Real talk...Cleaning that toilet "bucket"

[rhondaweasley]

For those of us with buckets/containers/pee bottles/self made toilets etc, what do you do to keep your emergency and/or home "toilet" clean between uses. I figure this is a place to discuss without judgement. And it kinda fits with hygine, as living with something smelly too long can leave a scent on you. 

The toilet in my "home" (my car) is basically a plastic coffee container. If I have to go poo and absolutely can't make it outside the vehicle for a place to "go" (be that a hole in the ground or a public toilet) I use a poo bag or available bag to be honest. I rarely have to deal with #2 in vehicle, but #1 fairly frequently. Dumping the container is fairly easy since it fits in a bag and doesn't look suspect of being anything but a coffee container. But an "in vehicle" solution was essential to dealing with going pee. I've been rinsing and disenfectant spraying every few days to keep smell down, but was wondering what others do to see if there's a better way for cleanly maintenance.

 

[lenny flank]

I line my five-gallon bucket with a plastic kitchen trashbag, with an inch or two of kitty litter or cedar chips in the bottom. With each poo, it gets tied up and disposed. No cleaning of bucket necessary.

For peeing, I use a "pee bottle"--I prefer the widemouth Gatorade bottles. A wee dash of bleach inside prevents "ripeness", and I dump as soon as I find a suitable place. New bottle every few uses.

I do of course understand that guys pee differently from girls, so a pee bottle may not work for you. (Though I have seen female backpackers make ingenious use of a funnel for this purpose.)

 

[rhondaweasley]

Lol, yeah the funnel already failed me! I have a better aim area with the coffee container, yet it's still small enough to sit in a cozy corner and not take up too much space.

 

[QinReno]

Re failed funnels, there are probably special femi-funnels to be had. The gals on the Womens Only Forum would know (don't ask lenny!).

I use a quart-sized wide-mouth water bottle that is dark-colored and very "opaque", rather than clear. You can carry it openly to the toilet, and it looks either like you are going to fill up your water bottle, and/or going to use it to wash your hands afterwards. Either way, totally stealth. After emptying it in the morning, wash it and then leave it outside to dry out, so it gets a good airing every day.

Also, of course, you have to make sure your real water bottles are clear.

 

[MrNoodly]

...what do you do to keep your emergency and/or home "toilet" clean between uses.

I pee in a former liquid laundry detergent bottle with the spout removed. The current one is, let's see, a 66 fl. oz OxiClean 2-in-1 Stain Fighter Plus Color Safe Brightener with a Fresh Scent and No Chlorine. It's rugged, seals tight and even has a handle. I'm not an urban camper, so I empty it in campground toilets, in fire ring ashes, or just on the ground. Then I put a little water in it, maybe a shot of bleach and shake it.
Like other folks, I line my poo bucket with plastic bags.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

For those of us with buckets/containers/pee bottles/self made toilets etc, what do you do to keep your emergency and/or home "toilet" clean between uses . . .

Laundry soap jug for #1.  A few drops of dish soap (scented is better) & 3-4 oz of water in empty jug, shake it up.  I dump when I can (usually every morning and evening).  New jug every year or so; still smells clean.  And I have a 'glow in the dark' button on the cap that makes it easy to find in the dark.

Bucket for #2.  Bucket lined with a thick garbage bag, some pine needles for cover scent, 1+ mil grocery size bag with a cup of sawdust in to poo into (the sawdust absorbs any liquid leakage).  After use it is tied up and stored in bottom of the bucket with gamma-seal lid (no odor noticeable in camper).  Poo bags disposed of with other garbage when I can. Never had to clean my bucket out; I change the pine needles as available.

 . . . (Though I have seen female backpackers make ingenious use of a funnel for this purpose.)

I have mountaineered with women who carried a special shaped funnel to pee 'like a man'.  Worked very well.

 

[lenny flank]

Re failed funnels, there are probably special femi-funnels to be had. The gals on the Womens Only Forum would know (don't ask lenny!).

Yep--it's called a "She-Wee".  Seriously.  

 

[Dingfelder]

I have a folding chair converted into a toilet seat. A little low for a tall guy -- which probably actually helps with pooping -- but sturdy and easy to store when I'm done. A sturdy kitchen trash bag goes around the rim and holds itself in place naturally. Plus when I'm sitting, it would have no chance to make a run for it. Kitty litter in the bottom of the bag before I poop, more after if it's very liquid. When done, I twirl the neck of the bag until it's like a rope all the way down, and loop it around itself to tie off the prize. Into an ammo storage container it goes, and then outside in the woods until disposal time.

