Being in the hot tub industry, we have heard horror stories of disgusting hot tubs. We’ve heard about spas where the water quality was so bad you couldn’t see the bottom of the hot tub, spas where the hot tub chemicals were so unbalanced it caused mold, algae and bacteria to grow, and many other horror stories. Sometimes the damage done by improper hot tub and water care was so severe the spa could not function anymore. Proper hot tub maintenance can extend the life of your hot tub exponentially. Most hot tubs that are well taken care of can last 8 to 20 years. Something as body oils can mess up your hot tub’s water chemistry and cause issues. We want to help you get the most from your hot tub, so we’re going to explain how to clean a hot tub. The cleaning steps for in ground hot tubs, above ground hot tubs, as well as inflatable hot tubs are essentially the same, but may require different methods to do them.

Cleaning a Hot Tub Step by Step

1) Flush The Lines

The first step in hot tub cleaning is to flush out the plumbing lines. This requires your hot tub to still be on. Many people will actually skip this step, but it’s essential to giving your hot tub a true deep clean. Over the usage of your hot tub, bacteria can build up inside the plumbing. You do not need hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, white vinegar, or any other cleaning products. There is a product called “Hot Tub System Flush” specifically designed to help clean your hot tub’s plumbing. 

To use hot tub flush, simply pour it into your hot tub water and let it circulate for about 20 minutes. If you want a super clean hot tub, you can leave the flush in for up to 4 hours. When cleaning out hot tubs with flush, it’s possible a thick brown or black foam will come to the surface. It may be worrisome, but it just means the flush is effectively cleaning out the plumbing. 

2) Drain Your Hot Tub

After cleaning the plumbing of the hot tub, you now want to drain the water from your hot tub. It’s important to make sure your hot tub is off before draining the hot tub. Once your hot tub is off, you’ll want to remove the filter. Your hot tub will have a side designed for service access. Inside this service access area is your drain valve. There will be a drain fitting with a shutoff valve that fits the female end of a garden hose. Make sure the other end of the hose is in a location where you are okay to release the water from the hot tub. The water you are draining will not be fresh water, but it is safe to dispose of in your yard, septic system or in a drain. However, make sure you follow all local/municipal codes and regulations for disposal. You will now twist the shutoff valve counterclockwise to open the valve and drain the water. You’ll want to let the spa completely drain before closing the valve. This can take a while to drain, so while it does so, you can clean your hot tub filters and cover.

3) Clean your Filters

To clean your filter, you can just spray it off with a hose (with clean water, not the dirty spa water being drained). We only recommend this if your hot tub filter is fairly new. A hot tub filter can be reused, but should also be replaced every now and then. You can read more about cleaning your filters here. 

4) Clean Your Cover

Cleaning a cover can be done with a cover cleanser. To clean a hot tub cover, spray the cleanser on one side of the cover and scrub. Some cleanser’s may tell you to rinse it off, others will not. Once one side is done, you can do the other side. After washing your cover, wipe down the underside (inside part of the cover) of it with a 10:1 water and white vinegar solution. This helps prevent mold and mildew growth on the cover.  You can read more about cleaning your cover here. 

5) Clean Your Hot Tub Shell

Now that you have cleaned the hot tubs plumbing and drained the hot tub, the next step is to clean the hot tub shell. The shell is what the inner part of the hot tub is called. This part is where people sit and the water fills. You can spray the shell with a hose if possible or use a clean, wet washcloth to remove any dirt and grime. Using a hot tub cleanser can make this process even easier. There are hot tub cleansers designed to clean the shell of your hot tub. Some multi-purpose sprays can be too abrasive and damage the spa shell or leave residue that will mess up the water chemistry. Using some cleaners not designed for hot tubs can even void your hot tubs warranty depending on the company. 

After cleaning your spa, you may want to consider using a hot tub polish as well. This creates a protective layer that bonds to the spa and protects it from scratches and stains. 

6) Clean Your Hot Tub’s Cabinet

After cleaning the inside of the spa, you need to clean the outside of the spa. Some spas cabinet is made of wood and others are resin. This will affect the cleaner you should use. For a wooden cabinet, they have cleaners specifically made for cleaning wood. You’ll want to use this. If you have a resin cabinet, you can actually just spray it with a hose and use a multi-purpose cleaner to clean the outside. 

