Finally ditched the black tank: my dry loo journey

“If it ain’t stinking up the place and nobody’s complaining, that’s good enough for me.”

- Couldn’t agree more. I keep a spray bottle of vinegar handy for the seat and lid, but that’s about it.
- Humidity’s a pain - cracking a window helps more than any fan I’ve tried.
- Sawdust is fine, but I switched to shredded leaves in fall. Breaks down faster, less clumping.
- Not sure there’s a perfect system. If it works for your nose and your back, you’re winning.

I’ve tried the vinegar trick too, but switched to diluted hydrogen peroxide - seems to keep things fresher, and I don’t mind the smell. Humidity’s a real battle, though. I actually rigged up a small computer fan with a timer, but honestly, just propping the door open works better most days. Never thought about using shredded leaves... might have to give that a go next fall. My only gripe is emptying the bucket in winter - nothing like wrestling frozen compost at 7am.

Frozen compost buckets are the worst. I tried lining mine with a thick contractor bag one year, thinking it’d make things easier - nope, just ended up wrestling a frozen bag instead of a bucket. I’m with you on the humidity thing, though. Fans sound fancy, but honestly, nothing beats just leaving that door cracked. As for shredded leaves, they’re a game changer for odor and moisture, but you’ve got to store a huge pile somewhere dry or you end up with a soggy mess.

Frozen buckets are the bane of winter composting, no question. I’ve tried everything short of a blowtorch - contractor bags, silicone liners, even greasing the sides once (don’t recommend unless you want to explain that mess to your partner). Honestly, I just bring the bucket inside for a couple hours now and let it thaw in the mudroom. Not glamorous, but at least I’m not out there cursing at a frozen lump.

I hear you on the leaves. Last fall I thought I was clever and stuffed a bunch in an old kiddie pool with a tarp over it. Worked until the wind picked up and turned my yard into a leaf confetti party. Now I just keep ‘em in big paper lawn bags in the shed - still gets soggy if I slack off, but better than nothing.

Fans are overrated unless you’re running a palace. A cracked door and some patience does the trick for most setups. If it starts smelling funky, that’s usually my cue to add more dry stuff or empty sooner. Overthinking it always seems to make things worse.

Yeah, frozen buckets are just part of the deal up north. I’ve tried lining mine with newspaper - helps a bit, but still ends up stuck half the time. Bringing it inside is about as good as it gets unless you want to risk cracking the plastic trying to pry it out.

Leaves - totally with you. I switched to wood shavings from the feed store after my leaf stash turned into a moldy mess one year. Not perfect, but way less hassle than chasing leaves around the yard.

Fans seem like overkill for most setups. If it smells, I just add more sawdust or dump sooner. Simple usually works best.

Fans seem like overkill for most setups. If it smells, I just add more sawdust or dump sooner. Simple usually works best.

Couldn’t agree more - sometimes the “fancier” solutions just mean more stuff to break. I’ve had better luck with a scoop of coffee grounds now and then (smell’s not bad, plus it feels like recycling). Tried pine needles once too, but that was... pokier than expected. Wood shavings are my go-to now, way easier to store and less drama when winter hits.

Wood shavings are my go-to now, way easier to store and less drama when winter hits.

I hear you on the wood shavings - less mess, and they don’t freeze into a brick like some stuff does. I’ve wondered about coffee grounds though. Do they ever get too wet or clump up? I’m always a bit cautious about anything that might mess with airflow or cause mold, especially in colder months. Anyone ever had issues with that?

Coffee grounds seemed like a good idea at first, but they held onto moisture way more than I expected. Ended up with a dense, almost mud-like layer in the bin after a week - didn’t love that. I noticed airflow dropped off and there was a funky smell, probably from things not drying out enough. Wood shavings just work better for me, especially when it’s damp or cold outside. They’re lighter and don’t clump up. If you’ve got a reliable dry source for grounds, maybe it’s different... but I’ll stick with shavings for now.

Ever try mixing the coffee grounds with something drier, like sawdust or even shredded cardboard? I had a similar issue with moisture when I first started out - everything just turned into this heavy, wet mess that was a pain to deal with. I figured maybe blending materials would help balance things out, but honestly, it was more hassle than it was worth for me. Curious if anyone’s found a combo that actually works without turning into sludge.

Also, do you notice any difference in odor control between shavings and other stuff you’ve tried? I keep hearing people swear by peat moss, but I’m not sure if it’s really better or just pricier.

I keep seeing peat moss hyped up too, but honestly, I’m not convinced it’s worth the extra cost unless you’re really struggling with odor. I tried it for a couple months and didn’t notice a huge difference compared to plain old pine shavings. Maybe a little less smell, but not enough to justify hauling around those heavy bags or paying double. Plus, peat’s not exactly the most sustainable option out there.

Mixing coffee grounds with sawdust sounds clever in theory, but I ran into the same sludge problem you mentioned. The grounds just seem to hold onto moisture like crazy. Shredded cardboard helped a bit with texture, but then you’ve got to make sure it’s not coated or full of ink - otherwise you’re just adding more weird stuff to the mix. Ever try dried leaves? They break down fast and are easy to come by in the fall, though they don’t do much for odor if you’re sensitive.

One thing I’m still skeptical about is whether any of these combos actually make maintenance easier in the long run. Every time I try to “optimize” my mix, it ends up being more work - either tracking down materials or dealing with clumps that don’t break down right. Sometimes I wonder if keeping it simple with just shavings is actually better, even if it’s not perfect.

