How To Clean A Hot Tub Household Products (11 Steps)

Cleaning a hot tub is one of the most daunting tasks for many people, as it typically requires special equipment and various chemicals that can be potentially hazardous. It’s not impossible though. There are 11 steps to keep your hot tub sparkling clean on its own!

The “using vinegar and baking soda in hot tub” is a process that can be used to clean your hot tub. Vinegar and baking soda are two household products that you can use to clean the water in your hot tub.

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Imagine this: you’ve had a hard day at work, or maybe you’ve just completed a marathon, and you stroll out into your garden with the essentials: a towel, a book, a bottle of wine, and perhaps some music playing. From across the yard, the hot tub beckons. You’re startled by what you see when you open the lid and stare down into the tub of water below. 

How-To-Clean-A-Hot-Tub-Household-Products-11-Steps

Your tiny slice of paradise has been overrun by odors, biofilm, muck, and murky water. It’s time to clean out your hot tub once again. The procedure might be quite intimidating, particularly for first-time hot tub owners. However, baking soda and other simple home cleansers may help. In ten simple stages, we’ll show you how to clean a hot tub with baking soda:

  • Keeping your lines clean
  • Turning off the lights
  • Getting the Hot Tub Drained
  • Keeping the surface clean
  • Taking care of troublesome regions
  • Filters need to be cleaned or replaced.
  • Filters must be reinstalled.
  • Filling up on water
  • Getting back on track
  • Using chemicals to adequately treat the water
  • Upkeep of the hot tub
  • Prepare your hot tub for the winter.

Products to Consider

 

 

Suspends Spa with Ouster Hot Tub Cleaner and Purge...

Natural Clarifier for Spas and Pools, Sea Klear SKSBP-02

 

Suspends Spa with Ouster Hot Tub Cleaner and Purge…

Natural Clarifier for Spas and Pools, Sea Klear SKSBP-02

 

Get a Quote

Get a Quote

 

Suspends Spa with Ouster Hot Tub Cleaner and Purge...

 

Suspends Spa with Ouster Hot Tub Cleaner and Purge…

 

Get a Quote

 

Natural Clarifier for Spas and Pools, Sea Klear SKSBP-02

 

Natural Clarifier for Spas and Pools, Sea Klear SKSBP-02

 

Get a Quote

 

Contents

How to Know When to Clean Your Hot Tub

Chemicals and perfect balance aren’t enough for a hot tub. Even if the water chemistry looks to be in order, it may be time to drain and start again. 

The water needs be changed on a regular basis, which may be calculated using basic math. To figure out when to empty your hot tub and start again, use the following formula:

([Gallons in the hot tub]/[Number of individuals who use the hot tub on a regular basis])/ You should change the water in your hot tub every three days.

My hot tub, for example, has a capacity of 400 gallons. My family uses the hot tub on a daily basis. As a result, 400 divided by 2 equals 200. The result of dividing 200 by three is 66. Every 66 days or two months, I should clean out and refill my hot tub. 

Other indicators to keep an eye out for while assessing whether it’s time to clean even before your regular timetable mandates it. Keep an eye out for items like: 

 

  • Water that is murky or hazy
  • A brownish ring around the waterline indicates a biofilm build-up. 
  • There’s a heavy chlorine odor. This stench is caused by chloramines, which interact with urine, sweat, and body oils in the water and cause a reaction, resulting in the odor.
  • Skin and eye irritation are caused by the water, which is also a source of chloramines.

Before we go through how to clean your hot tub, let’s go over some of the phrases that are often used in the industry.

What is Biofilm, and how does it work?

Biofilms are living organisms made up of complicated microorganisms that multiply in order to form colonies and communities. Because they provide moist and warm settings that many bacteria and microorganisms thrive in, hot tubs are a breeding ground for many types of bacteria and germs.

This biofilm is formed when this bacteria combines with body oils, skin cells, and organic materials placed into your hot tub. Because the water in these regions seldom drains, the biofilm primarily targets the insides of pipes and jets inside the hot tub. When buying old or reconditioned hot tubs, be sure to check for biofilm build-up in the pipes first so that you can thoroughly clean them.

What are chloramines, and what do they do?

When chlorine, which is used to disinfect a hot tub, comes into touch with ammonia-producing substances such as perspiration, body oils, and urine, chloramines are formed. It gives out the familiar and strong chlorine odor that people connect with cleanliness and chlorine, but it’s not chlorine, and it’s a sign of a dirty hot tub.

An excess of chloramines may be caused by poor water chemistry, such as a lack of chlorine to break the bonds between chlorine and ammonia, or by a lack of hot tub water replacement on a regular basis. 