7) Refill Your Hot Tub

With your hot tub interior and exterior now cleaned, you can refill your hot tub. Once your spa is full, you can turn your spa back on. 

8) Maintain your Water

After cleaning and filling your spa, you’ll want to test the water chemistry. Above we mentioned some cleaners can mess up your water chemistry. This is why you’ll now want to test the water chemistry and take the needed actions to correct it. You can read more about water chemistry here, or read about the importance of water care here. 

9) Repeat

You’ll want to clean your spa every so often. Maintaining water chemistry should be done daily. Ideally, you should clean your filters weekly or monthly. We recommend cleaning your cover every 2 or 3 months. You should clean your hot tub shell and cabinet every 3 to 4 months. This all seems like a lot, but a hot tub is a couple thousand dollar investment. You’ll want to take proper care of it and doing so can extend it’s lifespan. Taking proper care of your spa also eliminates most problems your spa will encounter, saving you money later. 

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• The reagent test kit is a method which provides a high level of accuracy. It is available in either liquid or tablet form.
• Test strips are a convenient testing method commonly used by spa owners to test water pH levels.

Balancing the Total Alkalinity

Total alkalinity (TA) is the measure of the total levels of carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides, and other alkaline substances in the water. Total alkalinity can be considered a pH buffer. It is the measure of the ability of the water to resist changes in pH level.

• The recommended spa total alkalinity is 80 – 120 parts per million (ppm).
• If hot tub alkalinity is too low, the pH level will fluctuate widely from high to low. You can raise alkalinity and adjust alkalinity by adding spa alkalinity increaser (it’s a real thing you can buy).
• If the total alkalinity is too high, it can raise pH levels too high. It can be difficult to adjust pH and bring it down. High alkalinity can be corrected by adding pH decreaser (also real).
• When total alkalinity is balanced, it normally remains stable, although adding water with high or low alkalinity will decrease or increase alkalinity in spas.

Balancing the Calcium Hardness

Calcium hardness (CH) is a measure of the total amount of dissolved calcium in the water. Calcium helps control the corrosive nature of the spa’s water and is why soft water is not recommended. The low calcium content of soft water is very corrosive to the equipment and can cause staining of the spa shell.

• The recommended calcium hardness is 150 – 200 ppm.
• If the CH is too low, add liquid hardness increaser (this one sounds super made up, but is totally real).
• If the CH is too high, dilute the spa water with soft water or, if this is not available, add stain and scale defense (we swear, we’re not making this stuff up).
• When the CH is balanced, it normally remains stable, although adding soft water or very hard water will raise or lower the CH level.

Balancing the pH

The pH level is the measure of the balance between acidity and alkalinity.

• The recommended pH is 7.2 – 7.6.
• Low pH can cause corrosion of metal fixtures and the heating element. You can raise pH in hot tubs with a pH increaser (it’s a real thing).

If the pH is too high, it can cause scaling by allowing metals or minerals to form deposits and stain spa surfaces. Above we mentioned pH increaser for hot tubs, well they also make pH decreaser for lowering pH.

What’s “Ozone”?

Chemically known as O3, it is produced from simple oxygen molecules in our atmosphere. Ozone is produced in nature from lightning during electrical storms and from ultraviolet rays from the sun. It forms Earth’s protective layer. Your spa’s ozone generator is designed to duplicate this natural sanitizer. Ozone breaks down and oxidizes oils, suntan lotions, sweat, urea, etc. from spa water more effectively than commercial oxidizers. Working with chlorine or bromine systems in your spa, ozone destroys bacteria and viruses and will do so more effectively. Ozone only leaves simple oxygen in the water as a by-product.

If your spa is equipped with an ozone generator it will automatically produce ozone, but it cannot be used as the sole means of maintaining safe spa water. You must select and use a spa chemical sanitizer in addition to your ozone generator. The ozone generator is a wearable, non-warranty item and it needs to be replaced approximately every 2 years.

