How To Keep Your Hot Tub Water Clean

Your hot tub is where you spend leisure time in as you relax, unwind, and let the warmth melt your stress and tension away. And like the other areas in the house, it needs some tender loving care through periodic cleaning and maintenance.

A sparkling clean tub also needs clean water so that you can get a good, soothing soak without fear of contamination. Here are some ways to keep the water in your tub sparkling clean.

Use Water Filtration System

Sooner or later, the calcification and mineral particles in hard water will cause clogging in any filtration system. Monthly cleaning of your filters ensures good water flow in your tub. Use a garden hose to spray water on the cartridges to remove debris caught on filter pleats. You may also use filter cleaners to keep them in good condition.

In addition, filters should be replaced every 6 months to 3 years — depending on water supply quality — to make sure the system is working properly. It’s advisable to keep spare filters on hand so that you can swap them while the other set is being cleaned and dried.

Don't fear the chemicals

Bacteria and algae growth is always a threat to bodies of water and your tub is no exception. Sanitation is a vital part of tub water maintenance in order to kill these impurities which can cause skin diseases and other health problems.

Bromine is quite effective in sanitizing water in hot tubs and spas. The ideal level of bromine is between 3 to 6 milligrams for every liter of water. Bromine comes in tablets so it’s quite easy to add this substance in water. Some are put off by this chemical’s strong smell so they opt for other sanitizing chemicals.

Chlorine is preferred because of the smell of bromine. Chlorine usually comes in granular form and dissolves quickly in water. The ideal level of chlorine is between 3 to 5 milligrams for every liter of water.

Testing bromine or chlorine levels should be done daily and should take no longer than 2 minutes. If the levels fall below the ideal amount, add the chemical according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Oxidizing is another popular method of sanitation used in spas and tubs. Shock oxidizers are added into the water to destroy bad odors and residue coming from soakers like dead skin, cosmetics, and oils. Oxidizers keep the water free from organic matter and clouding. It also helps in fighting off bacteria. Shock oxidizing should be done weekly and should take no longer than 10 minutes.

Clean it up manually

Nothing beats a good scrubbing to get rid of the buildup of scum, calcification, and other residues on the exposed surfaces of your tub. Use mild suds-free and non-abrasive cleansers and soft nylon or rag scrubbers to get rid of the dirt.

Common baking soda helps a lot in cleaning the smaller surface areas of the tub. Living in an area where hard water is the only supply available means you’ll have to clean your tub harder because of calcification that can occur in all areas of the tub, internal or external. You can also use scale removers that are specially formulated for cleaning hard water residue. There are even spa shining agents to give your tub a “good as new” look.

Some spas come with spa pillows. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on removing and cleaning the spa pillows. These parts may need special care and cleaning agents depending on the materials used.

Taking care of the vinyl cover can extend its lifetime — thus preventing the need for premature replacement. Follow these steps to prolong the life span of your spa pillows:

1. Remove the vinyl cover and lightly spray with water using your garden hose. This helps loosen debris and dirt buildup.
2. Use a mild cleansing solution or common baking soda and scrub the cover using a large sponge, and then rinse using water from the garden hose. The vinyl cover’s bottom can be rinsed without the use of a cleanser or soap.
3. Wipe all surfaces dry using a soft rag.
4. You can also apply conditioners specially made for spa covers. These conditioners help protect vinyl covers from UV rays which can cause the vinyl material to harden and then crack.

Scrubbing and cleaning the tub and its various areas and parts should be done every 2 months and will take at least 90 minutes of your time.

Other Tips for Clean Tub Water

Although sanitation methods can keep the water cloud-, residue-, and bacteria-free, you should replace the water at least every couple of months to make sure that you always have fresh and clean water to soak in. Drain all the water from the tub, give it (the tub) a good scrub, and then refill with water.

The tub cover should always be placed when it’s not in use. This not only helps keep away dirt and other impurities from mucking up the water but also helps save energy by preventing heat from escaping.

Shower first before taking a dip to reduce residue, dead skin cells, oil, grime, and the like. Also, wear swimsuits of good quality to prevent color contamination. Colored clothes made with cotton, for example, tend to “bleed” when soaked in chlorine, which is also a bleaching agent.