Regularly testing your hot tub’s water chemistry for free chlorine (FCI) can assist you decide whether chloramines are becoming a problem. 

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Cleaning Your Hot Tub with Baking Soda in 11 Easy Steps

Now that you know how to spot a hot tub that needs to be cleaned and drained, we’ll walk you through the list of 10 steps we put up to make the procedure much easier for you. 

  1. Keeping your lines clean.

If it’s evident that your hot tub has a buildup of biofilm, you’ll want to consider Keeping your lines clean first. Getting the Hot Tub Drained and replacing the water doesn’t do anything if your lines are going to only re-introduce the same bacteria into the water once it is turned on.

You can also tell your lines need a good flush if your hot tub jets have lower pressure than normal, or the opposite way too much pressure.  Keeping your lines clean is pretty simple. You can purchase a line flush product like SeaKlear Spa System Flush on Amazon. 

To flush the lines, pour the cleanser into the hot tub and turn on the jets for around 30 minutes, allowing the water to circulate freely throughout the plumbing system. Often, this sort of cleanser will also assist with any surface buildup.  

Taking precaution with Keeping your lines clean is important. If the biofilm is not controlled in your hot tub it could leave you and others who may use it susceptible to diseases like Legionella, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. Coli. 

  1. Turn out the lights.

Now that your lines are flushed, you want to completely Turn out the lights. your hot tub before proceeding any further. Forgetting to Turn out the lights. could lead to the hot tub pump starting up when there is not enough water. This damages the pump and filters. It’s recommended to turn your hot tub off directly at the circuit breaker to assure it can not accidentally be turned back on during cleaning. 

  1. How to Drain Your Hot Tub

You have two options for draining your hot tub: manually with a hose attached to the drain or fast with a submersible pump. The quickest method is to use a pump, and you may anticipate a full drain in within an hour. If you’re only relying on gravity and a hose attached to the hot tub’s drain, you might be waiting a long time for a full drain.

It’s always a good idea to double-check your local rules and limits on what you may do with hot tub water. Hot tub water, often known as “gray” water, may be dumped straight into the ground in certain regions. They could also have problems with it being injected into the sewer. 

Many people strive to be more ecologically friendly and conservative with their hot tub water by being more creative with it. During the summer, they may use the hot tub water to spray down their vehicle, irrigate their lawn and plants, pour the water into their pool, or drain it into a pet’s pool. 

  1. Keeping the surface clean

It’s time to clean the exterior shell of your hot tub now that it’s empty. Towels or special hot tub cleaning mitts, such as the ones listed on Amazon here, may be used for this. These cleaning mitts are pre-moistened and will make wiping down the surface of your hot tub much simpler.

If you want to use your own towels or cloths, ensure sure they won’t harm the shell of your hot tub. They should be soft and able to wick aqueous liquids away quickly. 

Spray the shell with a hot tub cleanser, white vinegar combination, or diluted bleach before cleaning. This will aid in the softening of algae and mildew that has accumulated on the shell over time. 

  1. Taking care of troublesome regions

You could come across regions where the built-up scum or stains are hard to remove. You’ve tried a variety of cleansers and remedies, but they’re still fighting back. This is where baking soda comes in to aid in the removal of these troublesome spots. 

Make a thick paste-like combination of baking soda and water and liberally apply it to the problem areas. Allow the baking soda to settle for a few minutes so that its cleansing qualities may go to work on the soap scum. Wipe away the baking soda mixture with your mittens, a moist towel, or a sponge. If any of the muck remains, reapply and repeat the process.

Baking soda is a fantastic home option to using harsh chemical cleaning agents since it is healthy for your hot tub shell and you. 

  1. Cleaning the Filters or Investing in New Filters

Algae, bacteria, oils, and organic substances have most likely grown up on the hot tub filters. For maximum effectiveness, they must be taken from the filter canister and cleaned thoroughly. In this article, we go through how to clean your hot tub filters in detail.

Your hot tub filters won’t last forever, so if they’re getting more difficult to clean, it may be time to purchase new ones and replace them entirely. 

Many people can get away with hosing them down and swishing them about with TSP solution if there isn’t much to clean off. 1 cup TSP in 5 gallons hot water is the suggested solution. To get rid of any leftover chemicals, rinse them with a hose. After that, you may let them dry. If they’re really filthy, it’s normally preferable to soak them in the solution overnight before drying them. 

If you have a calcium build-up or mineral scale on your filters, consider soaking them in an acid solution for a few hours to help remove it. After that, immerse the filter in TSP solution, rinse the filter completely with a hose, and air dry it. 

