What to Use to Clean a Hot Tub
Just like many other hot tub owners, you must have also wondered what to use to clean your hot tub. Well, don’t worry, several household products are ideal for cleaning up the hot tub and make it suitable for soaking. Make sure you empty the hot tub of all the water before you start cleaning. Once you’ve cleaned the hot tub and refilled it, you should also balance the chemicals and the pH value of the water so that it’s safe for soaking.
Keeping your hot tub clean is essential if you want to enjoy soaking in the relaxing warm water after a long day. Also, regularly cleaning the hot tub keeps the water clean, and you can balance the pH to the right degree. If you have stored your hot tub away for a season, it’s a good idea to clean it up before using it again. Another reason for cleaning your hot tub is if you are facing any skin related allergies or infections after soaking in the hot tub.
At times, you might even see a film or algae in the hot tub’s water, and then it’s time to clean up the hot tub. A thin oily film means body oils and chemicals have contaminated the water from lotions that people sometimes wear when soaking in the hot tub. First, let’s take a look at the type of cleaners that can be used to clean a hot tub and then we will look into the exact cleaning agents that can be ideal for cleaning your hot tub. It is essential to know the different types of cleaners and their uses so that you can use the right cleaner for your requirements.
1) Sanitizers – If you have odors or stains in your hot tub, you can use a sanitizer to remove these stains. Sanitizers often contain strong chemicals, and you should use these with caution.
2) Bases – Base chemicals can remove grease and oils from a hot tub. The cleaners that fall under this category are useful for removing all other kinds of stains as well.
3) Detergents – Products categorized as detergents react with oils in the dirt and remove the dirt from any surface. These can be useful in cleaning up a hot tub if there an accumulation of dirt in the hot tub.
4) Acidic Cleaners – If there are hard water stains on the bottom of your hot tub or rust stains because of water, then you need to use an acidic cleaner to remove these stains.
5) Abrasives – These are harsh chemicals that can damage the surface of the hot tub so unless you are dealing with adamant stains, it is not recommended to use such cleaning agents.
Household Cleaners that Are Perfect for Cleaning A Hot Tub
Several household cleaning agents can be used to clean a hot tub in a pinch, and they do an excellent job of it too. One benefit of using household items is that you can be sure that you are not using harsh chemicals for cleaning the hot tub. Let’s take a quick look at some of these items and how you can use them.
1) White Vinegar – White vinegar is cheap and available in almost every kitchen pantry. Usually, white vinegar has a pH value of 2.5, and it can go till 4. If there are hard water scum at the bottom or the inside edges of your hot tub, you can use an equal-parts mixture of water and white vinegar to clean the hot tub. Drain out the water from the hot tub and fill the solution of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the areas that have a maximum deposit of scum and wait for 15 minutes. Wipe the surface with a clean sponge or cloth to get it looking as good as new.
Keep in mind; you can also use vinegar to clean the filters of your hot tub by soaking the filters in equal parts vinegar and water solution. But avoid using this solution for cleaning the plumbing of the hot tub as it can damage the plumbing.
2) Baking Soda –
Baking soda is available in all homes, and it is a great way to clean tough stains in the hot tub. Add some baking soda on your cleaning cloth or a piece of sponge to rub into the stain, and you will see the stains fading away in no time. If you are looking for a mild cleaning agent, then baking soda should be your first choice.
3) Olive Oil – Often there are stains on a hot tub that are difficult to remove with traditional cleaners, that’s when olive oil comes in. You can rub a little olive oil on the stain and rub it with a cloth so dissolve the dye. Make sure you wash the hot tub with a soap and water solution after cleaning the olive oil. Let the hot tub dry out completely before filling it with water.
4) Diluted Bleach Solution – Bleach is a quick and easy way to clean the hot tub of any stains or bacteria. If there are tough stains on the bottom of your hot tub and there are scum stains on the edges, bleach can work wonders to remove those stains. Dilute the solution as bleach is an active chemical and make sure you wear protective gear like safety glasses and gloves when handling bleach. Another safety measure to follow is to always dilute bleach with water as mixing it with other chemicals, or vinegar can create toxic fumes. Also, clean your hot tub thoroughly before and after using bleach.
Conclusion
Keeping a hot tub clean is a must if you want to enjoy the hot tub to its full capacity. A clean hot tub means you can soak without worrying about infection or allergies that might spread through water. Make sure you use cleaning agents with due care, and it is best to drain the hot tub entirely before cleaning it and letting it dry before filling it up with water again. Once you refill the water in the hot tub, you can use a chemical testing kit to check the level of chemicals in the water and adjust the levels as needed.
If you have any questions about cleaning your hot tub, please leave a comment. Our team will do its best to answer your questions.
