Follow the steps below and you’ll soon be dealing with the chemical toilet like a professional.

• If the cassette is fitted to the toilet, ensure the blade is closed. You can do this by moving the blade handle (the opening and closing mechanism) on the front of the toilet bowl.
• Remove your cassette from the external access door by pulling the orange handle up and pulling the cassette outwards. It probably means the toilet blade is still open if it doesn’t come out.
• Open the blade by twisting the orange dial on top of the cassette. Add the appropriate dose of toilet chemical treatment along with the recommended amount of water. Quantities vary between products, so it’s worth checking.
• Refit the cassette by pushing it back into place, ensuring that the orange pull-up handle is back in the slot.

• Open the filler door above the external toilet cassette door using your caravan key.
• Add the required amount of flush chemical (check the bottle to see the correct amount of fluid you need) and top up the holding tank with water from a water container, watering can, or similar.
• Close the filler door.
• The flush is ready to use.

• If the cassette is fitted to the toilet, ensure the blade is closed. You can do this by moving the blade handle (the opening and closing mechanism) on the front of the toilet bowl.
• Remove your cassette from the external access door by pulling the orange handle up and pulling the cassette outwards. It probably means the toilet blade is still open if it doesn’t come out.
• Many cassettes have wheels and a telescopic handle. This makes it easier to transport.
• Locate the emptying facilities on site. These may be called the Elsan Point, Black Waste Disposal Point, or Toilet Emptying Point.
• Twist the grey nozzle outwards and unscrew the domed orange cap from the end. Put the cap in a safe place, as you don’t want it falling into the drain!
• Empty the cassette in the designated drain, holding the orange button down as you do so.
• Rinse the cassette with water and shake it gently before emptying. Repeat until clean.
• Add the appropriate dose of toilet chemical treatment along with the recommended amount of water. Quantities vary between products, so it’s worth checking.
• Refit the cassette.

Prima Leisure sells Thetford Fresh Up Kits, which include a new cassette and toilet seat. If you’ve recently bought a second hand tourer and want to make it yours, they can be a worthwhile investment.

Jump to:

• Beginners Guide to Caravanning – Homepage
• How to load your caravan
• How to set your caravan’s noseweight
• How to hitch up your caravan
• How to tow and reverse your caravan
• Arriving on site: How to level your caravan
• Arriving on site: Electrical system
• Arriving on site: Gas system
• Arriving on site: Water system
• Arriving on site: How to set up your Alde or Truma heating system
• Arriving on site: Toilet cassette
• Arriving on site: Fridge
• Arriving on site: Hob, oven and grill
• Arriving on site: How to adjust your caravan’s TV aerial
• Arriving on site: How to secure your caravan
• Caravan Weight Plate Upgrade: How to increase your caravan’s payload
• Glossary