Keep the following in mind:

  • Never put your filters in the dishwasher to clean them. Some believe that this procedure is effective, however it may do more damage than benefit. 
  • Do not hose down your filters with a pressure washer.
  • As a cleaning help, avoid using laundry detergent. 
  1. Filters must be reinstalled.

Before reinstalling your filters, ensure sure your hot tub’s filter canister has been wiped down and cleaned. When it comes to cleaning a hot tub, many people overlook this area. If there is any remaining water in the canister, a shop vacuum may quickly remove it. After the canister has been thoroughly cleaned, the filter cartridges may be reinstalled. 

  1. Replacing the Water in the Hot Tub

Running the water through your filters before refilling your hot tub is the best method to do it. Simply insert your hose in your hot tub’s filter housing and allow the water to run through the filters and into your tub. This method of filling your hot tub decreases the risk of a hot tub airlock. 

When air gets trapped in the hot tub, it prevents the jets from working properly. If this isn’t rectified quickly away, it will ultimately do some serious harm. 

If you obtain a hot tub airlock, follow the steps in this article to get rid of it.

  1. Restart your hot tub if it has been turned off. 

It’s critical to use your ears to check the functionality of your hot tub when it’s turned on. If anything is amiss with the pump or filters, your ears will quickly alert you, indicating faulty installation during the cleaning procedure. Allow at least 15 minutes for the hot tub to run while you listen to it. 

  1. Using the Correct Chemicals to Treat Your Water 

Check your hot tub’s user manual for instructions on how to chemically treat the water. You’ll almost certainly need to shock your tub’s water, add chlorine or bromine, and check the pH balance. You should shut the air valves on your tub at this period since they may disturb the chemicals. Allow 24 hours for all of the chemicals in your hot tub to circulate and achieve the desired temperature. 

Instead of shocking your water and adding chlorine or bromines, you should test the salinity of your water if you have a saltwater chlorination system, since tap water already contains some salinity. Then check your pH, alkalinity, and calcium levels to ensure they’re all within acceptable limits. As required, season with salt. Once your chlorination system is switched on, it will take care of the rest. 

  1. Keeping your hot tub in good shape on a regular basis

You’re now set to relax in your hot tub, but there are a few things you can do immediately to prevent having to empty and clean your hot tub on a regular basis. Consider putting the following into practice:

  • Make sure your hot tub is adequately cleaned on a weekly basis by adding chlorine and bromine to the water. Alternatively, if you have a saltwater hot tub, test your water on a regular basis for chemical compatibility. Check to see whether your salt cell needs to be replaced.
  • Once a week, you should clean your hot tub filters. Simply remove them and wash them down to do this. You may also use a cleaning solution to give them a thorough cleaning. After spraying them with the solution, let them soak for 15 minutes before rinsing them and returning them to the hot tub. 

Ensure that any traces of chemicals are removed from the filters by thoroughly hosing them down. These chemicals should not be added to your hot tub water because they may disrupt the water’s chemical equilibrium. 

  • Make it a practice to require everyone to wash before entering the hot tub to decrease the amount of organic compounds and body oils that end up in it. A brief rinse may assist to get rid of a substantial build-up of these two irritants.
  • Aside from water, don’t consume anything else in your hot tub. Spilling soda, wine, or other liquids into your hot tub may disrupt the chemical balance and need further cleaning.
  • When the hot tub isn’t in use, keep it covered so that falling debris, pollen, and other pollutants don’t get inside. Small creatures and insects such as birds, squirrels, and mosquitos will be unable to enter the water as a result of this. 
  • If you see contaminants entering the water, attempt to remove them as quickly as possible using a pool skimmer. 
  • Keep the exterior of your hot tub cover clean. Your hot tub cover will protect your hot tub from the elements, but these elements will also accumulate on the cover. If the build-up grows too great over time, it may fall into the water when the cover is removed. 

 

The “hot tub cleaning chemicals” is a list of the 11 steps to clean your hot tub.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use to clean the inside of my hot tub?

A: You can use a white vinegar and water solution to clean the inside of your hot tub.

What is the best thing to clean a hot tub with?

A: You can use a mixture of 1/2 cup bleach, 2 cups water and 3 tablespoons household ammonia for the best results.

What is the fastest way to clean a hot tub?

A: The fastest way to clean a hot tub is with lemon juice and salt. Scrub the surface of the water, then pour in a small amount of each liquid into another bucket or container. Stir them together until they dissolve completely, then use that mixture on your hot tub with an algae scraper or similar tool for scrubbing away scum and dirt from its surfaces.

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