I occasionally have to lacerate my brownie (grocery) bag to drain off some unintentional lemonade before I send the brownies to a landfill. Easypeasy. My concern is for how these elements interact with the environment. My ideal situation is to add that golden-nitro-compost -accelerant to an actual compost bin (leaves, grass clippings, weeds, etc) where it can benefit the earth, plants, and microbes. The solid stuff can be incinerated in a vented ammo can before being added to soil. I realize that's more effort than most people are going to make unless you're truly offgrid for life...
Thank you, I am looking at getting a Truck camper without a bathroom, so this was very helpful. I must say I never thought I would watch an hour-long video on toilets, but here we are.
We've had a cassette toilet for 2 camping seasons. Even clean and bleached, it still smells. The seal keeps most of the smell in, but opening it, even when it's clean, really smells. Otherwise, we like it; it's sturdy and 'sits' like a normal toilet.
@@lynnw7155 I have a cassette toilet as well, and what I do is take a natural cleaner, no chemical, and spray it once in the bowl, maybe twice a week, and it takes the smell away. I try and keep it off the seal so as not to dry it out. I am the only one using it. More often if there’s more people.
@@Metoo1111 What natural cleaner do you use? Also, by keeping it "off the seal" do you mean you only spray enough to dampen the bowl - but not run down and pool on the seal?
A chemical toilet should never smell if you put in pink rinse in your top tank and blue in the bottom tank. Used one for years and never a problem with smells, can't say the same thing about my $800 Aussie dollar Trellino toilet, very disappointed with the odours comming from it Cal Australia.
We have the OGO composting toilet, we have been using it for 2 years and we are extremely happy with it. Very good quality, absolutely no problems, powerful motor and very easy to use Using coconut coir, it can easily last 1 month. The diverter is extremely well designed By the way, we never open the front door, I can remove the waste bin from the top 👍 It is absolutely odorless and there is no need to install an air intake or an air outlet. In the end, we save on water and our black tank is now a gray tank, for a total of 70 gallons of gray water, perfect for boondocking.
I just looked them up, they're $850 on sale! Way to expensive, even on sale! The regular price is almost a thousand! And to me that's not worth it, because you'll still have to deal with discarding the crap. As of now, Laveo no flush are terrible for the environment, but if they come up with biodegradable carthrages, I'd pay 1k for it. Because it would be worth every penny, not dealing with any shit whatsoever.
@nightskylights4501 discarding the biodegradable wastes is no more difficult than discarding a coffee filter, trust me it is worth the money, I didn't find better solution than this one 👍
I’m a 60+ woman and I use a urine bottle (laundry detergent) with a girl funnel. I find it easy for late night. I have a bucket with coconut core for #2. I’ve been using them for years. My trips are usually no longer than 4 days so this solution has worked for me. I like the simplicity of function and clean-up.
I've used a Luggable Loo for a few years solo minivan camping. It comes with nice heavy duty sealable bags with poo powder, but that gets expensive. Instead I use 2 layers of kitchen trash bags, and put pelletized pine horse bedding (Tractor Supply) in the bottom. Lasts a few rounds of liquid additions. For solids, I keep a bag of the pellets that I've added water to to make it powdery, and sprinkle a bunch on top of the solids. Liquid and solids together, so I have to close it up and dispose after every solid event. I've been happy with the system, but hate to be using so much plastic. I'd also like to upgrade to a system that's more friendly to multiple people using it. Thank you for this great review of the options.
so....a home depot bucket, a toilet seat on top with a biodegradeable bag and using some type of animal litter, a chore of once a day throwing away a bag of poo as you do with a cat for instance is really the way to go. less expensive than all and something most people with pet cats do anyway.
I go even smaller in my 22' van...I have the liner of an "instapot" with a bag in it - hahaha -tie it up and throw it away. Also use public toilets when I can!
People don't understand the amount of factors that the smell and containment dynamics get implemented with just a basic toilet. If your #2 doesn't submerge in water it smells 6x worse.
@@carmenmarcinkiewicz7149 do "stall pellets" have any oder themselves? I have asthma and allergies, I can't be around anything that has a scent, natural or synthetic.
I can’t believe I just spent over an hour of my life watching this……..brilliant and thorough review of portable toilets! I have a VW camper and am looking to change up my Thetford 365 for something, less chemical and water dependent and also a bit less splashy when emptying. Being a lady of a certain age I use the loo a lot overnight and feel that a urine full indicator is a must have to avoid overspill. 💦 😮
Your potty vocabulary is top-notch. Love all the euphemisms haha. Made me laugh out loud while learning about these essential van life companions. Also, would you guys ever do a video about van security? I'd be interested in learning what you have learned over the years
We used the nature’s head for ten years on our small houseboat. The separator function was different and worked very well. When the latch was closed it allowed “all” the liquid to flow forward into the bottle. It looks like they tried to copy the more recent competitors with the molded piece. Customer service was excellent and personal. Properly loaded there were no problems with the “product” being stuck in the corners.
One option you missed is the Throne Composting toilet. It started as a DIY kit but also comes fully assembled. I like that it uses a regular elongated seat, so it is more comfortable for my big a... and "tackle box". It separates and layers in a bucket, no odors in my RV.
I wasn’t planning on watching the whole thing but it was so entertaining that I couldn’t resist. My favorite. “Burning Man is kind of a challenging environment. If we lived in a society that valued toilet rights, Burning Man would be one gigantic war crime.”
For pretty much my entire life, I've been what you call "an indoorsy" girl. I don't know what happened to me but I am now hoping to plan a 6 month van/rv trip all over North America. This video on toilets has been AMAZING :) Answered all my questions. I watched it yesterday and today my husband and I are watching it together. If that doesn't spell romance I don't know what does. Thank you!
I don’t know what happened to me either, I’m caring less about material things and living on less, bought a van and taking my first trip from Minnesota to Detroit Michigan this month.
Huge load of information all in one handy bucket here. We're building a small off grid cabin/barn to live in while we construct a barndominium on our property. Appreciate having all these reviews in one place.
I have been using the Laveo dry flush toilet on my live aboard boat for over 4 years and have never had any problems or issues with it. It is perfect for my use (I separate urin into a plastic laundry detergent bottle). The Mylar cassette in my toilet sits within a plastic trash bag so there is no concern with a tear in the Mylar. Also, there is no constant ventilation fan noise or electrical usage and no exhaust vent requirement but I have never ever had an Oder problem. I am 100+% satisfied with the product and the company that sells it.
