One of the most commonly asked questions is "How often do we need to maintenance our Cinderella?". The answer truly is dependent on your specific use and situation; which is why we made this article.
Keep your Cinderella running for many years to come by following the maintenance guide in your user manual, reading through this document or checking out the Cinderella® Website using the appropriate link below:
*If your unit is installed in a rental unit, business, AirBnB, or similar, please refer to the "Commercial Use" section in this article.
Cinderella® Installation Guide
Stationary Cinderella® Maintenance Procedure
(For all Cinderella models excluding Cinderella Travel)
*Emptying should be completed once a week, or after 50-90 flushes. Make sure the incineration is completed and the toilet is cold before starting the emptying procedure.
Check out these videos before you get started:
Cinderella® Weekly Maintenance Video
Cinderella® Maintenance Kit Video
Cleaning the Ash Container:
1. Empty the ash container frequently - Do not base your use on the maximum limit of the appliance.
2. Always clean the ash container and insert when emptied. The residual waste, or “ashes”, will consist of pathological residue, salts and minerals, and will therefore often be perceived as hard and crystallized. See below.
3. Cinderella recommends steam-cleaning your toilet each time the ash container is emptied and washed. This convenient and easy process will prevent tar and urine salts from building up in the ventilation system; not to mention slow down any pre-mature corrosion, when completed as instructed (found in both the old and new manuals).
Steam Cleaning Procedure:
1. Ensure that the toilet is cold and the ash container has been emptied and cleaned.
2. Remove the front cover and release the ash container.
3. Pour approximately 1 L of clean water into the toilet insert. Insert the ash container carefully without spilling any water, and attach the front cover.
*Alternatively, you can pour water directly into the ash container, by opening the lid, then holding down the flush button for approximately 3 seconds for the hatch to open manually!
4. Press “Start” to begin an incineration cycle. The water will start to boil and the steam will clean out any debris in the catalytic converter. This system cleaning will normally take 60–80 minutes.
For best results - DO NOT use the toilet until it has finished a full-cycle or the exhaust fan is no longer running.
QUICK TIP - Many customers will have an extra ash container insert on hand to cut down on the total weekly maintenance time by 15-30 minutes! Contact your local dealer to order yours today!
Cleaning The Exhaust Connection:
Your toilet must be disconnected from the exhaust pipe (and the inlet air pipe, this applies to Cinderella Jubilee, Cinderella Premium and Cinderella Comfort) and the electricity/gas source.
1. Clean the exhaust coupling with a flexible brush. It is important to clean both the outlet pipe and the venturi pipe all the way back to the fan blades to achieve adequate air flow.
2. Remove the ash container and clean away any debris remaining in the container. Use a vacuum cleaner to suck out any remaining debris from the exhaust pipe and catalytic converter.
Check out Cinderella's Maintenance Kit HERE
Cleaning The Exhaust Connection:
1. Place the toilet where it is safe to spill water, for example in a room with a suitable drain, outside or in a bathtub.
2. Use the specially designed Cinderella funnel (which can be found in our maintenance kit) or a funnel that fits in the outlet pipe.
3. Tilt the toilet slightly forward and pour two to three litres of warm water through the exhaust pipe and the catalytic converter.
* If you have access to a shower hose available, this will make the job easier. Unscrew the shower head and lead the hose down the outlet pipe and turn on the hot water.
4. The excess water should be clean at the end of the rinsing process. If necessary, use more water to properly clean the system.
5. Reconnect the toilet to the exhaust pipe and the power supply.
6. Start an incineration to dry up your toilet after the above is completed.
Cleaning the Ventilation Pipes:
1. Disconnect your toilet from the exhaust pipe and the electricity/gas source.
2. Dismantle the pipe cap. Carefully drop the ball with brush into the vertical vent pipe from the top. Pull the ball slowly up and down the pipe to dislodge ash and debris.
3. Be careful when sweeping to avoid getting ash and debris on the floor below. Feel free to protect the floor under the horizontal pipe with some newspaper or an old towel.
4. Particles of ash and other debris will accumulate in the bend and/or the horizontal pipe. Use a brush or vacuum cleaner to remove this.
5. Fit the pipe cap again. Connect the toilet to the exhaust pipe and to your electricity/gas.
Mobile Cinderella® Maintenance Procedure
(For Cinderella Travel aka: Motion)
Cleaning the Ash Container:
1. Empty the ash tray often, preferably at least once per week. Don't wait until the empty warning shows up on your display. This maintains your toilet better and the parts last longer.
2. Empty the contents of the ashtray into the household waste. If there are residues in the ash tray, fill it with hot water and leave for 15-30 minutes to soak. Residues of salt and lime will normally dissolve. Use a scrub brush to wash away any remaining residue.
Quick Tip:
Many customers will have an extra ash container insert on hand to cut down on the total weekly maintenance time by 15-30 minutes! Contact your local dealer to order yours today!
Cleaning the Fans and Catalytic Converter:
Cinderella operates in an extreme environment, with high temperatures, natural acids from bodily waste and non-pollutant flue gases. This entails a need for preventive maintenance of the ash tray, fan and catalyst. You can handle preventive maintenance yourself!
The procedure for cleaning the exhaust fan and catalytic converter varies between the Travel (toilet WITH automatic lifting mechanism) and the Motion models (toilet WITHOUT automatic lifting mechanism).
STEPS:
- Raise the shell and lift it off,
- Turn off the main power switch (located down and to the right behind the exhaust fan).
- Disconnect the power cable on the fan motor.
- Remove fan cover, catalyst and fan as described below. It is important that these parts are removed and reassembled in the correct order.
