How do I Clean a Portable Camping Toilet?

Cleaning a portable camping toilet keeps the trip sanitary and clean.

Convenient toilet access is one luxury that many outdoor enthusiasts enjoy when hitting the road in a mobile camper. The downside comes when it's time to clean the portable onboard toilet. Sanitation and safety are keys to the cleaning process, and while cleaning the toilet may not be the highlight of the camping trip, proper cleaning is a necessity. Luckily, with a little know how, you can manage waste with relative ease.

Things You'll Need

• Eye goggles
• Disposable latex gloves
• Dust mask
• Shovel (optional)
• Bleach
• Cloths

Instructions

1. Don your safety gear if desired (it is certainly recommended, especially for those sensitive to strong odors, both from waste and cleaning chemicals). Locate the lock-switch on either side of the toilet; press to lock the waste into the bottom compartment section and disengage it from the top seat portion of the toilet.

2. Set the seat portion aside. Dump the contents of the waste trap into the waste disposal unit located at your campground; if no unit is available, dig a small hole, about 8 to 9 inches in depth and width, in the ground away from your campsite. Dump the contents into the hole and bury with the dirt from the hole.

3. Rinse the inside of the toilet container thoroughly with a mix of one cup of household bleach and two cups of hot water. Allow the unit to dry. Use a disposable cloth dipped in bleach to clean the seat portion. Wipe the seat again with another damp cloth and allow the seat to dry. Reassemble the unit.

References

• "Camping for Dummies"; Michael Hodgson; 2001