Best and most comprehensive explanation of portable toilet options I’ve seen. Says a lot about the consideration you give to any technology you put in a nomad vehicle.
It important for people who suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel or overall strength issues to be aware if you can not lift 2 gallons of milk, you probably can't lift a toilet to empty it.
This was the most extensive review on van toilets I’ve ever seen. I agree about the older ones that remain expensive but have not evolved through the years. Currently I have a bucket with a Johnny compost diverter (eBay $20) and a seat/lid. It’s not luxurious, but I paid less than $50. It’s hard to spend 1k when this does what I need it to do. Thanks- your new subscriber.
I use the $1000.00 Separet toilet in my tiny house in Hawaii, where due to the ground being mostly lava, it’s difficult to install a septic system. I love this toilet. It’s easy to keep clean, quiet and looks nice. Your mistake is that you did not show the solids container with a bag in it. It’s made to use a composting bag in order to clean it easily. When the bag is full, all you do it remove it and rinse out the container. Without the bag it would be a gross mess to clean.
We have an Airhead composting toilette and I can highly recommend it. It’s tall like your home toilette and the seat is just as comfortable. We have gone for about a month before needing to dump the solids tank that we fill with coir. The mixing mechanism doesn’t reach within the whole tank, but that wasn’t a true issue. My real issue as an older woman is that getting the urine to go where I want is not always 100%. And at times I go both at the same time 😂 TMI I know! But that is why I love our Airhead - the trap door stays closed, I have a coffee filter laying over the trap door, the urine is completely diverted, and when finished - the trap door gets opened and there is less bowl clean up. We use a spray bottle with a mixture of water and some nice smelling essential oil and that works great. The pee bucket easily comes free after unscrewing the two side nuts , and there is a window in front for the low tech way of showing you the pee level😊
I'm planning on getting a pop up truck camper and this is the exact video that I needed!! Amazing job going through every option from a bucket to the more expensive and fancy options. Great video.
Designing a hybrid caravan and basing a lot of my decisions on van life experiences. Great overview and made me consider comosting. My wifes biggest objection to having a toilet inside is the smell, but can put her mind at ease
I want Laveo and Separett Tiny to combine forces. Lemonade goes in the pitcher, brownies in the bag. I saw something similar to Laveo where the flush system would seal the brownie bag after each flush (so that you don't have to wait until the entire foil cartridge is used up before disposing. yuck.) I'm imagining a system kind of like how individually packaged bags of Doritos are made. Brownies go in, bag is sealed and cut, and then drops into a bin. Each flush gives you a little sealed bag of brownies you can then throw away as soon as you want.
Great informative video! Well done. Comments on the install of the OGO. The vent outlet rotates. Great for vent pipe placement when space is tight. The intake and vent fans can be swapped from side to side. Super useful for exacting install. The agitator button and pee light can also be switched over although OGO didn't leave a hole for that swap so you have to drill your own but easy to re-run the wiring due to the wago connectors. Also, the plug and vent pipe can be easily removed after install if you need to remove the toilet temporarily, to have more space in the shower for example.
So glad I stumbled on this video. Thanks for doing such a thorough and well explained survey of what's out there. I have watched dozens of rv van videos but no one wants to talk about this subject - your information was very helpful for someone with no experience trying to decide which system will be best for their situation.
Thank you somuch .. As someone considering Bus Life with IBS the toilet is the most important part for me I thought the Ogo was the best built but its still a bucket with a hand crank blender LOL... On a Side note.. I use to have to takecare of my mother in her last days and she had a bed side toilet for Number 1.. I found by adding watter and little bit of dish Dawn soap to her bucket made all the difference in the urine smell.. So i recommend adding little water to your tanks and little soap for the simple bucket toilets that you'll be dumping often.. it does make a difference.. Also while watching this i thought about the video i saw where the guy did a test on all the chemicals for RV toilets and the Liquified RV Toilet Treatment - Black Holding Tank Digester did the best.. I would consider putting that and water in the cassett toilets for easy quick clean everytime..
Entertaining, informative and educating just like the BBC. The World needed this presentation. I love your infinite quantity of innuendos. Thank you from SW England. Look up narrowboats, toilets is all our community talks about.
I live in a rural area with a well/septic system. When my power was out for a week due to a storm, I used a luggable loo. I'm planning to have a Laveo when I do my van buildout.
Great video! Well done and very thorough. I have used wrappon for the last 3 years and it remains the best option for me. Not environmentally friendly for an incredibly messy human condition, but one I am comfortable with. Wife has different feelings, but also sees the options for this as limiting. An important consideration for any adventurer.
I dont leave comments often, but wanted to help out your channel. This is a great and very thorough video, and I sincerely appreciate it! Please do another one on heaters, various types, applications, pros/cons, etc. This has been challenging to find a video like this one about toilets, but also about heaters. Keep it up, love the video! After Thought: I was a bit bummed you didn't have a actual toilets that are incinerating toilets to do a thorough review on. I am not a "van" lifer, I am a "box" lifer....lol. The incinerating toilets are the ones that I was most looking forward to seeing, so this was quite a bummer for me.
Good job! Informative and funny. Leaning towards the Cuddy because of the $780 delivered price. Good to know about the limitations of the agitator but that it's pretty solid. .
First of all, many thanks for sorting through all the toilets! That's a great help to many folks! I have a Trobolo toilet and it is the model that sits higher than the example shown. The higher height is perfect! The toilet is comfortable. I wish the urine container was larger but it will last two days if I am alone. At first I had difficulty being sure the urine made it into the separate container but with experience that became a non-issue. The toilet is very well made and I appreciate that it is made in Germany so I am avoiding Chinese garbage that looks good but doesn't hold up.
Some of these manufacturers forgot one important aspect of these products - size and portability. Some of these products, even if nice, they are like taking the toilet from your home and bringing with you on the camping trip. Besides that - thank you for the very nice overview/review of these products.
Boxio is better than what you have just shown, for the lid there is already a cord to fix it and for the inlet there is a handle. Boxio works for us now for 2 years absolutely great.
I bought a boxio before seeing this video, it also has a plug that goes into the urine hole. My issue is NZ legislation for freedom camping says it needs to be ventilated according to manufacture instructions or needs to be sealed. The lid does not form a air tight seal and the NZ freedom camping inspectors say I can’t modify the toilet 🤷🏼♀️ I did wonder about making a sealed vented box to house the boxio but unsure if they would accept that . Not throwing away a perfectly great toilet to appease lawmakers that prefer chemical loos over environmentally friendly ones. Any tips here ?
