Hot tubs are big investments and wonderful additions to any home. However, to get the most value from your tub, and continue enjoying its relaxing, warming benefits for years to come, you have to maintain it. A big part of hot tub maintenance is hot tub cleaning, and it is of paramount importance for owners to know how to keep their tubs sparkling clean, using the right products and proper techniques.

In this hot tub cleaning guide, we’ll cover all you need to know about cleaning a hot tub correctly.

The Importance of Hot Tub Cleaning

First, let’s talk about the “Why?” of hot tub cleaning – the reasons it’s so important and should never be overlooked. It’s not just about cleanliness and care; regular hot tub maintenance also helps you and your fellow hot tub users – be they friends, family, or neighbours – avoid some serious health risks, while extending the lifespan of your tub for years of soothing soaks.

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Preventing Health Risks

While hot tubs are wonderfully warm, cosy, and soothing spaces for people to spend time in, they also can be breeding grounds for bacteria. 

Indeed, studies into hot tubs have found numerous forms of harmful bacteria that can grow and multiply both within the water and around the hot tub surfaces. They can potentially lead to some very unpleasant infections.

Fortunately, if you follow the right hot tub hygiene tips, you can keep the bacteria populations to a minimum, maintain consistent water quality, and minimise risks of illness and infection.

Extending Lifespan Through Maintenance

There are plenty of critical components that make up the average hot tub. That includes the likes of filters, pumps, motors, jets, and more. While good tub components are made to last, they’re not immune to dirt and damage.

If you allow the likes of dirt, algae, mould, and bacteria to form, that could start seeping into those all-important components. And, as they get dirtier, they’ll be more likely to malfunction, leaving you with a broken tub and big repair bills.

It’s much more cost-effective and sensible to practice regular hot tub sanitizing and cleaning to keep your tub in pristine condition.

Step-by-Step Hot Tub Cleaning Guide

Now you know why it’s so crucial to keep your tub clean, let’s see exactly how it’s done. Here’s a quick run-down of the major steps involved in cleaning a hot tub:

  1. Draining and Disinfecting: It’s not possible to properly clean a hot tub with all the water inside. So, the first step is draining the water out to provide free and easy access to the floor, walls, filters, and jets. With the water out of the way, you can work on disinfecting the interior of the tub with the aid of powerful germ-killing solutions.
  2. Filter Cleaning: The filters of your hot tub help to keep it clean while you’re using it, catching and trapping dirt, germs, and debris and keeping them all out of the water. However, they tend to get clogged and dirty over time. So, during a deep hot tub clean, you’ll want to remove the filters and give them a good soak. We’ll look more at how to clean a hot tub filter below.
  3. Refilling and Treatment: Once all the inside is clean and fresh, the final stages are to refill the tub and then treat the water. You may have to first test your water to see what the pH and minerals levels are like, then use the appropriate sanitizing solutions to blast away germs and make the water safe to soak in.

How to Effectively Clean Hot Tub Filters

As we mentioned, cleaning the filters is a crucial step of the overall process. If you clean everything else, but leave the filters all dirty and clogged, then your tub will quickly get riddled with dirt and germs again once you start using it. But, by cleaning the filters, you should be able to enjoy plenty of long summer soaks before the next deep clean is needed. Here is how to do this:

  1. First, turn off the power to the tub.
  2. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to remove your tub’s filters.
  3. Rinse them to wash away dirt and grime.
  4. Soak the filters in appropriate hot tub cleaning products, as recommended by the manufacturer. 
  5. Replace the filters, again following the instructions for your specific model of hot tub.

Cleaning the Hot Tub Interior Surface

You’ll also want to give the interior floor and walls of your hot tub a strong rinse and scrub before filling it back up and using it again. However, it’s important to approach this task with care, as hot tub interiors can be quite sensitive to certain cleaning tools and solutions.

Rinse the interior first to wash away surface-level dirt. Then, opt for non-abrasive sponges and cloths when scrubbing and rubbing at the walls and floor. Harsher brushes could damage the walls. Household cleaners, too, are not a good choice, as they may do more harm than good to the interior surface.

