When we initially mixed our bentonite clay for our 1000L tote, we used a bromine sanitizer for hot tubs in the water as we mixed up the clay. When we would use the tote clay pit, we would mix some bromine sanitizer with water and wash off our bodies, sponge bath, while above the tote allowing the residue to go back into the tote. This would add sanitizer back into the mix every time we used the clay pit tote. Our tote clay pit lasted 4 years using this method. We even heated our tote from early spring to late fall, 90 deg. during the year and by the above-mentioned process never had an issue with odor, decomposition or bugs. And well covered.
I had a one tone kaolin mudbath in my house for years and would stir a mild chlorine bleach solution in on the top surface when I put the cover over it for storage. Biggest problem I had was that the clay would accumulate hair if one squeezed the clay out of any clothing. The fix for that is to have a bucket of water to wash clothes out and then strain let it dry so that one could get at the hair more readily. Keep the clay clean is something of a chore.
Dirty Muse said: I use Chlorine Shock (not too much) just enough to get rid of any bugs, algae or anything else that one would not want in ones Naughty bits.