Excellent review! The Separett seems quite efficient. I am considering. The Laveo was a front runner, however the thin Mylar is a consideration. Also, it’s not really eco-friendly when disposing the costly units over time for more than one user. Thanx again for giving me options and the humor!
This is absolutely the most thorough discussion of toilet options on YT. But you left out arguably the best dry flush toilet- the Wrappon Trekker. It has Laveo's "flush it and forget" approach, but with more convenience and portability. It's like a one used bucket toilet that ties up the contents for you.
@@dross24MA I agree. To your first point, there are now Chinese knockoffs that cost ~$500. To your second point, it'd be nice if their propriety bags were biodegradable. But the fact is, a lot of toilet options in real world application, require using a plastic bag for disposal.
We've had the Laveo DryFlush for a few months now, and it's been a game changer for us. It's a good height, feels like a real toilet, and haven't had a problem disposing of the bag/cassette thing. In fact, you can put it in a regular garbage can. It's been a lot less of a hassle than anything else we've tried.
Thank you for the time you put into this. It is very helpful as we are an older couple converting a cargo trailer to a camper and do not want to worry about a black tank. We have been considering the composting toilets but it is interesting to see all the options as well as pros and cons. Very well done with good info and good humor. 😁
Ben, great video! Nice job and thank you for including us. Can't wait to see it installed and get your honest feedback. You can remove the solids bin from the top you will just move (push) the trap door up with the bin or your hand. Best wishes!!
I never knew I could be so entertained by a toilet video. Very well done sir 🎉😂. I’m doing a Cargo trailer conversion and I’m considering two luggable loos surrounded by a wooden frame. This way there will be no danger of the milk and brownies sharing space 😆
Another CTC here and so far have only used 1 bucket for #1. I have thought about this idea too and wondered why more people don’t discuss this option. However with age / circumstances beyond some people’s control - a separator I think is the way to go at least on one of the 2 options just in case.😉 Example: 1 Trelino type and 1 bucket.
Great Video! Very helpful for us during or Cargo Trailer conversion. We converted a bus 4 years ago and went with the five gallon pail and diverter pee bottle. What a mess. We remodeled and went with the incinolet and it worked very well. The draw back was the ungodly odor for an hour. Incinolet said that the process didn't smell. Wrong!!!
Came here to learn about cartridge toilets. I have a property that can work for van life - the biggest concern was waste. This was very helpful, thanks!
I’m currently working on my first conversion and deciding on a toilet. Great video! Exactly what I was looking for. I will comment that on the composting toilets. As long as you add enough mulch prior to first use after emptying, the dead spaces will contain only mulch. Wasted mulch, but not a problem.
We are in Australia and we love our OGO. We retro-fitted it in our caravan. It is so good to not have to look for a dump point for the chemical toilets and no smell
Thank you so much for putting that video together. I learned everything I needed to know about toilets in one shot, and props to you for making it entertaining. I’m going to go with a small toilet with the detachable tank and spout and use a bag liner when we have an emergency meatloaf situation.
I am getting ready to retire. In preparation for that I will be custom building a small towable trailer with the intent to travel throughout north america. I found this entertaining as well as educational. Thank you for taking the time to present these popular methods of waste control and disposal.
Brilliant video. I am currently in the market for a new toilet for my van. I have a Thetford 565E and found after a couple years of use the electronics failed. This video has convinced me of my new toilet. Thankyou .
I’m developing an off grid property & this video has really gone over all the option of which I am aware! Excellent explanation of each type & the options within each method!! Thank you for explaining this topic in an entertaining manner! I agree with the earlier comment that “ don’t crap in my air fryer” is the best line!
We have the cuddy - love it. Agree agitator misses corners which is why we keep our little camp shovel in closet with cuddy The fan is very quiet - we had a 12 volt outlet installed in toilet closet. Good set up
Just educating myself on a subject I knew nothing about, I plan on getting an RV in the near future. Thanks for all the great info, a lot to think about.
For a video about toilets and poop and pee you did a fantastic job explaining all the options and made the video fun and informative to watch. Great job! I personally went with the dry flush toilet. It’s more expensive to use but it’s also much cleaner and user friendly. Mine has a thick black plastic bag you insert first and then you put in the Mylar insert. That way everything gets disposed of in the black bag and no issue if the Mylar were to rare. I will say it’s kinda loud when you flush. Also make sure to push down on the Mylar before you pee so there’s no splashing.
Amazingly helpful. Just started transforming my 3.5t Lutin van (box van with bit over cab) for full time living Now i know what toilet i will get. Cheers brother
one bit of advice not mentioned is if you are not off grid all the time use public restrooms for #2 as much as possible, just makes life easier. A porta potti then works fine and available for emergencies. Also remember to open valve before doing business if in the mountains. Porta pottis have tight seal and the pressure difference as you go up in elevation creates pressure and will spray you!
Thank you for the crapping in a bucket masterclass! As entertaining as it was informative; well done! More than I knew there was to know about portable potties. Been looking for a solution for boating emergencies and for camping, nothing fancy, would only use a few times a year, but I didn’t understand how the different options actually work and this was extremely helpful, thank you for the excellent practical explanations. I think the Trobolo or something similar is the way to go for me.
A composting toilette I do recommend for tiny homes, is called Torp-Isak. I bought mine in 2007 and it is as good as new even after 18 years of daily use. It was under 100 dollars. At the time I bought it I considered a Cinderella, but as I got a new full time job working with mentally (childlike) handicapped people, I descided I needed a toilette that could be "idiot-proof". My Torp-Isak is simple but good. It is a urine separette, with a bucket for solids like some of the first ones you showed. It has a 12 volt fan inside of it. Both urine and air from the fan are lead through pipes through toilette wall and through my wall into containers on the outside. I store urine for 7 months (to be sure all pathogens are gone) before mix with water and use as fertilizer. The bucket for solids is big enough for me to put an ordinary housholding bucket within it. I put a 30 liter waste bag into the smallest bucket, this makes it very easy to empty. Solids are kept dry and hidden by covering with toilette paper over and under, no need for anything more complicated. When urinated I clean by pouring a half cup of water afterwards.The only con is if you get ill and you have to use antibiotics. Then you should not use urine as fertilizer, you have to empty urine into smaller containers and bring them to ordinary modern toiletts to secure proper handling.