The seat itself pretty much can't get stained, because the bag covers all exposed surfaces.

For pee, V8 bottles these days have fairly wide mouths, so I can use them without much worry about spills. I especially like that they have a long two-sided indent running down the back, with ridges, made for gripping. Having a secure hold is a pretty big deal. Anyway I keep three of these, two because I go through a lot of liquid every day, and the very vital third for when I forget to empty the other two. It happens.

I like the idea about a drop of soap or bleach. Mine are odorless on the outside, but not so sweet when you open them.

 

[QinReno]

Just came back from shopping. This is the bottle, smoke colored for stealth.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Outdoor-Products-1L-Cyclone-Water-Bottle/36547631

 

[Moxadox]

I have a folding chair converted into a toilet seat. A little low for a tall guy -- which probably actually helps with pooping -- but sturdy and easy to store when I'm done. A sturdy kitchen trash bag goes around the rim and holds itself in place naturally. Plus when I'm sitting, it would have no chance to make a run for it. Kitty litter in the bottom of the bag before I poop, more after if it's very liquid. When done, I twirl the neck of the bag until it's like a rope all the way down, and loop it around itself to tie off the prize. Into an ammo storage container it goes, and then outside in the woods until disposal time.

The seat itself pretty much can't get stained, because the bag covers all exposed surfaces.

For pee, V8 bottles these days have fairly wide mouths, so I can use them without much worry about spills. I especially like that they have a long two-sided indent running down the back, with ridges, made for gripping. Having a secure hold is a pretty big deal. Anyway I keep three of these, two because I go through a lot of liquid every day, and the very vital third for when I forget to empty the other two. It happens.

I like the idea about a drop of soap or bleach. Mine are odorless on the outside, but not so sweet when you open them.

Hi Ding--your portable potty chair sounds great! What did you do to mod the seat? Can you maybe post a photo?

The Dire Wolfess

 

[Dingfelder]

I didn't mod it. I bought it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSOWG7U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Green Elephant Folding Commode etc etc

They sell bags for it but I just use ordinary kitchen garbage bags.

Theirs was the brand of pop up utility tent I got too, very nice IMO.

 

[QinReno]

Hi Ding--your portable potty chair sounds great!  What did you do to mod the seat?  Can you maybe post a photo? 

If you're a real outdoorsy type girl, Dire, you may be interested in the unit shown in post #12 in this thread.
https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=31573&pid=392118#pid392118
Also, see the unit shown in post #4. A veritable throne.
https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=31573&pid=391360#pid391360

 

[GypsyJan]

I line a coffee jug with a slide-lock baggie and fold the top down over the lip of the jug. After peeing, I unfold the top back inside the jug and zip it closed, then snap the lid back on the jug. It fits within the bowl of my camping potty and is hidden when the potty lid is closed. I cover the closed potty with a small round rug. Since the baggie gets tossed every morning, there is no cleanup needed or anything left sitting to smell.

For poop, I remove the coffee jug and line the potty bowl with 2 grocery bags and put kitty litter in the innermost bag, then afterward I add more litter and twist and tie the bag closed. Again, the camping potty never actually comes into contact with anything and therefore stays fresh and clean. It just makes it more comfortable and easier than squatting or trying to balance over a bucket or jug. Plus I can use a tray on top of the rug-covered potty as an end table for the cot if needed.

 

[Beeps and eats]

It's always nice to see the ladies in the group help each other out with these everyday but essential tasks. Sure take's the pressure off! Thanks again ladies!

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk

 

[Matildas mate]

Just a thought...

Since they seal airtight, it seems a (well marked!) quart sized wide mouth mason/canning jar would be a good container for #1.

 

[NagathaChristie]

I am late to the funnel conversation but those tiny lady funnels seem worthless to me. I think I need this:

 

[Ticklebellly]

Plain bleach for basic hygiene care is what I use. For deodorising, I use Cloudy Ammonia. Both cheap and work for me.

I also use the cloudy ammonia to clean, and keep algae free, water bottles, water tanks, reusable straws, and Camelback bottles and tubes. Cloudy ammonia rinses away with one flush. Word of warning, do not sniff the product in the bottle. NOT sinus friendly.

 

[RVTravel]

Doubt id put ammonia in anything i am drinking out of.

 

[B and C]

x2^^^

Bleach yes

 

[Trebor English]

Doubt id put ammonia in anything i am drinking out of.

I avoid thickened lavender flavored bleach and sudsy soapy ammonia.  I use the plain chemicals.  Plain bleach, chlorine gas dissolved in water and plain ammonia, ammonia gas dissolved in water, don't leave nasty residues and are cheaper.