomodation, you’ll know that you can easily empty your cassette or black tank (which stores toilet waste instead of having a removable cassette).

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The most convenient way to source out Dump Point locations as you’re travelling is with the WikiCamps app. You can easily locate them by looking for the red ‘caravan and arrow’ symbol (pictured below).

WikiCamps ‘Dump Point’ symbol

Where to find Dump Points:

DO NOT’s:

Don’t ever use the tap or hose at a Dump Point for filling up your caravan water tanks (or any other drinking water containers) – you don’t want to know what those things have touched! Don’t empty your cassette into a storm water drain or onto the ground; Don’t empty your cassette into a public toilet, drop toilet or composting toilet. Get your hands on one of these Camp Guides below with thousands of campgrounds across Australia and all of the additional travel information you’ll need, including Dump Point locations.

Can you Empty a Caravan Toilet at Home?

Yes, you can absolutely empty your caravan toilet cassette at home. The contents are no different to what usually gets flushed down your toilet, with the addition of a little Napisan or toilet chemical. The only downside is that it can be smelly work! So, make sure you spray when you’re done, open a window and keep the door closed for a while to filter it out. Another sucky thing about emptying your caravan cassette into the toilet at home is that it can get a bit splashy, so you may have to disinfect afterwards if that’s the case.

Emptying into Septic Systems

Something to remember with septic systems however is that the bacteria in septic tanks are crucial in the functioning of breaking down the waste. Some toilet chemicals that aren’t ‘septic safe’ or ‘green’ may upset your septic system. Some people have reported that it’s been fine, but empty your cassette into a septic system at your own risk.

Caravan Toilet Maintenance

How to Clean Your Caravan Toilet

You can clean your caravan toilet just as you would a regular toilet at home. Spray the outside and seat with a disinfectant or all-purpose cleaner, then wipe with a damp cloth. Squirt some toilet cleaner into the bowl an gently scrub with a toilet brush. Flush it all down into the cassette. TIP: For a deep clean of the cassette, fill it with a cup of white vinegar and top with water. Leave for a few hours or over night, then empty out.

Try these eco-friendly and Aussie made caravan toilet cleaners.

What Chemicals to use in a Toilet Cassette

Okay, so this is the most controversial topic of all when it comes to caravan toilets. Which chemicals should you put into the toilet cassette?

To be completely frank, we only ever used the cheap homebrand Napisan in our toilet and not only did it work well, we never had any issues with not being able to dump it in the regular spots. While some claim that Napisan upsets the systems, the evidence shows that it contains the same active ingredient as what you’ll find in commercial cassette chemicals. Napisan-type products in Australia all state on the labelling that they’re safe to use in septic systems. Sodium percarbonate is the active ingredient, which is a mixture of sodium carbonate (washing soda) with hydrogen peroxide (antimicrobial agent naturally occurring in the human body). The purpose of the hydrogen peroxide is to oxidise the smelly compounds and nitrogen-containing compounds like skatole, which is found in human waste.

How much chemical do you need?

I go with the ratio of 1 tablespoon of Napisan powder per cup of water. Mix, then pour into the cassette. For commercial caravan chemicals, follow the directions on the pack. If you’re using tablets/ sachets, then just pop one into the cassette after each empty.

Cost & availability of caravan toilet chemicals:

Average Cost Where to Buy Store Brand Laundry Soaker Powder $2.50/ kg Supermarkets Napisan Laundry Soaker Powder $9.20/ kg Supermarkets Commercial Caravan Toilet Liquids $15 – $20/ Litre Specialty stores/ online Commercial Caravan Toilet Tablets/ Sachets $23/ 15-pack Specialty stores/ online

Do Caravan Toilets Smell?

Technically, if your caravan toilet is cleaned, emptied and maintained properly, your caravan toilet shouldn’t smell. But regular RV and camper users will know that that’s just not the truth. Those toilets can definitely get a bit whiffy at times! The main cause for a smelly caravan toilet is a build-up of methane gas, which is released from the dried out waste and can be made much worse in hot conditions. Let’s just say that wetter is better in this area.

