Does our new little portable chemical toilet really need that expensive special TP ($2.40 for 4 rolls)? Or would a cheap TP, which usually falls apart anyway, work just as well? We don't have any previous experience with these things, and we're trying to avoid having to make a trip out to the hole, at least until it gets a little warmer out.

p.p.

-- prepping pooper (outhouses_m@ke_a_cold.bum), October 09, 1999

Answers

Before we sold our travel trailer several years ago, we used the "special" paper at first, but were forced to use regular paper when we ran out. I couldn't tell any difference in the way the holding tank flushed out with the regular paper, so we continued to use the regular paper till we sold the trailer. Never had any problems using regular paper.

Like you say, the regular paper comes apart very well when wet, so I wouldn't spend the extra for special paper if I were you.

Gerald

-- Gerald R. Cox (grcox@internetwork.net), October 09, 1999.

Try having a separate container for the used tp. Then you don't have to worry about whether or not chem toilets need the special paper, and you save some space in it for, umm, other things...

Aside from that work around, I'm sorry, I don't really know the direct answer to your question, but hope this helps.

-- winter wondering (winterwondering@yahoo.com), October 09, 1999.

its a bogus "enviormental issue" dealing with bio-degradabilty of the 'special paper'. The companies claim in the large print you SHOULD use this stuff. Read the fine print. The regular scott tissue is fine. Don't believe the hype!!

-- Billy-Boy (Rakkasn@Yahoo.com), October 09, 1999.

We have a portable chemical camp potty that we've used for years. It holds about 8 gal of water - and we use 1/3 to 1/2 bottle solution.

Don't buy the enviro paper (no to $$$) - and don't use the cushy, puffy, double layer TP - use a single layer TP such as Scott's.

BTW, Scott's is one of the best buys to stock up on - one roll is 1000 single layer sheets versus one roll of 270 double layer sheets for some of the other name brands. I can buy it for about 70 cents/roll.

-- mom (mom@mom.com), October 10, 1999.

Well if Mom tells me it's ok to use regular paper, then it must be true. Thanks for the responses everybody - I think you all saved me some "green" paper!

p.p.

-- prepping pooper (outhouses_m@ke_a_cold.bum), October 10, 1999.