The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Your Composting Toilet

Ok Compo Crew, whether you’re taking your Cuddy on the road or using it as an off-grid toilet, keeping it clean ensures smooth operation & odor control. Cleaning is easy with these simple steps and helpful tips. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Cleaning the two models is basically the same but we do have some model specific tips especially for the different solids bins.

Why Is Regular Cleaning Important?

While this seems a no brainer, routine cleaning does wonders for maintaining your Cuddy’s performance and odor control. It’s about more than just keeping things fresh—it also helps ensure that your toilet keeps working smoothly. 

Your Essential Cleaning Supplies

• Vinegar: This is our go to cleaner for composting toilets. Cheap & natural. Diluted in a spray bottle 1:5 or poured directly into the urine bottle. It's a great cleaner and disinfectant.
• Mild Soap and Water
• Soft Cloth, Sponge, Paper Towels. Rough or abrasive items can scratch  and should be avoided.
• Note: Water alone is not the best. I sometimes use my water bottle after using Cuddy to give the plates and the pee chute a rise, but water by itself does not disinfect. Also using only water when cleaning the urine canister, results in more smells instead of less.

Cleaning the Different Parts of your Composting Toilet

Urine Diverter and Plates

Cuddy's urine diverter naturally separates liquids from solids. Keeping these two separate is the first line of defence against smells. When going #1 the plates remain closed. If you're not sure if it's #1, #2 or both open and just Go. 

Cleaning:

• Afterwards use we recommend either wiping down the diverter & plates with a bit of TP or using some of your handy vinegar water solution. 

Pee Chute

The pee chute is an ingenious part of your Cuddy that diverts extra liquid from the pates into the urine bottle.

Cleaning:

• After each use we recommend pouring a bit of water or vinegar water solution onto the plates and letting it drain down the pee chute washes away any residual urine.

• For a deep clean, you can remove the pee chute by unscrewing the four screws and detaching it. Rinse it thoroughly, spray with vinegar, and let it soak for stubborn spots. After cleaning, reattach the chute with the four screws to ensure a secure fit.

Urine Bottle

Cuddy and Cuddy Lite have the same urine bottle. 

Emptying: 

If you are on the toilet you can finish peeing but it's advisable to empty afterwards. Make sure you are following local guidelines when emptying the urine bottle.

Read more about Cuddy's new urine bottle and LED. 

Once empty it's pretty easy to clean the container. 

Cleaning: 

I will usually empty the urine bottle and replace it in my Cuddy. Pee is mostly sterile and the urine bottle does not need to be cleaned each time you empty it.

About every other time you can add some vinegar or citric acid to the container and slosh it around a bit and leave it in there.  Remember water should not be used on its own. Using only water when cleaning the urine canister, results in more smells instead of less.

Odor Control Tips:

A sprinkle of baking soda or a 1/4 cup of vinegar in the bottle can help neutralize odors between cleanings. We also heard that a denture cleaner tablet with water does wonder for any build up. 

The Urine Bottle Valve

The blue valve inside of the urine bottle is there to let urine in but stop bad smells from getting out. The valve is made of silicon and will need to be replaced every 6-9 months. 

The Solids Bin

Cuddy and Cuddy Lite have different solids bins. Cuddy's bin has an agitator.

Cuddy (With Agitator): The agitator mixes compost material with waste, encouraging decomposition and reducing odours.

• Agitate: After each use, gentle rotate the agitator a few times to keep materials evenly mixed. This is quick and keeps the compost aerated.
• Emptying: When full, empty the contents making sure to follow local regulations. Read where you can empty your composting toilet here.
• Cleaning: We don't recommend "cleaning" the solids bin as there are microbes in there that are having a good time and they want to continue the composting process. We recommend emptying and starting over.
  However, every now and then it's good to give it a good wash. Use water and a mild soap - no bleach - to wash it out, rinse and finish by add your favourite compost medium - filling about ¼ of the solids bin.

Cuddy Lite (Without Agitator): In the Cuddy Lite, a layering method is used to manage waste without mixing. You will start with a bag inside of the solids unit and add a small about of litter to it before use. 

• Layer After Each Use: Add a small amount of your medium i.e. coco coir or sawdust after each use. This controls odours and aids decomposition.
• Emptying: Because there is already a bag inside of Cuddy Lite's solids bin, it's pretty straightforward. Remove bag, dispose of bag following local regulations of course, put new bag inside, add a handful of litter.

Exterior Wipe-Down

Using a soft cloth or sponge, wipe down the Cuddy’s exterior with your vinegar water mix or with soapy water. 

Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some things to keep in mind to make the cleaning process smooth:

• Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Stick to natural cleaners like vinegar. Harsh chemicals can affect the composting process and even cause odors.
• Minimal Moisture: Composting toilets function best with low moisture levels. Avoid over-rinsing to keep the composting process on track.

Quick Tips for Odor Control

• Sprinkle Baking Soda: A small amount in the urine bottle can help control smells.
• Add Fresh Compost Medium: Each time you empty the solids container, add a fresh layer of coco coir or sawdust to control odors.
• Ventilation Matters: Keep the ventilation system clean and unobstructed for optimal airflow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean the solids container?
Empty it when it’s around three-quarters full.

Can I use regular household cleaners?
Stick to natural cleaners like vinegar. Bleach and other harsh chemicals can disrupt the composting process.

What if I have mineral buildup?
A vinegar soak works wonders for mineral buildup. 

Final Thoughts

Cleaning your Cuddy or Cuddy Lite doesn’t need to be a chore. By following these easy steps, you can keep your toilet fresh and efficient, wherever you’re using it.

If you have any tips for cleaning Cuddy leave a comment below!