Here are some tips for keeping the smells down:

Close the flap Super obvious, but make sure the flap is 100% closed and that the toilet lid is closed. Use plenty of liquid Since it’s the drying out that creates the smelly methane gas, make sure the waste & paper is staying wet enough. It also helps everything break down easier. Clean it regularly A clean toilet is going to be less smelly than a dirty one. It helps to give the toilet a quick once-over every other day. Use less toilet paper Toilet paper fills up the cassette a lot quicker and needs more water to remain wet and break down. Use less of it, or dispose of it in a plastic bag that gets thrown out daily. Agitate when stationary Take out the cassette and give it a good shake once a day when you’re parked up for a while. Agitating will help to break down the contents when you’re not driving. Ventilation Keep the bathroom ventilated – windows and hatches open, door closed. Empty regularly Obviously it’s the contents of the toilet, which is making the smell. So, the more often you can empty the cassette, the less smells you will have to contend with.

Oil the Seal

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Be aware that the rubber seal on the cassette cartridge can dry out over time. If the seal perishes it will end up leaking, which is not a very nice scenario. Re-lubricating the seal is really easy and nothing a bit of olive oil or silicone lubricant can’t fix. First up, remove the slide cover, then grab a damp rag and clean around the cassette seal. An all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant can also be used. Dispose of the rag. Then you can either spray the seal with olive oil, or you can put a dash of olive oil or silicone lubricant onto an old rag, rub it over the entire seal, then dispose of the rag.

Replace the cover and you’re done.

You can see how the cassette ends up with calcium build-up over time, so it’ll need a good scrub and wipe over every few months or so to keep it nice and clean.

Caravan Toilet Tips & Tricks

Which toilet paper to use in a caravan toilet

You can most definitely use normal toilet paper in your caravan toilet. In fact, the cheaper, the better! That super, soft Kleenex tissue will only fill up your cassette twice as quick and make emptying it much harder. It’s just too robust to break down as quickly and easily as you need it to.

The $3.60 homebrand toilet rolls are perfect.

I mean, you can go spend $9.90 on a 6-pack of Thetford toilet paper if you want, but the general consensus in caravanning circles is that it’s not worth spending the money. What’s your experience with different toilet papers while caravanning? Let us know in the comments down below. 👇

Can you poop in a caravan toilet?

Yes, you can absolutely poo in a caravan toilet! Some people are dead against using their caravan toilets for number twos because they don’t want to dirty it up.

Let me tell you, that toilet is going to get dirty anyways, even if you only use it for wees. Regardless of what’s been done in there, you still clean it the same way (I hope), so what difference does it make?

Things to consider with pooping in the caravan toilet:

Extra smell in the van. If you’ve got an exhaust fan in the bathroom, turn it on. Keep the door closed and use some spray afterwards. Keep the other windows open in the van to clear out any smells quickly; If the cassette hasn’t been agitated enough to help break down the poo, it can clog up the spout when emptying. Lots of shaking required! Poos and paper will fill up the cassette much quicker if done on the regular. I reckon if you’ve got a toilet onboard and you need to go, then go!

How can you make the cassette space last longer?

When you’re free camping or off grid for a few days or more, you’ll want that toilet cassette to last as long as possible. For four of us, we could get about three days out of the cassette by being smart with the space.

Tips to help the cassette last longer:

Males pee outside (and females can as well if there is a nice, private tree or bush to go behind);

Use public restrooms and campground toilets as much as possible;

Agitate the cassette once a day to help break up the contents and level it out; Instead of flushing every time, you can use a spray bottle to give the bowl a quick clean; Instead of flushing toilet paper into the cassette, put it into a plastic bag that gets disposed of daily (can put the bag into a bucket with a lid in the bathroom).

Do you need to carry a spare caravan toilet cassette?

There is no requirement to carry a spare caravan toilet cassette, but some people do choose to. It’s common for families who are travelling for extended periods of time to carry a spare cassette so that they have the ability to camp off grid for longer. It really depends on your camping style and how many people are using the toilet. Remember that you have to have somewhere to store that full cassette for a few days until you can get to the dump point.

How do you know when the cassette is full?

Generally there will be an indicator light on the toilet somewhere near the flush button. It’s not uncommon for the float in the cassette to get stuck, which means that indicator light won’t work. However, don’t stress, it’s pretty easy to open the flap and have a look in the cassette to see how full it is. You’ll know! Get our best travel hacks, camp reviews & more! + FREE Travel Planning Kit

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myrigadventures.com - How to Empty a Caravan Toilet Cassette + Tips & Maintenance

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