You have made a very sensible and practical video. Thank you 😊 I have one comment regarding the composting toilets contra the separation toilets using a bag to hold No. 2. Now, I have used a Separett Villa toilet in my cabin for 10 years, and I absolutely love it. It functions as a composting toilet because I empty it out in a bin at the back of my garden occasionally. I always do this the day I'll be mowing the lawn. So after emptying the toilet bag, I throw in an armful of grass cuts etc immediately afterwards. And then I leave the whole thing for at least a year to compost. - I think, that keeping a composting toilet in a van is absolutely pointless. The toilet will have to be emptied every month or less. And at that time nothing has been turned into dirt. The human waste and the toilet paper will be easily recognizable and cannot be dumped in nature! And the bin must be very, and where do you go to clean such a thing! 🫣 Conclusion: I do agree with you that the Separett Tiny is the best choice, or one of the cheaper ones of the same kind. As long as you use a pea can ad well as a bucket lined with a plastic bag to keep your waste separate you'll be fine 🤗 Lene from Elsinore
Looking to replace the toilet in our rv with something that doesn’t need a dump station. I would like to camp off grid and water becomes an issue, so no flush toilets are best. I enjoy your comprehensive review of each feature and function of each toilet, not many are capable of such a concise review, thank you.
Me and my brother just did a month in GM stretch work style van going across the states - 2 things A) we had a nurse grade horizontal pee bottle B) we had a luggable loo W/ a cushioned lid so it could double duty as a quick stool- AND A 24/7 TRASH CAN
We just traveled for a month in a rented van with a traditional black tank system. We were curious what all the other options were. Thanks for putting this together. You make Sir John Harrington proud.
I was ready for the Ogo composing toilet. But like the rest of them, the feces' holes seem small. So, given one should urinate on a separate container, isn't better to just create a big bucket with composing material, and insert a hole connecting out of the van. This requires little more than installation, which most handy men can do. Or maybe spend time in target practice.😁
I love the innuendos , from baking brownies, to dropping the kids off, and the one that made me laugh so much was the third to last loo. That rim that you might knock your tool box on the rim... 😂😂😂😂
I have not totally finished the video but at this point, I am intrigued by the OGO. I am building a 12 foot conversion van and need some type of toilet system in it. I do not imagine we will be spending more than a couple weeks at a time. This may be overkill. You have done a great job going through all of these.
I have the Trelino with the wooden top. I got the tall one because I have really bad knees. It's Perfect!!! The urine jug lasts a long time and everything is easy to change out or empty. I have to say, I'm happy to see that you don't seem to love the Nature's Head. It seemed so hard to empty and clean. The Trelino is expensive, but it's super sturdy and haven't had any issues with it.
ROTFLMAO! Thanks for updating your old review. I'm full-time on the road and would like to get rid of cassette toilet but the tech is just not there yet for composting toilets - there's a good reason sewage treatment systems were developed as you note.
I have an air head for almost 2 years in a bus and I aam now in South Carolina. It is pretty easy to clean but I seems that is needs to be cleaned out every two or three weeks with full time usage ( 1 person). The biggest issue for me is bugs in the summer. I have tried different types of composting material, diatomaceous earth and gnatrol. Nothing seems to work. Looking for another option, maybe a smaller bin the needs to be emptied more often but is much easier to empty.
Just bought the ogo as we are going full time off grid and I’m over emptying every three days. The change over was simple. Will see how it goes. Thanks
It's not so bad, but it is a bit clumsier than these newer designs. Lift off the top, remove the urine tank, unbolt the unit from the floor (should be like wingnuts on the bracket underneath) and then just carry it out, pull a plastic bag over it and up-end it. Rehydrate some dried coconut coir in a bucket until it becomes soil-like and add that to the solids container as a starter and you're done. No cleaning of the solids container is necessary, the enzymes etc in there just help if it's not gone rancid of course. Should you get bugs in it, get some diatomaceous earth and add in; any bugs crawling over that get shredded and perish.
“If I’m baking brownies I’m also making lemonade” my favorite quote of 2024.
Agree 👍
I occasionally have to lacerate my brownie (grocery) bag to drain off some unintentional lemonade before I send the brownies to a landfill. Easypeasy. My concern is for how these elements interact with the environment. My ideal situation is to add that golden-nitro-compost -accelerant to an actual compost bin (leaves, grass clippings, weeds, etc) where it can benefit the earth, plants, and microbes. The solid stuff can be incinerated in a vented ammo can before being added to soil. I realize that's more effort than most people are going to make unless you're truly offgrid for life...
"If I'm baking twosy"s I'm also making onesy" doesn't have quite the same ring 😂😂
This guy knows his shit
🙄 ,ok I admit you said it before I could, lol .
And, the WINNER IS..... bucket with a plastic bag.
🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
That's sum shit
I'm amazed at the robust library of euphemisms for types of waste and anatomy
A sure sign of a nimble mind.
Thank you, I am looking at getting a Truck camper without a bathroom, so this was very helpful. I must say I never thought I would watch an hour-long video on toilets, but here we are.
We've had a cassette toilet for 2 camping seasons. Even clean and bleached, it still smells. The seal keeps most of the smell in, but opening it, even when it's clean, really smells. Otherwise, we like it; it's sturdy and 'sits' like a normal toilet.
@@lynnw7155 I have a cassette toilet as well, and what I do is take a natural cleaner, no chemical, and spray it once in the bowl, maybe twice a week, and it takes the smell away. I try and keep it off the seal so as not to dry it out. I am the only one using it. More often if there’s more people.
@@Metoo1111 What natural cleaner do you use? Also, by keeping it "off the seal" do you mean you only spray enough to dampen the bowl - but not run down and pool on the seal?
A chemical toilet should never smell if you put in pink rinse in your top tank and blue in the bottom tank. Used one for years and never a problem with smells, can't say the same thing about my $800 Aussie dollar Trellino toilet, very disappointed with the odours comming from it Cal Australia.
Agree about the hour 1:10:17 hour-long but interesting script.
Watched to the end. I'd rank this in my top 10 best information videos I've seen on the Tube.
Not all hero's wear capes sir, some wear ready set van t-shirts, thanks for this video
We have the OGO composting toilet, we have been using it for 2 years and we are extremely happy with it.
