Port A Loo Info

[Biccylova]

Can anyone tell me please if ordinary toilet paper can be used in a portable toilet? I am having visitors in December and have come up with the idea of putting an extra loo in the shed for emergencies as there is only one loo in the house. I will get one that flushes, and I know I have to have a chemical to put in it, but that is all I know. has anyone else done this? or is it a silly idea as my oh says.

[Mamyalynne]

You need a rapid dissolve paper.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dissolve-Camping-Toilet-Chemical-Toilets/dp/B013G99LQU

You could also pop a bin by the side for paper, but of course you can't guarantee guests would use it.

[ummmm]

You do at festivals.

[Barmaid]

I'm probably siding with your oh.

1. Sheds in December tend to be v cold
2. Lots of spiders
3. Where are you going to empty it
4. Expensive option for short term one off use

[bhg481]

The loos at festivals are not the same as the portable you are thinking of buying; emptying a domestic one though a 2" tube will probably clog when you try to empty it if you use ordinary paper, so rapid-dissolve (available at caravan shops) would be best.
Having said that, I agree with barmaid, although you can empty them down your outside drain if you can get the lid off it.
Unless you are having dozens of people at one time I think your single loo will suffice.

[Old_Geezer]

That depends on how long others stay in there trying to go. I've come to the conclusion that any place with more than one person staying there needs a minimum of two toilets; and I say that from living in places with just one most of my life.

[rowanwitch]

If you have trees in your garden put a screen round them, the gentlemen will work it out. Leaves your one toilet for ladies and bigjobs

[Maydup]

Please dont do it Biccylova, it will spoil your Christmas!

Do as Rowanwitch suggests and give the men permission to water the roses.

[woofgang]

How many visitors are you having and how long for?

[ethandron]

To answer your question....yes, you can put ordinary toilet paper down flushable a porta potty.
We had a touring caravan which had a cassette toilet and for a number of years I only bought the ‘special’ loo paper from caravan shops which was very expensive.
I then decided to try supermarket thin cheapo stuff and guess what? It also dissolves. We didn’t have any trouble with blockages, ever.
If you do decide to put one of these in your shed, just buy ordinary, cheapo range, supermarket stuff.
We always used chemicals but many people don’t, and it all still disolves, it just doesn’t smell very nice.

[Maydup]

Do you have facilities for emptying the loo on a caravan site? What would you do with it in a shed?

[-SharonA-]

Have a look at the Sani Flow. They might be better for you.

[ethandron]

Yes, there are loo emptying point on a site.
At home it can just be emptied down the toilet, there’s nothing in it you wouldn’t normally put down the loo. Most of these porta potty things have a spout to direct the contents where you want it to go, it’s not a case of chucking a bucket of stuff down, the flow can be controlled. You do your business in the top half, which flushes down to the lower half, push the seal across and remove the lower half to empty it.
I’d suggest a visit to a caravan accessories shop to have a good look, as well as looking on line, and then decide if you think it would work in your circumstances biccy.

[KARL]

When plants are repeatedly subjected to human urine they die, even bushes die from that. Check out eBay for second hand Thetford Porta Potti camping toilets and/or others, we bought one for use during construction work and it was great. Yes, as ethandron have confirmed, any type of shop bought toilet paper disappears into the "liquor". Emptying these things is not the sort of thing you look forward to doing but it is also not something you come to dread because it is a very straightforward matter (again ethandron), straight into the toilet in your case. For chemicals which are environmentally acceptable and control the ongoing biological digestion of things, again eBay will prove useful (Aqua Kem, etc. - search for "camping toilet chemicals"). Unless you are unusual for the UK and heat well, the shed will not be that bad for a few minutes when it solves a dire need - are spiders really an issue ?

[Biccylova]

Many thanks to all of you, most helpful. I have decided to get a Thetford porta potti and supply cheap paper. There are not many spiders in my shed, but folks might have to go in their overcoats. I agree with O_G, every house should have more than one loo.

[portabletoilet]

In the UK, most people use toilet paper to wipe themselves after they use the toilet. If you use toilet paper, only use what is necessary to clean yourself. Do not take reams and reams of toilet paper because it is wasteful and it can block the toilet (see below). Always flush toilet paper down the toilet.