- Loosen the wing nut on the fan cover.
- Lift out the fan cover by turning it slightly towards the back and lifting it out.
- Remove the catalytic converter. Note that this part should be positioned at exactly the same angle when it is reassembled.
- Unscrew the wing nut that holds the fan housing in place.
- Pull the fan housing out of the slot, turn the entire fan housing 90 degrees counterclockwise and carefully lift out over the magnet sensor.
Clean each dismantled part:
- Flush the catalytic converter with warm, running water until all channels are open and free of ash residue
- Brush the fan clean with an old toothbrush or similar tool, and remove debris from the fan housing
- While you have the catalyst and fan disconnected, we recommend that you also clean the gas fan. Use an old toothbrush or gently blow with compressed air to clean.
- Install each part in place in the reverse order they were removed.
- Remember to connect the power cable to the fan motor and turn on the main power switch.
Your final step is to start an incineration process in order to dry the catalyst. Do not use the unit until this process is complete.
Commercial Use Information:
We like to let customers who may be using their unit in a business or rental property, some extra precautions and tips to keep your unit running for years to come.
- Commercial installations that use Cinderella units without a Urinal will have a higher failure rate and a more frequent need for maintenance.
- The steam clean, if performed correctly and through regular scheduling, can alleviate most issues with incineration.
- Some owners will ask the customer to report any issues or errors that come up, even if they clear the warning.
- Many business owners will leave an "incident report card" near the unit for users to fill out if a problem arises.
- Users don't always understand the mechanics of a Cinderella - it's best to have a set of rules and troubleshooting tips near the unit, even visuals are a good resource for owners, your electrician, or your propane installer.
- The biggest issue seems to be over-filling. This is hard to avoid if users are drinking alcohol or coffee - or have bowel/bladder issues. We have seen some medications can actually corrode the metal ash container.
- When liners are not in place or urine is spilled outside the liner, the liquid is splashed over the inside of the unit and not in the incineration chamber, causing buildup and corrosion around the incineration lid.
- After a spill or overfill, you will have to remove the power and dry the unit out completely.
- Back-flushing the unit (catalyst clean) is using a funnel to pour warm water through the venturi system, through the catalytic converter and out the front of the unit.
- Good maintenance routines will give you lower operating costs and cause less wear on the product. We strongly advise our customers to perform frequent maintenance as described in the manual:
- Empty the toilet frequently. Do not base your use on the maximum limit of the appliance.
- Always clean the ash container and insert it when emptied.
- Always perform the steam cleaning after each box of bowl liners (500 uses), preferably after each emptying and washing of the ash container.
- Always observe the end result characteristics when emptying the toilet. Deviations in the end result may indicate the need for maintenance or service.
Warranty Information and Limitations of Liability:
All information and guidance in the operating instructions have been prepared after taking into consideration the applicable standards and regulations as well as the current technology. Cinderella Eco Group AS reserves the right to make changes at any time which are deemed to be in the interest of improving the product and safety. Cinderella Eco Group will assume no liability for damage in the case of:
• Non-observation of the operating and maintenance instructions
• Application not in accordance with the regulations or provisions
• Use of non-original bowl liners and spare parts
• Modifications to and interference with the appliance
• Effect of environmental factors, such as extreme temperature fluctuations and humidity
What is covered:
-
3-Year Warranty that covers manufacture defects on all toilet models for leisure customers.
-
For industrial or commercial applications (businesses, military bases, Airbnb or rental units), this warranty is provided for 1-Year.
What is not covered:
- Normal wear and tear items - Heater Ring, Fans, Catalyst, Spark Plug, Ash Container Insert etc.
- Incorrect Installation.
- Incorrect use and handling.
- Lack of maintenance.
- Damage during transport not organized by Cinderella.
- Damage caused by a lightning strike.
- The use of non-original bowl liners.
- Shipping and Labour charge.
Common Questions & Answers:
Q: How often should I maintain my Cinderella toilet? A: The frequency of maintenance depends on usage. For residential use, empty the ash container once a week or after 50-90 flushes. For commercial use, refer to the "Commercial Use" section for specific guidelines.
Q: What steps are involved in cleaning the ash container? A: Empty the ash container frequently, clean it and the insert with water and steam, and use a scrub brush to remove any residues. Follow the detailed steps in the maintenance guide.
Q: How do I perform a steam cleaning on my Cinderella toilet? A: Ensure the toilet is cold and empty the ash container. Pour approximately 1 liter of clean water into the toilet insert, reattach the ash container, and start an incineration cycle. This process takes 60-80 minutes.
Q: What should I do to clean the exhaust connection? A: Disconnect the toilet from the exhaust pipe and power source, clean the exhaust coupling with a flexible brush, and use a vacuum cleaner to remove any debris from the exhaust pipe and catalytic converter.
Q: How can I clean the ventilation pipes of my Cinderella toilet? A: Disconnect the toilet from the exhaust pipe and power source, dismantle the pipe cap, and use a brush or vacuum cleaner to remove ash and debris. Reassemble the parts and reconnect the toilet.
Q: Are there special considerations for commercial use of a Cinderella toilet? A: Yes, commercial installations require more frequent maintenance and monitoring. Perform regular steam cleanings, use incident report cards for users to report issues, and follow maintenance routines as described in the manual.
Q: What is covered under the Cinderella toilet warranty? A: The warranty covers manufacturing defects for 3 years for leisure customers and 1 year for commercial applications. It does not cover normal wear and tear, incorrect installation, lack of maintenance, or damage during transport not organized by Cinderella.