Remove "Black bits" from a caravan toilet flush tank.

[@davidwalsh5915]

We have recently purchased a caravan ( 2 months ago ). I have watched your vids before and after we made the decision to buy. Thank you for making the transition from b& b's to caravans a lot easier. Any questions I have had have been covered excellently by your videos. We have used our caravan twice now and intend to use it all year round. Many thanks.David

[@Orangebiker1315]

As a newbie Caravanner, have been wondering about this problem for several months now! Thank You Dan, tank is now clean!! Never realised it is best to drain down!! Great video, Thank You!

[@InaGunter]

Oh wow, thank you so much, we have been battling this for years so decided to look on you tube. We watched your very easy to follow instructions & low & behold we now have a really clean flush , brilliant thank you again.

[@stevechurchman1824]

Hi Dan. We used to have this problem with the Thetford pink, however, for the last 4 years we have used Fenwicks Citrus Fresh pink and we have been totally algae free. It's much thinner than the Thetford product and mixes better.

[@markatherton2172]

Wow...there was me thinking I had some seal or something degrading!! Yet another bit of wisdom from the Trudgians!! What would we do without you guys!! 👍

[@Sidetops11]

Re-visited this one today, to remind me how to go about fixing this issue. Great vid, very helpful. Thank you.

[@rachaelstebbings7783]

Brilliant, thanks. I knew if I surched your channel I would find the answer to the little pesky bits in my loo. Just got to keep onto of it now x

[@nigelmackey2655]

Thanks

[@TheTrudgians]

Thank you. Thats very much appreciated!!!

[@elliotlancaster7323]

Hi Dan we are complete beginners to this, just picked up our first caravan at the weekend. I’ve learnt so much from watch your videos, thank you! I felt totally comfortable set up for the first time when we got home for the first night “driveway test.” One question, in a previous video you discuss about not using Milton for cleaning water system, is there a specific reason you use Milton here over puraclean? Or is there a good reason NOT to use piraclean for this task? Thanks again, keep up the great work!

[@duncanupjohn1481]

Thanks for this advice. I flushed the tank several times and now have little, if any, gunk, coming through. Have also started draining it each time when van is not in use. Great advice.

[@annemulcahy4170]

Just an update, could not buy Milton liquid here so resorted to the tablets and followed the instructions. It worked like a charm.

[@mickypful]

Many thanks for a very informative video. Just fixing the 'mass effect' , black seized pump, black hoses and tank polluted. Stay safe.

[@rachelmathias8519]

Absolutely superb tip Dan, just tried this and it's worked wonders! Your the ultimate caravan guru and I love your videos😁👍🏻

[@andrewjditton]

Another interesting vid, Dan. The loo in my 'van does not have a separate tank so I don't have this problem - I can ONLY flush with fresh water and no chemical. All I use is Thetford bowl spray on occasion to keep the bowl fresh. I prefer this way anyway as it's far less damaging to the wallet and to the environment than purchasing and using all these products!

[@TheTrudgians]

Thanks Mr. D - I never knew that. Thats very interesting. What loo chemicals do you use for the main toilet ? blue, green or none ?

[@nccwal9005]

I am so guilty of using too much additive,thanks for the video. Won,t be repeating the error.

[@davidcunningham393]

Thanks for this, I've suffered from this problem for a while now and this should be very helpful

[@davidcunningham393]

Some feedback.....my toilet flush tank was really pretty bad with this black algae so thought I'd try out what you advised. Had some bother getting the Milton (due to Coronavirus loads were purchasing this when they couldn't get hand sanitiser) but eventually did from Asda. Thought I'd flush through a few times due to how bad my tank was and left the Milton in overnight, drained and refilled this morning and WOW what a result, water now as clear coming out of drain as it is going in, now I know what the cause and resolutions are, I wont be letting this happen again......massive thanks for sharing this with us!!

[@silversurfertech7922]

Great video, thank you. Maybe an old video but still a gem. 👍

[@Solderwire]

Now i never new it was the pink fluid, great tip, off to boots to get some today...keep it up.

[@TheTrudgians]

Excellent news, let me know how you get on. Take care Dan

[@michaelgray1351]

Hi Dan I know it's an old video but can you use warm water to agitate it also? Keep up the great work 👍

[@lesliecarter2460]

Thank you for such clear instructions we are just about to buy our motorhome so all tips etc are very welcome

[@TranceElbow]

Hi Dan. I’ve had this issue before and Milton cleared it up, but it’s back again. I wondered if Puriclean would do the same job as Milton? Have you tried it? Regards Chris

[@Sidetops11]

Well I'm blowed. Been wondering what it was all about for the past 5 years! Brilliant, thanks Dan.

