Treating toilet bowl while not in use

[gator67]

We are having work done on the coach and it will be out of service for a couple of weeks. It will be plugged in, and in a climate controlled environment, but the toilet will not be used. My wife is afraid that the water will become stagnant, discolor the bowl, and have an odor. Is there anything we can put in the toilet that won't ruin the seal, but will protect the bowl and keep it from stinking?

[jzick]

When we store our unit when we are in our winter stick and brick, we fill the bowl to near the top, add a capful of liquid laundry detergent, and close the lid. Even when I get lazy and do not check it for six weeks or so it seems to be ok. As water evaporates, DW insists the bowl needs cleaned before first use. I probably would not notice if she were not looking first.

[gjstacy]

Gator, when we park our rig for a few weeks in the heat of Las Vegas, I fill the bowl about half full and cover the opening with plastic wrap (saranwrap, gladwrap). When we climb in again for our next adventure (which we do nearly every month), the toilet bowl is just fine.

[takepride]

Ewww! Saran Wrap over the bowl can lead to an accidental disaster. That is an old college prank, waiting to happen.

However, it's a great idea. Maybe a colored wrap would prevent the aforementioned disaster....

If there is enough water in the bowl to not completely evaporate, a little Happy Camper gets rid of the stain or ring. I'd imagine dish soap or laundry soap would be a good preventative, just as jzick mentions.

[Renipladlo]

One post a while back said something to the effect that a little pledge on the rubber seal (o-ring) keeps it pliable. I also heard one fellow at his home in Yuma puts a little olive oil in his toilet which seals the water from evaporation. The olive oil in the tank would not be a good thing I don’t think, so the clear plastic wrap is the fallback idea.