It works pretty well. The only thing I've noticed is that they seem to go pretty quickly. I haven't bought new ones in a really long time (if you even can still get them), so I'm not able to compare the usage time between the DIY & a new one.
I go to the dollar store and get the dollar blue hanger toilet mint and use a 3/4 deep well hole saw and make replacement cartridges for my vortex max. They last 6 weeks. Not bad for a dollar and some time.
I am assuming that after you filled the cartridge with the gel, you removed the plastic wrap before reinserting? This may seem like a dumb question but I've seen where people put foil inside the cartridge around the blue stick and leave it in to slow down the water flow and stick usage.
Yes, of course I removed the plastic wrap. It wouldn't just slow down the water flow... the water wouldn't get to the gel at all if the plastic were left on it. The point to the cartridge insert for this toilet is that the water washes around the cage of the cartridge, adding what washes off of it into the water that's filling the bowl of the toilet.
Great idea. I have the same type of toilet (and am considering buying another one for another bathroom) I never considered what would happen if/when American Standard stops making those cartridges
Good idea. I too am worried about it not being made in a few years given it is only for this toilet. In all my other toilets I use Fluidmaster "Flush n Sparkle" bleach cartridge which is the nearly the exact same idea as this but it works with any standard toilet. Unfortunately the cartridges aren't exactly the same, the top is the same size but the body of the FreshInfuser is much narrower so you can't transfer the insides. May be able to find other bleach sticks or tablets that would fit if needed. Worst case and they stop making it and you lose your blanks, you can just use the Fluidmaster product as designed.
I have used the fluidmaster product for many years, probably about 20 years. I do not buy new cartridges. I buy 1" round swimming pool chlorine tablets. You can stack up to 3 of them in the empty cartridge. I plan to replace my toilets with the Vormax. I'm hoping that I'm able to do the same thing.
@@chiefs4fl2 The cartridge for the vormax is much narrower so they wouldn't be a drop in. It is about 3/4" at the top and slightly less at the bottom. If I were to buy it again, I'd get the model without this built in and just use the fluid master in the tank. This addition also makes it so you could never add a bidet if there might be interest in that.
I know this toilets spec's call for a 12" rough in but would you be able to mesure from the center of the mounting bolts to the wall and tell me what the minimum rough in would be like for example do you think an 11" rough in would work?
Hey I have the same toilet and I was looking for refills and well they don't have any. I called cutomer service and they were suposesed to ship some to me but it's been 2 weeks and nothing. I was thinking of using a hole saw to cut out small pellets and fill the cartrage to see if it works. I was wondering if your gel might get flussed away with the pressure.
Markalo1025348 That's a bummer! Home Depot has them on their website, so you can see what stores carry them... www.homedepot.com/p/American-Standard-VorMax-Plus-FreshInfuser-1610-001/301785269 I think pellets would go right through the toilet system, unless you could somehow keep them stationary with a fine mesh bag or something similar. Mine actually are still working perfectly. They only have a small amount of (expected) wear from using the toilet, but they're easily replaced. The gel I use is fairly solid and doesn't wash away very easily. That's why I went ahead and made a second homemade freshener with my other empty cartridge.
Yeah, my method seems to work better than I thought it would. I'd certainly do it again if I needed to... but I prepped enough to probably last into next year. 👌🏽
Hi Toni! I actually am still using this technique and it's worked wonderfully! I found a new pink scent (Floral Fusion) that my wife likes much better than the old Fresh Scent blue stuff. Because of the pandemic, I haven't found the bulk refill packs at Walmart in a long time... but I just spent more and bought a few of the single packs. But yep, still working great! 😁
I have the same type of toilet but when we replace the cleaning tube I can NEVER get it to screw in right and it constantly leaks. I love the toilet but may have to buy a new toilet. Any advice?
Hmm, well it does have a rubber O-ring... so you may start by inspecting it to see if there are any tears in the rubber... or if it came off entirely, causing the leak. I do know that you need to carefully get it in the correct spot and then twist it closed. It isn't the easiest thing. But start with the seal first and go from there. Rubber seals can go bad over time, so I've kept all of the pieces every time I've changed another out.
Well, I just checked it a week ago and there was about an inch or so left inside... but that was maybe a month or so after I pushed what was left in the top of it down to the bottom. Might be getting close to replacing it now.
Cool, I'll try
It works pretty well. The only thing I've noticed is that they seem to go pretty quickly. I haven't bought new ones in a really long time (if you even can still get them), so I'm not able to compare the usage time between the DIY & a new one.
So glad you came up with this! I'm going to try it. Very handy!
Glad it's helpful!