Very good quality, absolutely no problems, powerful motor and very easy to use
Using coconut coir, it can easily last 1 month.
The diverter is extremely well designed
By the way, we never open the front door, I can remove the waste bin from the top 👍
It is absolutely odorless and there is no need to install an air intake or an air outlet.
In the end, we save on water and our black tank is now a gray tank, for a total of 70 gallons of gray water, perfect for boondocking.
How much does it hold?
@@jenniferwilliams493 Depending the use and the ambient humidity it varies between 1 and 2 months.
But it's easy to dump and refill.
I just looked them up, they're $850 on sale! Way to expensive, even on sale! The regular price is almost a thousand! And to me that's not worth it, because you'll still have to deal with discarding the crap. As of now, Laveo no flush are terrible for the environment, but if they come up with biodegradable carthrages, I'd pay 1k for it. Because it would be worth every penny, not dealing with any shit whatsoever.
@nightskylights4501 discarding the biodegradable wastes is no more difficult than discarding a coffee filter, trust me it is worth the money, I didn't find better solution than this one 👍
I’m a 60+ woman and I use a urine bottle (laundry detergent) with a girl funnel. I find it easy for late night. I have a bucket with coconut core for #2. I’ve been using them for years. My trips are usually no longer than 4 days so this solution has worked for me. I like the simplicity of function and clean-up.
Thank-you.
Your solution will best fit my needs for now.
I've used a Luggable Loo for a few years solo minivan camping. It comes with nice heavy duty sealable bags with poo powder, but that gets expensive. Instead I use 2 layers of kitchen trash bags, and put pelletized pine horse bedding (Tractor Supply) in the bottom. Lasts a few rounds of liquid additions. For solids, I keep a bag of the pellets that I've added water to to make it powdery, and sprinkle a bunch on top of the solids. Liquid and solids together, so I have to close it up and dispose after every solid event. I've been happy with the system, but hate to be using so much plastic. I'd also like to upgrade to a system that's more friendly to multiple people using it. Thank you for this great review of the options.
so....a home depot bucket, a toilet seat on top with a biodegradeable bag and using some type of animal litter, a chore of once a day throwing away a bag of poo as you do with a cat for instance is really the way to go. less expensive than all and something most people with pet cats do anyway.
Hahahahaha!
I go even smaller in my 22' van...I have the liner of an "instapot" with a bag in it - hahaha
-tie it up and throw it away. Also use public toilets when I can!
People don't understand the amount of factors that the smell and containment dynamics get implemented with just a basic toilet. If your #2 doesn't submerge in water it smells 6x worse.
The "stall pellets" from Tractor Supply are a PERFECT solution to use in the bags! It reduces splash and pretty much eliminates smell.
@@carmenmarcinkiewicz7149 do "stall pellets" have any oder themselves? I have asthma and allergies, I can't be around anything that has a scent, natural or synthetic.
I can’t believe I just spent over an hour of my life watching this……..brilliant and thorough review of portable toilets! I have a VW camper and am looking to change up my Thetford 365 for something, less chemical and water dependent and also a bit less splashy when emptying. Being a lady of a certain age I use the loo a lot overnight and feel that a urine full indicator is a must have to avoid overspill. 💦 😮
Your potty vocabulary is top-notch. Love all the euphemisms haha. Made me laugh out loud while learning about these essential van life companions.
Also, would you guys ever do a video about van security? I'd be interested in learning what you have learned over the years
I agree, he is quite the potty mouth
@@BlackHeartScyther😂
We used the nature’s head for ten years on our small houseboat. The separator function was different and worked very well. When the latch was closed it allowed “all” the liquid to flow forward into the bottle. It looks like they tried to copy the more recent competitors with the molded piece. Customer service was excellent and personal. Properly loaded there were no problems with the “product” being stuck in the corners.
One option you missed is the Throne Composting toilet. It started as a DIY kit but also comes fully assembled. I like that it uses a regular elongated seat, so it is more comfortable for my big a... and "tackle box". It separates and layers in a bucket, no odors in my RV.
I wasn’t planning on watching the whole thing but it was so entertaining that I couldn’t resist. My favorite. “Burning Man is kind of a challenging environment. If we lived in a society that valued toilet rights, Burning Man would be one gigantic war crime.”
For pretty much my entire life, I've been what you call "an indoorsy" girl. I don't know what happened to me but I am now hoping to plan a 6 month van/rv trip all over North America. This video on toilets has been AMAZING :) Answered all my questions. I watched it yesterday and today my husband and I are watching it together. If that doesn't spell romance I don't know what does. Thank you!
I don’t know what happened to me either, I’m caring less about material things and living on less, bought a van and taking my first trip from Minnesota to Detroit Michigan this month.
LOL "Here's my air fryer, please don't crap in it" ... still laughing at this statement. Great informative video.
Huge load of information all in one handy bucket here. We're building a small off grid cabin/barn to live in while we construct a barndominium on our property. Appreciate having all these reviews in one place.
Thanks mate for the time spent reviewing all these thunder boxes. I think the OGO Composting toilet has my vote. Cheers !!!
I got the squirts !
I have been using the Laveo dry flush toilet on my live aboard boat for over 4 years and have never had any problems or issues with it. It is perfect for my use (I separate urin into a plastic laundry detergent bottle). The Mylar cassette in my toilet sits within a plastic trash bag so there is no concern with a tear in the Mylar. Also, there is no constant ventilation fan noise or electrical usage and no exhaust vent requirement but I have never ever had an Oder problem. I am 100+% satisfied with the product and the company that sells it.
What about your garbage on the Earth… ??😢 as if there’s not already a HUGE problem we should all be trying to mitigate…?
Very informative. Your adjectives are hysterical !!!
Best and most comprehensive explanation of portable toilet options I’ve seen. Says a lot about the consideration you give to any technology you put in a nomad vehicle.
It important for people who suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel or overall strength issues to be aware if you can not lift 2 gallons of milk, you probably can't lift a toilet to empty it.
Very informative! I have the natures head and love them ! They take a little getting used to but are well built with great costumer service.
This was the most extensive review on van toilets I’ve ever seen. I agree about the older ones that remain expensive but have not evolved through the years. Currently I have a bucket with a Johnny compost diverter (eBay $20) and a seat/lid. It’s not luxurious, but I paid less than $50. It’s hard to spend 1k when this does what I need it to do. Thanks- your new subscriber.