Use the best hot tub cleaning solutions recommended by the tub manufacturer or other experts to deal with stubborn dirt and germs. Make sure to follow the exact instructions of whichever product you use. Many of them just need to be sprayed on and left to work their magic, but others need a different approach.

Hot Tub Water Care – Keeping the Water Clean

Cleaning the tub and the filters are just two pieces of the overall puzzle. You also have to ensure that the water within your tub is as clean, fresh, and safe as possible before you go bathing in it. For that, it is vital to practice proper hot tub water care, which means testing your water and using the appropriate cleaning agents and chemicals to maintain the correct chemistry.

Hot tub owners should therefore get into the habit of testing their tub’s water on a regular basis. You can find testing kits that provide accurate information on the water’s pH, which you ideally want to keep between 7.2 and 7.8. If it goes too high or low, just use the appropriate chemical solutions to adjust it down or up as needed.

Also, use sanitisers, such as chlorine, regularly whenever you deep clean your tub to kill off germs and keep them from coming back in great numbers. Again, the right chemicals for each tub can vary based on local water conditions, how the tub is used, and the tub’s manufacturer and model, so it’s best to check the manufacturer guidelines or seek expert advice if you’re unsure.

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Eco-Friendly Water Treatment Tips

An issue with hot tub water cleaning is the amount of chemicals involved and how they might impact surrounding plants and ecosystems. Fortunately, for eco-conscious hot tub owners, various eco-friendly hot tub cleaning solutions do exist. Follow these tips to clean your tub the “green” way:

  • Use solutions that are deemed “bio-friendly” with natural ingredients where possible.
  • Use strong filters and sanitisers so you don’t have to keep emptying and refilling your tub too often.
  • When draining your tub, store the water you drain out and reuse it for tasks like cleaning your car, for example.

Common Mistakes in Hot Tub Cleaning and How to Avoid Them

It’s easy to get things wrong when practising DIY hot tub cleaning. You can avoid any mistakes by hiring pros to clean your tub for you. But, if you prefer the more affordable DIY method, pay close attention to avoid these mistakes:

  • Using Too Many Chemicals: It’s tempting to pour in lots of sanitizing solutions to be extra sure that all the germs are killed off. However, too many chemicals can drastically change the makeup of your hot tub water. So don’t use too much – stick to the recommended amounts.
  • Neglecting Filters: We’ve mentioned several times about the importance of filter cleaning. It’s not something you’ll want to overlook or ignore. Always clean your filters when deep cleaning your tub, and use the right products to help them stay clean and effective as long as possible.
  • Using Unsuitable Cleaning Agents: Do not use household cleaning solutions, homemade blends, or products that are not specifically designed for hot tub usage. Instead, opt for authentic hot tub cleaning products from trusted, recognized brands.

Hot Tub Cleaning Schedule

These hot tub cleaning schedule tips should help you plan your cleaning sessions throughout the year:

  • Weekly: Each week of hot tub season, visually inspect your tub and get rid of any floating debris, like leaves. Clean out the filters weekly, too, when the tub is in heavy use.
  • Monthly: Each month (or every two months, depending on usage levels) empty and change the water of your tub. Do a deep clean every few months.
  • Yearly: Invest in a cover for your tub when you’re not using it, especially during the winter. Always test the pH each spring before the hot water comes. 

Best Hot Tub Cleaning Products and Tools

As mentioned, you shouldn’t skimp on hot tub cleaning products when you want to get the best outcomes when cleaning your tub. As touched on earlier, non-abrasive sponges and cloths are optimal tools, and the best cleaning solutions are those made specifically for use in hot tubs, rather than general-purpose cleaners. To find the right products for your tub, consult experts, like leading hot tub product retailers.

Keep Your Hot Tub Clean and Safe

Keeping your hot tub clean is the No. 1 way to ensure it lasts a long time and provides you with many happy hours of safe, soothing soaking. So, make sure to invest in the right kinds of cleaning products, available in the Wellis catalogue, and follow best practices to keep your tub as clean as can be.