outhouse advice (Hope: transfer, buy, live in)

[Gennaver]

Hey there,

I'm moving into a dry cabin and am not used to relying on an outhouse as a primary meas of ...its function. I'd like to avoid learning things the hard way. If you have advice, I'd be grateful.

I tried a quick search for threads on this but, hope I might get some helpful advice by creating a thread.

Thanks,
Jen
p.s. I remember the inside shower advice by the lady from here, (who was also kind enough to invite me to lunch when I first moved here, thank you! Hope you are well!!)

[1stimestar]

Heh, I think that was me. Well you are in luck since we are heading into spring. You can fix up an outhouse to be cute as well as functional. Most of my advice would be for winter use. In the summer it's fairly self explanatory. I use lime most of the time to keep the break down happening and the smell down. Just buy a bag and put it in your outhouse with a scoop in it. Throw in a scoop "when needed".

[RedJacket]

If I had to use an outhouse I'd be praying for a chronic case of constipation.

[Gungnir]

Originally Posted by Gennaver

Hey there,

I'm moving into a dry cabin and am not used to relying on an outhouse as a primary meas of ...its function. I'd like to avoid learning things the hard way. If you have advice, I'd be grateful.

I tried a quick search for threads on this but, hope I might get some helpful advice by creating a thread.

Thanks,
Jen
p.s. I remember the inside shower advice by the lady from here, (who was also kind enough to invite me to lunch when I first moved here, thank you! Hope you are well!!)

One thing I'd recommend is keeping your toilet paper in your house. On a cold morning, after a warm day the TP can get a little cold and damp on the old buttocks and cleft (for some reason the TP seems to absorb a lot of moisture from the air. Of course if you've just had a 5 alarm chili, or a seriously hot curry this can be an advantage, with soothing coolness.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

If you don't want to be toting your TP back and forth from the house, the other option is to keep it in a coffee can with a lid. Not only does this keep it clean and dry, it also keeps critters and other creepy crawlies off it. Squirrels and voles LOVE your TP and leaving out usually results in a pile of shredded mulch.

If you're the type who...ummm... has time to read the paper... you may also wish to keep mosquito coils in there so you won't get eaten alive in your vulnerable position.

And, for TP, you don't have to go with expensive "green" biodegradable kinds; but I've found that the more plush quilted kinds like Charmin don't break down very quickly. That can cause a layer of paper on the top, which blocks good airflow for decomposition and makes your thunder box extra stinky. Either get a TP that breaks down well (POM and Scott seem to work) or consider burning/trashing your TP instead of dropping it down the chute.

[roadfamily6now]

consider installing a small electric heater for winter, maybe one that can be hooked up to a switch inside so you can "preheat" it if you know you have a few minutes.
Oh and I do not recommend a toilet seat. Rather some solid foam with a hole cut out. It's warmer in those frozen winter months.
Some people use sawdust to keep the smell down. not sure how well that work with composting though.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now

consider installing a small electric heater for winter, maybe one that can be hooked up to a switch inside so you can "preheat" it if you know you have a few minutes.
Oh and I do not recommend a toilet seat. Rather some solid foam with a hole cut out. It's warmer in those frozen winter months.
Some people use sawdust to keep the smell down. not sure how well that work with composting though.

For the foam. The OP still can cut a seat from an insulating rigid foam (blue color), and then glue it to the toilet seat with RTV silicone. A colt toilet seat when -40 degrees can be quite a cold experience to one's behind, but the rigid foam feels quite nice a few seconds later.

[1stimestar]

Oh I have a ton of winter advice but I'll send that in a pm if you are interested.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Sprinkling lime, sawdust and wood ashes all helps with the breakdown and smell.

For winter, you may also want one of those windshield ice scrapers if there's a lid... you end up with a nice rim of frost on the underside that can seal the lid closed otherwise

[gobrien]

Why don't people use a temporary set up indoors and transfer the "goods" in the am? I'd really dislike chapping my buns at night....