Sanitizing Your Hot Tub

Every hot tub owner already knows about the need to clean your hot tub. Draining the water, skimming out debris with a net, and more basic requirements are simple enough to remember. And who wouldn’t want to keep their spa looking nice and clean? However, there’s a bit more to sanitizing your hot tub than just making it look clean.

Sanitizing a hot tub involves a deeper, more thorough cleaning routine to remove every trace of buildup or bacteria. Not only will this contribute to giving your hot tub a longer life, but it will also make your experience in the spa much more pleasant. Here’s what you need to know about sanitizing your hot tub.

You probably do a great job keeping your #hottub clean, but do you sanitize it often enough? Here’s how to perform a deep-clean on your hot tub. #SpasUnlimited #hottublife Share on X

Why Should You Sanitize Your Hot Tub?

Sanitizing your hot tub may seem a little pointless if you make sure to stay on top of preventive cleaning. Taking preventive steps to keep your hot tub presentable is certainly good. However, it’s not enough on its own. Even with water cleaning and skimming, matter such as sweat or makeup still collects in the hot tub water. Worse, over time you may notice biofilm forming in your tub. Biofilm is simply bacterial growth that has coated itself in a protective film so even the chlorine doesn’t kill it. Needless to say, your hot tub can get gross if left alone long enough without an effective deep clean.

Sometimes the buildup of dirt or bacteria in your spa will take obvious forms, like foaming or smelly water or the aforementioned biofilm. Other times, the signs will be subtler. But even if your spa looks just fine, you have no idea what’s going on under the surface. You should try to perform a sanitizing deep clean of your hot tub every 3-4 months.

Before You Drain the Spa

You’ll need to drain your spa for a true deep clean, but first, there’s a few things you have to do. First of all, remove your spa filter and clean it by soaking it in a sanitizing chemical bath. Replace it if it’s especially filthy or damaged. Second, flush the pipes with a plumbing cleaner specifically formulated to kill biofilm and clear out your spa pipes. Allow the cleaner to circulate for at least half an hour, longer if you have a lot of biofilm to clean out. Finally, use your spa vacuum and vacuum the entire shell to remove any loose biofilm or debris. Don’t try to scrub it all off–your sanitizing wash in a few minutes will get rid of the rest. For now, just vacuum up anything loose.

Deep-Cleaning Your Hot Tub

Once these initial cleaning jobs are done, drain your spa completely and get to work on the shell. Using specialized hot tub cleaner or white vinegar (or a diluted bleach solution in severe cases) and a soft rag, scrub the entire shell thoroughly and remove any biofilm you find. Rinse the shell thoroughly afterward and make sure nothing is stuck in the jets. This process will ensure that any debris or bacterial buildup in your spa is long gone. When you’re done rinsing your hot tub, fill it back up and rebalance the water’s chlorine level and pH until it’s back to normal. That’s it–enjoy your newly cleaned hot tub!

Pro Tip: Your hot tub contractor will have chemicals and cleaning kits designed specifically for your spa. See if they can help you keep your hot tub clean.

Enjoy Your Newly Sanitized Spa!

Every hot tub owner owes it to themselves and anyone else using the hot tub to provide a comfortable, sanitary experience. A thorough deep clean of your hot tub every so often will help prevent buildup, mechanical issues, and dirty water for a good amount of time. Take the time to clean your hot tub–you’ll thank yourself later!

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