I go to the dollar store and get the dollar blue hanger toilet mint and use a 3/4 deep well hole saw and make replacement cartridges for my vortex max. They last 6 weeks. Not bad for a dollar and some time.
That's a pretty good hack as well! Good job! 💪🏽
How do you get it into the cartridge since you can't get into the top?
I am assuming that after you filled the cartridge with the gel, you removed the plastic wrap before reinserting? This may seem like a dumb question but I've seen where people put foil inside the cartridge around the blue stick and leave it in to slow down the water flow and stick usage.
Yes, of course I removed the plastic wrap. It wouldn't just slow down the water flow... the water wouldn't get to the gel at all if the plastic were left on it. The point to the cartridge insert for this toilet is that the water washes around the cage of the cartridge, adding what washes off of it into the water that's filling the bowl of the toilet.
Great idea. I have the same type of toilet (and am considering buying another one for another bathroom) I never considered what would happen if/when American Standard stops making those cartridges
I definitely haven't seen them in a while at my stores, so it definitely is a good alternative.
Good idea. I too am worried about it not being made in a few years given it is only for this toilet. In all my other toilets I use Fluidmaster "Flush n Sparkle" bleach cartridge which is the nearly the exact same idea as this but it works with any standard toilet. Unfortunately the cartridges aren't exactly the same, the top is the same size but the body of the FreshInfuser is much narrower so you can't transfer the insides. May be able to find other bleach sticks or tablets that would fit if needed.
Worst case and they stop making it and you lose your blanks, you can just use the Fluidmaster product as designed.
I have used the fluidmaster product for many years, probably about 20 years. I do not buy new cartridges. I buy 1" round swimming pool chlorine tablets. You can stack up to 3 of them in the empty cartridge. I plan to replace my toilets with the Vormax. I'm hoping that I'm able to do the same thing.
The swimming pool chlorine tablets cost $22 for a 2 pound jug, which lasts for a few years.
@@chiefs4fl2 The cartridge for the vormax is much narrower so they wouldn't be a drop in. It is about 3/4" at the top and slightly less at the bottom. If I were to buy it again, I'd get the model without this built in and just use the fluid master in the tank.
This addition also makes it so you could never add a bidet if there might be interest in that.
I know this toilets spec's call for a 12" rough in but would you be able to mesure from the center of the mounting bolts to the wall and tell me what the minimum rough in would be like for example do you think an 11" rough in would work?
Hey I have the same toilet and I was looking for refills and well they don't have any. I called cutomer service and they were suposesed to ship some to me but it's been 2 weeks and nothing. I was thinking of using a hole saw to cut out small pellets and fill the cartrage to see if it works. I was wondering if your gel might get flussed away with the pressure.
Markalo1025348 That's a bummer! Home Depot has them on their website, so you can see what stores carry them... www.homedepot.com/p/American-Standard-VorMax-Plus-FreshInfuser-1610-001/301785269
I think pellets would go right through the toilet system, unless you could somehow keep them stationary with a fine mesh bag or something similar. Mine actually are still working perfectly. They only have a small amount of (expected) wear from using the toilet, but they're easily replaced. The gel I use is fairly solid and doesn't wash away very easily. That's why I went ahead and made a second homemade freshener with my other empty cartridge.
i was going to buy a toilet puck and break it up into a chunk that will fit inside the thing... at $3.99 a piece, there must be a cheaper way
Yeah, my method seems to work better than I thought it would. I'd certainly do it again if I needed to... but I prepped enough to probably last into next year. 👌🏽
How about an update? Are you still using this hack?
Hi Toni! I actually am still using this technique and it's worked wonderfully! I found a new pink scent (Floral Fusion) that my wife likes much better than the old Fresh Scent blue stuff. Because of the pandemic, I haven't found the bulk refill packs at Walmart in a long time... but I just spent more and bought a few of the single packs. But yep, still working great! 😁
@@OutdoorSurvivalists you were reading my mind. I have 3 of these toilets and I concerned about the same thing.
@@mignondahlia Well there's your fix! 😊
I have the same type of toilet but when we replace the cleaning tube I can NEVER get it to screw in right and it constantly leaks. I love the toilet but may have to buy a new toilet. Any advice?
Hmm, well it does have a rubber O-ring... so you may start by inspecting it to see if there are any tears in the rubber... or if it came off entirely, causing the leak. I do know that you need to carefully get it in the correct spot and then twist it closed. It isn't the easiest thing. But start with the seal first and go from there. Rubber seals can go bad over time, so I've kept all of the pieces every time I've changed another out.
So how long did it last?
Well, I just checked it a week ago and there was about an inch or so left inside... but that was maybe a month or so after I pushed what was left in the top of it down to the bottom. Might be getting close to replacing it now.