Caravan Toilet Chemicals - Your Essential Guide

Whether you are new to the caravan world or an experienced caravanner, you will know how important caravan toilet chemicals are and will often hear of ‘blue and pink’ chemicals. But why are caravan toilet chemicals so important and why do they come in different colours? And even more confusingly, what is the difference between liquid chemicals vs dry tabs or sachets?

We have put together an essential guide to all things toilet chemicals to help you maintain your caravan cassette toilet, so next time you need to purchase caravan toilet chemicals, you will know what is best for you. Some chemicals break down waste, some kill bacteria, others mask any nasty smells and help the toilet rinse action, while others are a combination. There are different brands, some better than others, and different forms to consider so we have broken it all down for you here.

What Do The Caravan Toilet Chemicals Do?

Blue caravan toilet cleaner

The blue toilet chemical, one that is often mentioned, takes care of the biological breakdown of waste. It is used to ensure that all the waste matter is completely broken down and easier to dispose of. The chemical is poured into your waste tank and works to keep awful smells and build-up of gas at bay. Just simply pour a dosage of liquid inside your cassette tank and let it do its job!

Thetford Aqua Kem Blue is a popular and powerful caravan toilet cleaner. It is also now available as a concentrated formula - saving you weight and space, whilst helping the environment.

Although the blue chemical is very popular, some people prefer to use the green toilet chemical. Considered as the environmentally friendly one, the green does the same job as the blue but contains chemicals that are not as harsh and does not contain formaldehyde. Many green chemicals have been tested for use in septic tanks therefore if your campsite allows you to use them you can!

Pink caravan toilet cleaner

The pink toilet chemical is great for maintaining your bowl and making sure it smells good! It has been designed to work with flushing water and once poured, it coats the bowl with a protective layer that helps to prevent lime scale while enabling a smooth flush.  It almost works like a home cleaner, removing grime and keeping it fresh and clean.

There are many brands that provide caravan toilet chemicals including Thetford, Blue Diamond, Dometic and Fenwicks. But for a lot of caravanners and motorhomers, Thetford toilet chemicals are often the preferred option for their Thetford cassette toilets. They have a range of chemicals that come in both liquid and tab form.

Thetford Aqua Rinse Pink has a pleasant lavender scent and is also available as a concentrated formula. The concentrate version gives you the same dosage as the standard formula and saves you space and packaging.

Dry Chemicals - Tabs and Sachets

Aside from the different liquid chemicals, you can also get dry pre-dosed tablets and sachets to do the same job. The benefit is that you can save yourself a whole lot of space and weight as they come in small light and compact designs.

Tabs and sachets give you the chance to save space and weight compared to carrying 2L bottles of chemical. From a pack of dry tablets, you can get a quick dose for your caravan cassette toilet. 

Using tabs takes all the guesswork out of the amount you need to use and, it has no opportunity for spillage, which equals no mess. Tabs are convenient, easy to use and transport as they are 5x lighter than standard 2L bottles.  Although, some people do not like the gritty residue left behind, and the tabs limit dosage options. 

Concentrated Liquid Toilet Chemicals

Thetford have recently introduced a much more concentrated, compact AND more environmentally friendly version of their Thetford Aqua Kem blue and pink caravan toilet chemicals. With the new smaller bottle, you can now save weight and space AND still have the same dosage as a 2L bottle of chemical.

Buying the concentrate is also much better for the environment. This is because the new bottles will have less packaging meaning that it will be generating less plastic waste.  It also means that retailers can save fuel and air miles as they can now can ship more product in one load.

Concentrated caravan toilet chemicals are the best of both worlds and the cleanest, most efficient way to put chemicals in toilets. Despite being new to the game, they may just become the go-to toilet chemicals for your caravan toilet in future.

So Which Is Better? Liquid Chemical vs Dry Tabs

So what should you actually be using in your caravan cassette toilet? All the chemicals we have mentioned will do the job of maintaining all parts of your cassette toilet, and keeping it in good condition. It is good to do your research before making a purchase just so you know you are buying what is best for your van.  

It is important for you to ensure that the chemical you buy is made specifically for cassette toilets as they have many parts and seals that need protection.

It all comes down to personal choice on the method of your choosing. Some people prefer to have the convenience and ease of dry tablets or sachets especially as they are much lighter than liquid bottles. However, a lot of people prefer to work with the liquid chemicals as they can control how much dosage they would like. It also depends on what you want to do for example if you want to save space, it is best to go for the tabs or the liquids. If you prefer liquids, it makes sense to try the concentrate version as it offers the best of both worlds; quality product in a smaller size.

The table below can help you compare the different options:

Whether you choose liquids or tablets, blue, pink or green, caravan toilet chemicals are an absolute essential for when you are away in your caravan or motorhome. Never neglect your caravan cassette toilet; trust us you don't want to deal with that situation.

Happy touring!