Thank you for saving me so much time investigating these toilets! Your expressions were amusing in explaining when "when nature calls"
I use the $1000.00 Separet toilet in my tiny house in Hawaii, where due to the ground being mostly lava, it’s difficult to install a septic system. I love this toilet. It’s easy to keep clean, quiet and looks nice. Your mistake is that you did not show the solids container with a bag in it. It’s made to use a composting bag in order to clean it easily. When the bag is full, all you do it remove it and rinse out the container. Without the bag it would be a gross mess to clean.
We have an Airhead composting toilette and I can highly recommend it. It’s tall like your home toilette and the seat is just as comfortable. We have gone for about a month before needing to dump the solids tank that we fill with coir. The mixing mechanism doesn’t reach within the whole tank, but that wasn’t a true issue.
My real issue as an older woman is that getting the urine to go where I want is not always 100%. And at times I go both at the same time 😂 TMI I know! But that is why I love our Airhead - the trap door stays closed, I have a coffee filter laying over the trap door, the urine is completely diverted, and when finished - the trap door gets opened and there is less bowl clean up.
We use a spray bottle with a mixture of water and some nice smelling essential oil and that works great.
The pee bucket easily comes free after unscrewing the two side nuts , and there is a window in front for the low tech way of showing you the pee level😊
I'm planning on getting a pop up truck camper and this is the exact video that I needed!! Amazing job going through every option from a bucket to the more expensive and fancy options. Great video.
Designing a hybrid caravan and basing a lot of my decisions on van life experiences. Great overview and made me consider comosting. My wifes biggest objection to having a toilet inside is the smell, but can put her mind at ease
"You could have a 'totally hot' trash can, and never even know it"....LMFAO! Great comprehensive and detailed review. Bottoms up, way up!
One more toilet to mention is the Wrappon Toilet which is similar to the dryflush but individually seals the business
War crimes, best line ever! Great information, thanks so much for taking the time!!!
So many hysterical comments with your dry sense of humor. I’m 😅laughing. You are perfect for this video. Thank you.
I want Laveo and Separett Tiny to combine forces. Lemonade goes in the pitcher, brownies in the bag. I saw something similar to Laveo where the flush system would seal the brownie bag after each flush (so that you don't have to wait until the entire foil cartridge is used up before disposing. yuck.)
I'm imagining a system kind of like how individually packaged bags of Doritos are made. Brownies go in, bag is sealed and cut, and then drops into a bin. Each flush gives you a little sealed bag of brownies you can then throw away as soon as you want.
Biodegradable bags too. Great idea.
What about when you get the runs. Omg. These all suck. It happens.
Great informative video! Well done. Comments on the install of the OGO. The vent outlet rotates. Great for vent pipe placement when space is tight. The intake and vent fans can be swapped from side to side. Super useful for exacting install. The agitator button and pee light can also be switched over although OGO didn't leave a hole for that swap so you have to drill your own but easy to re-run the wiring due to the wago connectors. Also, the plug and vent pipe can be easily removed after install if you need to remove the toilet temporarily, to have more space in the shower for example.
You rock. Thank you for this thorough review. Lots of laughs along the way.
So glad I stumbled on this video. Thanks for doing such a thorough and well explained survey of what's out there. I have watched dozens of rv van videos but no one wants to talk about this subject - your information was very helpful for someone with no experience trying to decide which system will be best for their situation.
Thank you somuch .. As someone considering Bus Life with IBS the toilet is the most important part for me I thought the Ogo was the best built but its still a bucket with a hand crank blender LOL...
On a Side note.. I use to have to takecare of my mother in her last days and she had a bed side toilet for Number 1.. I found by adding watter and little bit of dish Dawn soap to her bucket made all the difference in the urine smell.. So i recommend adding little water to your tanks and little soap for the simple bucket toilets that you'll be dumping often.. it does make a difference..
Also while watching this i thought about the video i saw where the guy did a test on all the chemicals for RV toilets and the Liquified RV Toilet Treatment - Black Holding Tank Digester did the best.. I would consider putting that and water in the cassett toilets for easy quick clean everytime..
Entertaining, informative and educating just like the BBC. The World needed this presentation. I love your infinite quantity of innuendos. Thank you from SW England. Look up narrowboats, toilets is all our community talks about.
I live in a rural area with a well/septic system. When my power was out for a week due to a storm, I used a luggable loo. I'm planning to have a Laveo when I do my van buildout.
Great video! Well done and very thorough. I have used wrappon for the last 3 years and it remains the best option for me. Not environmentally friendly for an incredibly messy human condition, but one I am comfortable with. Wife has different feelings, but also sees the options for this as limiting. An important consideration for any adventurer.
I dont leave comments often, but wanted to help out your channel. This is a great and very thorough video, and I sincerely appreciate it!
Please do another one on heaters, various types, applications, pros/cons, etc. This has been challenging to find a video like this one about toilets, but also about heaters.
Keep it up, love the video!
After Thought:
I was a bit bummed you didn't have a actual toilets that are incinerating toilets to do a thorough review on. I am not a "van" lifer, I am a "box" lifer....lol. The incinerating toilets are the ones that I was most looking forward to seeing, so this was quite a bummer for me.
Good job! Informative and funny. Leaning towards the Cuddy because of the $780 delivered price. Good to know about the limitations of the agitator but that it's pretty solid. .
First of all, many thanks for sorting through all the toilets! That's a great help to many folks! I have a Trobolo toilet and it is the model that sits higher than the example shown. The higher height is perfect! The toilet is comfortable. I wish the urine container was larger but it will last two days if I am alone. At first I had difficulty being sure the urine made it into the separate container but with experience that became a non-issue. The toilet is very well made and I appreciate that it is made in Germany so I am avoiding Chinese garbage that looks good but doesn't hold up.
Some of these manufacturers forgot one important aspect of these products - size and portability. Some of these products, even if nice, they are like taking the toilet from your home and bringing with you on the camping trip. Besides that - thank you for the very nice overview/review of these products.
Boxio is better than what you have just shown, for the lid there is already a cord to fix it and for the inlet there is a handle. Boxio works for us now for 2 years absolutely great.