[@TheTrudgians]

Glad it helped Simon.. Take care Dan

[@deerfield2004]

Here is what some of us does in the US, leave the tank empty when u drive add ice cubs ,and let ice do the scrubing ,hope it helps.😁

[@fester.]

superb video thanks all we do is buy them blue cistern circles but take the wrapper off and these work far better than any pink liquid you do not get any bits at all and mine is always got water in I never drain down,we have done this for the past 25 years with only one problem and the wrapper did not desolve I had to take the pump out but that's it.also I will say all of the people who saw me doing this and tried have converted plus 4 will last all year and we rally almost every other weekend and if you fancy a change get 4 pink ones.we never ever get black bits

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi, thanks for the info - that sounds like a fantastic idea. Thank you for sharing !!

[@kevinwallbank5918]

fester Adams g

[@DenSol-xk4sd]

Thanks Dan. Just started to get black bits even though we always drain down. In our Ridgeway. Milton on order and will use less pink in future. 🥂🥂

[@Parknest]

I have made a schoolboy error with my Lunar. I didn't drain the toilet down from a previous outing earlier on this year. We've just had 5 weeks at Thornwick Bay and when we got there the toilet wouldn't flush. I suspect that the pump is all gunged up. I now know where to find the pump so I'm going to have to fix it at the storage place. I'll be making a video and if I fix it, I'll be making sure I drain it down in future. A lesson learnt the hard way.

[@shottostravels]

Thank you, very informative. I was wondering what that was. Looks like another little job coming on. Thanks again.

[@simontomkinson533]

Hi guys. For those of us who are not uk based and need to get hold of a similar product.... erm what exactly is Milton? Is this a brand name?

[@CaravanWithThatYorkshireChap]

Milton is the chemical used for sterilisation of baby formula bottles in the UK. Hope this helps 👍

[@benmorse5407]

Many thanks for the video. We have the same problem with our Thetford toilet flush tank.

[@peterluscombe1806]

Really useful, many thanks.

[@Parknest]

The last time we used our Coachman I had a blockage with the flushing mechanism despite the fact that I'd drained it down and filled up with fresh fluid when I set up the caravan. I managed to get it working again just before I sold the caravan. I drained it down and filled up with warm water. The Lunar caravan has a similar Thetford cassette toilet but it has an electric flush.

[@shaunbrookes9906]

Great tips thank you. Will certainly be doing this for winter closedown.

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Shaun - thanks for your comments. Im comping a close down video just for winterisation, so watch this space !! Thanks again. Dan

[@paullangstone6147]

Does the green (eco) products cause the same problem? I've been informed by my local caravan centre that it can be used as a flush and cassette fluid. Thanks for the videos, very helpful.

[@PaulDanciu]

Ciao, Did u have any video to show us how to chose a good caravan,and to avoid to buy with issue. Regards,from Romania!

[@richardowen9490]

Just what my tank needed,plus video on pump, thanks alot

[@bryanpayne7937]

Don't use pink stuff because of this problem, never had the problem since, people say you should use the pink stuff but home toilets flush with fresh water so we're happy for the same with our caravan toilet too

[@m1cxf]

Hi Dan, I'm slowly working my way through your tips and have always wasted loads of water just sticking the hosepipe in the tank and flushing for five mins. My Mrs uses milton for almost every cleaning job around the house so I'll be acquiring one of her stock for the caravan shortly, before she comes in from the garden and catches me! I'm a little concerned about how you mixed it though. When I first started working on hospital wards we were taught how to mix various chemicals and were told to ALWAYS put the the concentrate in last, otherwise you can get quite a strong mix before it dilutes and the risk from fumes is too great. Even now, some 40 years on I still do this, even on the flush tank, the order being, 1, almost fill tank with water, 2, add pink potion, 3 add a little more water to make sure the magical pink potion has gone in to tank. Now I appreciate milton fumes aren't that potent and the likelihood of any harm is negligible, it is a best practice thing and I would be so sorry to hear that you had come to any harm. Keep up the good work. TJ

[@mickodonnell890]

Sound advice Trevor C and I also always stick a load of water into anything first before adding a concentrate like milton or the pink fluid

[@johnboycash3225]

Hello mr Trudgean , i have heard that running Milton though your water system can damage your pipes and pump, please can you clerify this?.