Curious if anyone’s had luck with something totally different - like biochar or even sand? I’ve heard rumors but never met anyone who stuck with those for more than a week or two.

Sometimes I wonder if keeping it simple with just shavings is actually better, even if it’s not perfect.

Honestly, I keep circling back to this too. Tried biochar once - super dusty, and cleanup felt messier. Sand seemed like a good idea until it got heavy and didn’t help much with odor. Pine shavings aren’t perfect, but at least you know what you’re getting. If you’re worried about moisture or clumping, I’ve found layering a bit of shredded, plain cardboard (no glossy ink) on top helps keep things drier without a lot of hassle. Just gotta double-check for staples or coating before tossing it in.

Yeah, I’ve been down the rabbit hole with all the “fancier” options too - coco coir, sawdust blends, even tried a peat moss mix once. Honestly, most of them just made things more complicated or messy. Pine shavings are easy to find and cheap, and they don’t gum up the works. The cardboard tip is solid, though. I’ve used old egg cartons (torn up) in a pinch, and they seem to help with airflow and moisture.

One thing I did notice: if you use too much cardboard, it can get a bit bulky and slow down composting. Not a huge deal, just something to watch for if you’re emptying the loo less often. I’ve also tried mixing in a handful of dried leaves when I have them - works alright, but only if they’re really dry. Wet leaves just make a mess.

At the end of the day, simple seems to win out. Less fuss, less to haul around, and you know what you’re dealing with.

- Ran into the same thing with coco coir - too much moisture, and it clumped up fast.
- Pine shavings have been the most reliable for me, especially when I’m on the road and can’t fuss with ratios.
- Cardboard’s handy in a pinch, but yeah, it definitely bulks things up if you go overboard. I’ve had to fish out soggy wads more than once... not fun.
- Tried dry grass clippings once - never again. Smelled weird and broke down too slow.
- At this point, I just keep a bag of shavings and call it good. Less to worry about, and way easier to clean.

Pine shavings really do seem to be the gold standard - can’t argue with how easy they make cleanup. I’ve tried cardboard too, but it always felt like I was just making more work for myself. Honestly, keeping it simple is underrated. It’s cool seeing what works for different folks, though.

I get the appeal of pine shavings, but I’m not convinced they’re the “gold standard” for everyone.

Honestly, keeping it simple is underrated.

Cardboard was a disaster for me too, though... just turned into mush.

I hear you on the cardboard - mine just clumped up and made cleaning a pain. Hemp bedding’s been a game changer for me too. It’s pricier, but I barely notice any dust and it seems to last longer between changes. Pine is okay, but like you said, the scent can be a bit much. I guess it really depends on what you’re willing to deal with day-to-day.

Cardboard’s always sounded good in theory, but I had the same issue - just a soggy mess after a few days. Not worth the hassle, especially if you’re trying to keep things low-maintenance and safe. I’m with you on hemp bedding. It’s not cheap, but I’d rather pay a bit more than deal with mold or dust everywhere. The air quality is way better, too, which matters a lot to me since I’ve got allergies and don’t want anything risky floating around.

Pine was my fallback for a while, but honestly, the scent can get overpowering in a small space. Plus, I read mixed things about its safety for composting - some folks say it slows things down or messes with the balance. That kind of put me off.

I’ve also tried coco coir once or twice. It’s decent for moisture control but can be tricky to source sustainably unless you’re careful about brands. Still, it’s less messy than cardboard ever was.

At the end of the day, I just want something that doesn’t create extra work or health concerns. Hemp ticks most of those boxes for me, even if it means budgeting differently. Not sure there’s a perfect solution out there, but at least there are options that don’t turn into sludge...

I get the appeal of hemp, but I’m not totally sold on it being the gold standard either. It’s true, the air quality is better - especially for allergies - but I’ve found it can still get a bit dusty if you’re not careful with certain brands. Plus, the price point just keeps creeping up.

“Pine was my fallback for a while, but honestly, the scent can get overpowering in a small space.”

That’s fair, but I actually like the pine scent - helps mask odors, at least for me. Maybe I’m just used to it from years of woodstoves and sawdust in the garage. As for composting, I’ve had mixed results, but if you balance with enough greens it seems to break down fine over time. Not perfect, but worth a shot if cost is an issue.

Pine’s always been a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it thing, I guess. I’m with you on the scent - reminds me of my uncle’s old workshop, so it doesn’t bother me much. The dust from hemp can be a pain, though, especially if you’ve got any kind of vent or fan running nearby. I’ve noticed some brands are way worse than others for that, but it’s tough to know until you try them.

Composting’s never as straightforward as folks make it sound. Sometimes it breaks down quick, sometimes it just sits there looking at you for months... I’ve had better luck when I chop up kitchen scraps smaller and mix them in well, but even then, patience is key. Price hikes are annoying too - seems like everything’s creeping up these days.

Anyway, sounds like you’re figuring out what works for your setup. That’s half the battle with these dry loos. Just keep an eye on moisture levels and ventilation - seen a few setups go sideways when things got too damp or stuffy.

Composting’s never as straightforward as folks make it sound. Sometimes it breaks down quick, sometimes it just sits there looking at you for months...

- 100% agree on the composting roulette. Sometimes it’s magic, sometimes it’s just... a pile.
- Pine dust gets everywhere, but I’ll take that over the ammonia blast from a black tank any day.
- If you ever get that “too damp” smell, check seals and fans first - usually it’s something simple.
- Price hikes are brutal, but I’ve found bulk farm supply stores sometimes have better deals on bedding. Worth a look if you’re near one.