I bought a boxio before seeing this video, it also has a plug that goes into the urine hole. My issue is NZ legislation for freedom camping says it needs to be ventilated according to manufacture instructions or needs to be sealed. The lid does not form a air tight seal and the NZ freedom camping inspectors say I can’t modify the toilet 🤷🏼♀️ I did wonder about making a sealed vented box to house the boxio but unsure if they would accept that . Not throwing away a perfectly great toilet to appease lawmakers that prefer chemical loos over environmentally friendly ones. Any tips here ?
Excellent review! The Separett seems quite efficient. I am considering. The Laveo was a front runner, however the thin Mylar is a consideration. Also, it’s not really eco-friendly when disposing the costly units over time for more than one user.
Thanx again for giving me options and the humor!
nice resource, looking to get rid of our black tank on our rv with a composting toilet....tx for your solid reviews😊
This is absolutely the most thorough discussion of toilet options on YT. But you left out arguably the best dry flush toilet- the Wrappon Trekker. It has Laveo's "flush it and forget" approach, but with more convenience and portability. It's like a one used bucket toilet that ties up the contents for you.
$1.50 / flush for that one. (sigh)
@@keithprice3369 Yeah, its not cheap. But you only have to flush when it's full (or stinky)!
Sorry, but I think the Wrappon is expensive both financially and eco-wise.
@@dross24MA I agree. To your first point, there are now Chinese knockoffs that cost ~$500. To your second point, it'd be nice if their propriety bags were biodegradable. But the fact is, a lot of toilet options in real world application, require using a plastic bag for disposal.
Garbage, hot garbage. Worse than the thetford.
We've had the Laveo DryFlush for a few months now, and it's been a game changer for us. It's a good height, feels like a real toilet, and haven't had a problem disposing of the bag/cassette thing. In fact, you can put it in a regular garbage can. It's been a lot less of a hassle than anything else we've tried.
Please don’t tell me it doesn’t stink beyond belief during use. The afterwords I agree must be great.
Do you pack around 💩 bags for several days or?..
Thank you for the time you put into this. It is very helpful as we are an older couple converting a cargo trailer to a camper and do not want to worry about a black tank. We have been considering the composting toilets but it is interesting to see all the options as well as pros and cons. Very well done with good info and good humor. 😁
Ben, great video! Nice job and thank you for including us. Can't wait to see it installed and get your honest feedback. You can remove the solids bin from the top you will just move (push) the trap door up with the bin or your hand. Best wishes!!
I never knew I could be so entertained by a toilet video. Very well done sir 🎉😂. I’m doing a Cargo trailer conversion and I’m considering two luggable loos surrounded by a wooden frame. This way there will be no danger of the milk and brownies sharing space 😆
Another CTC here and so far have only used 1 bucket for #1. I have thought about this idea too and wondered why more people don’t discuss this option. However with age / circumstances beyond some people’s control - a separator I think is the way to go at least on one of the 2 options just in case.😉 Example: 1 Trelino type and 1 bucket.
After watching this review I purchased the OGO! Thank you!!
Great Video! Very helpful for us during or Cargo Trailer conversion. We converted a bus 4 years ago and went with the five gallon pail and diverter pee bottle. What a mess. We remodeled and went with the incinolet and it worked very well. The draw back was the ungodly odor for an hour. Incinolet said that the process didn't smell. Wrong!!!
Came here to learn about cartridge toilets. I have a property that can work for van life - the biggest concern was waste. This was very helpful, thanks!
@ReadySetVan Wholey crap😂 You really dropped a load of great info. Just subscribed to the channel. Looking forward to more dumps of great info😅
Great video. A lot of options. To me, constipation is the best option. It's cheaper and no mess. Lol.
I’m currently working on my first conversion and deciding on a toilet. Great video! Exactly what I was looking for.
I will comment that on the composting toilets. As long as you add enough mulch prior to first use after emptying, the dead spaces will contain only mulch. Wasted mulch, but not a problem.
We are in Australia and we love our OGO. We retro-fitted it in our caravan. It is so good to not have to look for a dump point for the chemical toilets and no smell
Thank you so much for putting that video together. I learned everything I needed to know about toilets in one shot, and props to you for making it entertaining. I’m going to go with a small toilet with the detachable tank and spout and use a bag liner when we have an emergency meatloaf situation.
I am getting ready to retire. In preparation for that I will be custom building a small towable trailer with the intent to travel throughout north america. I found this entertaining as well as educational. Thank you for taking the time to present these popular methods of waste control and disposal.
I call mine the Kamala throne .
I really like how Thorough you are. The pros and cons are very clear. You did a great job😊
Brilliant video. I am currently in the market for a new toilet for my van. I have a Thetford 565E and found after a couple years of use the electronics failed.
This video has convinced me of my new toilet. Thankyou .
I’m developing an off grid property & this video has really gone over all the option of which I am aware! Excellent explanation of each type & the options within each method!! Thank you for explaining this topic in an entertaining manner! I agree with the earlier comment that “ don’t crap in my air fryer” is the best line!
We have the cuddy - love it. Agree agitator misses corners which is why we keep our little camp shovel in closet with cuddy
The fan is very quiet - we had a 12 volt outlet installed in toilet closet. Good set up
Thank you! Leaning towards the Cuddy.
Excellent video. Your humour had me in stitches. Subscribed.
Just educating myself on a subject I knew nothing about, I plan on getting an RV in the near future. Thanks for all the great info, a lot to think about.
Just bought the natures head for my mini cabin. Should work well with my compost bin.
For a video about toilets and poop and pee you did a fantastic job explaining all the options and made the video fun and informative to watch. Great job!
I personally went with the dry flush toilet. It’s more expensive to use but it’s also much cleaner and user friendly. Mine has a thick black plastic bag you insert first and then you put in the Mylar insert. That way everything gets disposed of in the black bag and no issue if the Mylar were to rare. I will say it’s kinda loud when you flush. Also make sure to push down on the Mylar before you pee so there’s no splashing.
This was such a comprehensive video on rv/van toilets! Thanks so much‼️
Very educational overview of this important system for RV enjoyment!
Fabulous! I'm just researching but now think I am educated on the choices.
Yes, I will certainly never take my home toilet for granted again!!!😮
Amazingly helpful.
Just started transforming my 3.5t Lutin van (box van with bit over cab) for full time living
Now i know what toilet i will get.
Cheers brother
one bit of advice not mentioned is if you are not off grid all the time use public restrooms for #2 as much as possible, just makes life easier. A porta potti then works fine and available for emergencies. Also remember to open valve before doing business if in the mountains. Porta pottis have tight seal and the pressure difference as you go up in elevation creates pressure and will spray you!