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi, this is true - Using Milton can cause premature corrosion to metal parts. However, inside the flush tank there are no metal parts, its all plastic, and while Puriclean would clean and sterilise the tank, After some agitation, all you need to accomplish here is the breakdown of the organic build up. and that is something Milton does very well.

[@karagray3741]

Thanks for the video. Really helpful

[@ronwilkinson6143]

great video with sensible imformation.

[@davidguy1469]

I would question why you need the pink solution in the first place, do you use a similar product at home. In addition why empty down the toilet tank at the end of each trip ? I have been caravaning for over twenty five years and only empty down the tank when winterising the caravan.

[@johnlaing9124]

I live in New Zealand. What is the equivalent of Milton's. What is it?

[@dazvd6194]

Search Milton tablets. Can get them at the supermarket or The warehouse blue or blue/pink packet

[@CaravanWithThatYorkshireChap]

Milton is the chemical used for sterilisation of baby formula bottles in the UK. Hope this helps 👍

[@gvine7691]

Hi any advice on towing wing mirrors just picked my first caravan up the other day and couldn't see a thing due to vibration and they were on secure

[@garythompson3865]

Hi can I use this method on my Conway crusader has dose not have a electric pump ,it works by rotating a knob on the right hand side of my toilet ,good video,thanks Gary

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Gary, if its a separate flush tank, then yes this method will work well. Hope that helps. Dan

[@Marshy84]

Does it not damage the waste container as you didn’t empty that

[@johnhodgkiss9882]

Hi there. How does the toilet system work? How do you top up the toilet. I have Thetford and has a header tank. NEWBIE Here..

[@grantmcbay1430]

Does the algae also occur using Green toilet flush

[@DennisRobinson-jq1zg]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@stevescet]

great video Dan although I had to read the title carefully 😉

[@TheTrudgians]

ha, i know exactly what you mean - it took 3 re-writes to get that title lol. Take care Dan

[@lensmanonline]

Great Vid Dan, that answers a question of many holidays seasons. Strangle as it may seem I sometimes get black bits in my fresh water system any idea's ? Regards Jon

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Jon, yes - try again flushing through with mild solution of Milton. fill hot water tank (but do not heat up) and drain down, and flush through with 2 or 3 aqua rolls of fresh clean water - also replace any filters you may have too.

[@bobshunt9]

Hi again, Would you know, Carbon Monoxide Detector Locations in a caravan, On the internet and youtube , Anywhere seems OK , I brought my motorhome from a dealer and the Carbon Monoxide Detector was already fixed to the roof with the smoke alarm, Some say it should be that head height when asleep,, What are your views on the placement of the alarm,, cheers Bob

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Bob, Great question. Remember the Carbon monoxide detector is not a gas detector, it purely detects Carbon monoxide. As such Carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air, so placing it at roof height would be the most practical and in my opinion the safest. If there is carbon monoxide inside the van or motorhome - the roof line will detect is first. Gas however is heavier than air, but it has an odour and you should be able to detect it with your nose, and gas should be able to escape the van with the floor vents. I hope that helps. Dan

[@ap-xv5ib]

What is Milton?? We don't have that in NZ, but there is probably some equivalent here.

[@coopersrace7277]

alan prowse we have it in Australia. You can get it from the chemist. It's used to sterilise baby bottles etc.

[@russellforrest1787]

@@coopersrace7277 Yes in NZ available at Countdown or Warehouse.

[@IanWare-d2g]

Once again thanks very much.

[@kevint7851]

Hi dan, I know this is an old vlog..However thought I would ask on the off chance you still view chats. Clean my toilet tank out several times, its spotless. however no matter which way I leave the tank, tried no water, small amount of water, Milton solution, other sterile solutions. Still get the same problem after a few months stood. Toilet pump impeller sticks, and have to free of by hand, small pick. works fine then. however back to storage yard. 3/4 weeks later stuck again.. cannot see any fault with the pump. tried in vain to cure!! Hence me reaching out to you. Do you know of or have you heard of any sort of wd40 type stuff I could spay on to keep it freed up???? Regards.

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Kevin, So it sounds like there is still some contamination in the tank. Do you use any flush additive at all? if so, try a season with out it. i would be tempted to remove the pump from the caravan and give it a really good clean back home with warm water and a scrubing brush to remove any slight residue. Another option maybe to replace the pump, and whilst the pump is out try to get in the flush tank and scrub the sides.

