we use the green stuff - you can just put it in the top and flush it through a few times before using. Usually quite cheap without being on offer. Only no. 1's though.
Try not to use any really harsh chemicals that aren't for this purpose as it can break down the rubber seals quicker (i read that on here somewhere).
The cheap stuff is like water and useless. I always use my own facilities and use the bags (like tea bags but don't put them in a brew!!) and I've found they work fantastically. A lot better than fluid. In my old van I used the blocks that you put in your cistern at home chopped up. They are cheap and last for ages but now my flush works off the aquaroll in the new van I use a toilet duck disc stuck to the side of the bowl.
------------- Matt
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Normally use Aquakem blue in the holding tank and Aquakem pink in the flush tank but recently have tried Tesco biological washing liquid in the tank and Dettol in the top. Seems to work very well although I do empty the holding tank every other day.
I wouldn't let cistern blocks anywhere near a plastic toilet, or toilet ducks for that matter. Use the stuff made for the purpose if you want to be sure of avoiding damage.
I have a few friends who live in there caravans and thats what they use. Never had any problems and have been using them for years. I have not had any problems so far either both when on the cistern blocks or the toilet duck discs.
That doesn't surprise me Charlie - I don't mean it's likely, only that whenever the composition of the plastic and the toilet chemical are unknown there is a risk.
I have just had to replace at some trouble and cost a plastic caravan sink destroyed in a matter of days by the use of Dentyl pH mouthwash - the culprit in this case being the ingredient isopropyl myristate.
Toilet blocks are mostly made from 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (p-DCB). I couldn't tell you which plastics it will attack if any, but I have seen urinal cakes probably made of p-DCB used as an insecticide 'melt' a synthetic carpet (probably polypropylene).
p-DCB is not especially poisonous but it isn't environmentally friendly either, normally a consideration with toilet chemicals.