Thank you for the crapping in a bucket masterclass! As entertaining as it was informative; well done! More than I knew there was to know about portable potties. Been looking for a solution for boating emergencies and for camping, nothing fancy, would only use a few times a year, but I didn’t understand how the different options actually work and this was extremely helpful, thank you for the excellent practical explanations. I think the Trobolo or something similar is the way to go for me.
A composting toilette I do recommend for tiny homes, is called Torp-Isak. I bought mine in 2007 and it is as good as new even after 18 years of daily use. It was under 100 dollars. At the time I bought it I considered a Cinderella, but as I got a new full time job working with mentally (childlike) handicapped people, I descided I needed a toilette that could be "idiot-proof". My Torp-Isak is simple but good. It is a urine separette, with a bucket for solids like some of the first ones you showed. It has a 12 volt fan inside of it. Both urine and air from the fan are lead through pipes through toilette wall and through my wall into containers on the outside. I store urine for 7 months (to be sure all pathogens are gone) before mix with water and use as fertilizer. The bucket for solids is big enough for me to put an ordinary housholding bucket within it. I put a 30 liter waste bag into the smallest bucket, this makes it very easy to empty. Solids are kept dry and hidden by covering with toilette paper over and under, no need for anything more complicated. When urinated I clean by pouring a half cup of water afterwards.The only con is if you get ill and you have to use antibiotics. Then you should not use urine as fertilizer, you have to empty urine into smaller containers and bring them to ordinary modern toiletts to secure proper handling.
Thank you for taking the time to review all of these. Made my decision a lot easier!
We have the Separett Tiny in our Rv for 2 years now and it is absolutely fantastic!
You have made a very sensible and practical video. Thank you 😊 I have one comment regarding the composting toilets contra the separation toilets using a bag to hold No. 2. Now, I have used a Separett Villa toilet in my cabin for 10 years, and I absolutely love it. It functions as a composting toilet because I empty it out in a bin at the back of my garden occasionally. I always do this the day I'll be mowing the lawn. So after emptying the toilet bag, I throw in an armful of grass cuts etc immediately afterwards. And then I leave the whole thing for at least a year to compost. - I think, that keeping a composting toilet in a van is absolutely pointless. The toilet will have to be emptied every month or less. And at that time nothing has been turned into dirt. The human waste and the toilet paper will be easily recognizable and cannot be dumped in nature! And the bin must be very, and where do you go to clean such a thing! 🫣 Conclusion: I do agree with you that the Separett Tiny is the best choice, or one of the cheaper ones of the same kind. As long as you use a pea can ad well as a bucket lined with a plastic bag to keep your waste separate you'll be fine 🤗 Lene from Elsinore
Thanks for all that information, ill be going with the Ogo composting model
Looking to replace the toilet in our rv with something that doesn’t need a dump station. I would like to camp off grid and water becomes an issue, so no flush toilets are best. I enjoy your comprehensive review of each feature and function of each toilet, not many are capable of such a concise review, thank you.
Me and my brother just did a month in GM stretch work style van going across the states - 2 things A) we had a nurse grade horizontal pee bottle B) we had a luggable loo W/ a cushioned lid so it could double duty as a quick stool- AND A 24/7 TRASH CAN
This is the most entertaining discussion on "making brownies and lemonade" that i have seen!😂
We just traveled for a month in a rented van with a traditional black tank system. We were curious what all the other options were. Thanks for putting this together. You make Sir John Harrington proud.
I was ready for the Ogo composing toilet. But like the rest of them, the feces' holes seem small. So, given one should urinate on a separate container, isn't better to just create a big bucket with composing material, and insert a hole connecting out of the van. This requires little more than installation, which most handy men can do. Or maybe spend time in target practice.😁
I love the innuendos , from baking brownies, to dropping the kids off, and the one that made me laugh so much was the third to last loo. That rim that you might knock your tool box on the rim... 😂😂😂😂
I have not totally finished the video but at this point, I am intrigued by the OGO. I am building a 12 foot conversion van and need some type of toilet system in it. I do not imagine we will be spending more than a couple weeks at a time. This may be overkill. You have done a great job going through all of these.
Your euphemisms alone made watching this worthwhile. “Sticky Ickies” indeed.
Thanks for the work you put in it was a big help i had been trying to find something for grandma and i didn't crap about portable toilet options
Tackle box got me 🤣
Yes! 😂
I have the Trelino with the wooden top. I got the tall one because I have really bad knees. It's Perfect!!! The urine jug lasts a long time and everything is easy to change out or empty. I have to say, I'm happy to see that you don't seem to love the Nature's Head. It seemed so hard to empty and clean. The Trelino is expensive, but it's super sturdy and haven't had any issues with it.
Building out a van now, wanted to learn the options before picking. Skipped to half way though, wanted a decent toilet. Thanks for the info!
Thanks a bunch for takin' the time to splain all of this. VERY useful information.
ROTFLMAO! Thanks for updating your old review. I'm full-time on the road and would like to get rid of cassette toilet but the tech is just not there yet for composting toilets - there's a good reason sewage treatment systems were developed as you note.
Thank you! My first look and answers a lot. Next to research what to do with the compost and possible disaster such as near misses.
I have an air head for almost 2 years in a bus and I aam now in South Carolina. It is pretty easy to clean but I seems that is needs to be cleaned out every two or three weeks with full time usage ( 1 person). The biggest issue for me is bugs in the summer. I have tried different types of composting material, diatomaceous earth and gnatrol. Nothing seems to work. Looking for another option, maybe a smaller bin the needs to be emptied more often but is much easier to empty.
Just bought the ogo as we are going full time off grid and I’m over emptying every three days. The change over was simple. Will see how it goes. Thanks
Bought a camper with a Natures Head installed. Seems solidly built. Concerned about having to disassemble the lower unit to dump the solid waste tank
It's not so bad, but it is a bit clumsier than these newer designs. Lift off the top, remove the urine tank, unbolt the unit from the floor (should be like wingnuts on the bracket underneath) and then just carry it out, pull a plastic bag over it and up-end it. Rehydrate some dried coconut coir in a bucket until it becomes soil-like and add that to the solids container as a starter and you're done. No cleaning of the solids container is necessary, the enzymes etc in there just help if it's not gone rancid of course. Should you get bugs in it, get some diatomaceous earth and add in; any bugs crawling over that get shredded and perish.