[@kevint7851]

@@TheTrudgians WOW...What a swift reply, Vlog almost five years old, reply to query within minutes👌👌👌👍.... Not used pink stuff for a season now, could drink your beer out of the tank its that clean. Maybe have to do as you say take the pump off completely, or replace. Just thought you might have used some sort of cleaning spray-lube on the impeller. Thanks once again for the swift reply..Kevin

[@spinaway]

HI Dan, watching this video I noticed that you have a black tube for emptying the flush tank, on my caravan which is a compass amazon (based on compass omega) does not have the tube, it just has a rubber bung, this makes it difficult to empty without getting flush water inside the compartment, is it possible to buy a drain tube, Jim.

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Jim, I'm guessing you have a C200 ? that only has a bung and no drain tube ? Now I have seen others who have upgraded the toilet to include the drain tube, (www.caravanstuff4u.co.uk/water-waste/3460-thetford-c250-caravan---motorhome-cassette-toilet-drain-tube-8710315654332.html) I'll be honest I'm not sure how its done, or how easy it would be to do. I suppose the only crucial thing is to ensure a good fit on the existing drain tube. I will ask around and see if this is something i can include in an upcoming video for you. Take care Dan

[@spinaway]

ok Dan thanks for the reply.

[@gedruane4206]

Can tis algea create a bad smell in the bowl

[@grahammullins9455]

great watering can, where did you get it? great vid.

[@TheTrudgians]

graham mullins hi Graham - these watering cans are amazing - I'm recording a review in a couple of weeks but for the moment you can visit colapz.co.uk to obtain one.

[@melyoung9768]

Thanks really helpful

[@dickcannon1975]

Can you use puriclean instead?

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Rich, i've tried it with Puriclean, and I found i needed to run it through a couple of times to get the big chunks out of the tank.

[@tonylatimer1308]

Thanks for your video, Trudgians. Rather than using a chemical to fix a problem caused by another chemical, have you considered not using pink flush? We've never used any additive in the tank, just a small amount of green fluid in the casette via the pan. According to Fenwicks, their pink stuff "causes serious eye irritation, may cause an allergic skin reaction" and, most worryingly, is "harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects". It's quite worrying that we tip harmful chemicals like this into our drains without considering the environment. Perhaps you could give it a try, and consider reporting back your results on your very useful channel.

[@rayhodges5482]

another great informational vlog Dan. one thing that always makes me wonder is why you need a lock on the filler do you think someone's going to come along a syphon your fluid out our they might fill it up for us😂

[@TheTrudgians]

Thank you Ray. Im not sure why the toilet hatches have locks. Maybe a safety feature ? to prevent little fingers getting in to the cassette housing ? Maybe its a legislation - that all compartments need a lock ? I might have to google this and find out ! Take care Dan

[@professor1972]

I was told that cassettes get stolen if the door isn't locked. I suppose because replacements are expensive. Incidentally, I no longer use "Pink" but now use one of the "Environmental" 1 chemical does all types.

[@TheTrudgians]

ahh, is that the "green" chemical ? I really should give that a go. Ive heard of people putting this in the flush tank too - how do you find it ? Cheers Dan

[@professor1972]

I have used green in both tanks although the one currently in use is blue (NOT the deadly blue) and they both have been fine. No black bits and they seem to keep the bowl nice and clean. It saves having two bottles and they are "nicer" chemicals.

[@Roylovelock]

we have used the green and its ok but not brill. It did fail to break down the orrible bits in the system and also still suffered with the black bits, so i switched over to bio tabs from aldi. I have noticed we get far less black bits since we only put a small bit of green in the header. so you have nailed it. We also run milton though the water system before setting off then drain down on camp then re run though with clean water. This gets rid of that black stuff in the water as well - we usually do this if the van has been sitting more than a week or two. We still never drink van water though. BTW dan was that you i noticed on the caravan program intro i caught the other day....?

[@leesmith9299]

For the non-parents out there milton is on the baby aisle of the supermarket.

[@TheTrudgians]

and i think in the home brew section too? i might be wrong, i'm sure i saw it in the Range last week... i was only looking you understand lol....

[@tpickeringtp]

Great thanks

[@caravaningincarathevan467]

Wish I'd watched this before I've gone away. Now I have no flush on my toilet and site has no facilities 😭

[@martinroberts2019]

A washing up liquid bottle makes a good standby flush. The old Fairy Liquid type is best as you can squeeze it hard and aim accurately.

[@nasty.nick.p]

That pump sounds noisy

[@corallaroc]

I've got pink bits in my toilet 😏

[@clivedunn9164]

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