Sanitation

You will need to decide which chemical sanitizer you wish to use, regardless of the presence of an ozonator. Spa owners with an ozonator still need to use a chemical sanitizer. Sanitizers kill bacteria and viruses and keep the water clean. A low sanitizer level will allow microbes to grow quickly in the spa water. Use either bromine or chlorine as your sanitizer or a non-chlorine/non-bromine sanitizer. Either works well when maintained regularly. Consult your spa dealer for the right decision with regards to your lifestyle and spa usage. Important: Read and follow all chemical manufacturers’ guidelines for usage and safety.

If Using Chlorine as a Sanitizer

• Do not use Tri-chlor tablets or liquid chlorine.
• Once a week, check the chlorine level using either a test strip or a reagent kit. Refer to product for the ideal range.
• Monitor chlorine levels of the spa water weekly. Note that chlorine dissipation rate will be faster at higher water temperatures and slower at lower temperatures.
• When you add chlorine, make sure no bathers are in the spa, open all jets and run the spa at high speed with the cover open for at least 30 minutes.

If Using Bromine as a Sanitizer

• Bromine is a very effective sanitizer that produces low chemical odors. Unlike chlorine, it can break down bacteria and other impurities to a safe level with a low burn-out rate. See bromine system labeling for usage.

Shocking the Water

• In addition to using a chemical sanitizer, you may need to shock the water. Shocking the water helps remove burned-out chemicals, bacteria, and other organic material from your spa’s water and improves your sanitizer’s effectiveness.
• Do not use chlorinating shock, which will damage your spa’s jets and pump seals. Only use an oxidizer shock. It is an easy way to maintain chemical plans.

For best results, add oxidizer shock:

• If sanitizer level temporarily reads low
• After heavy bather loads
• If water has a strong odor

The spa must be running with all of the jets on high for 30 minutes with the cover open. If necessary, repeat oxidizer shock in 30-­­minute intervals.

Important Chemical Safety

Read and follow all printed instructions listed on bottles and packages. Failure to follow chemical directions may result in serious injury, sickness, or even death.

• Never add chemicals while bathers are in the spa!
• Do not exceed chemical dosages as recommended on chemical bottles and packages.
• Never change chemical brands or types without completely draining, flushing and thoroughly cleaning the spa and cover first.
• Never mix chemicals together.
• Do not allow chemicals to come in contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Remove and wash clothing that may have been exposed to chemical contact prior to wearing them again.
• Inhaling or ingesting chemicals will cause serious injury, sickness, or even death.
• Chemicals must be stored completely out of the reach of children in an area that is well vented, cool, and dry. Failure to provide a proper area for chemical storage may result in serious injury, sickness, fire, explosion and even death. Do not store your chemicals inside the equipment area of your spa.
• Add chemicals to the center of the spa with the pump running.
• Make sure the water is heated.  Never add chemicals to cold water, as this will affect chemical action.
• Never add chemicals to the skimmer.

Conclusion

We covered a lot of information in this article like pH vs alkalinity, how to increase alkalinity in hot tubs, calcium hardness, sanitation, and more. It’s a lot to take in. Taking care of a hot tub and mastering water chemistry can be more work than some people realize. As complicated as it gets, it’s not impossible. There’s thousands of spa owners out there that can add hot tub care to their resumes. You too can master it with practice and own a clean hot tub. 

Our owner’s manual contains more information on hot tub maintenance and can be accessed and downloaded anytime. If you ever have any questions about water chemistry, alkalinity vs pH, how to raise alkalinity in hot tubs, or any other hot tub questions, our Customer Service team is happy to help anytime. We have a staff of hot tub experts that wants to help you understand your hot tub and get the most out of it. 

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Chemicals such as chlorine and bromine not only kill bacteria and algae, but also prevent the growth of other harmful pathogens. Incorrectly using chemicals can lead to skin and eye irritation, as well as damage to the hot tub’s equipment. It is important to regularly test the chemical balance in the hot tub, and add chemicals as needed. Proper chemical maintenance can ensure a clean and enjoyable hot tub experience.

Chlorine and bromine are both commonly used as disinfectants in swimming pools and hot tubs, but there are some key differences between the two.  Chlorine is more widely used and is generally cheaper than bromine. It is also more effective in killing bacteria and viruses, but it can cause skin and eye irritation and has a strong smell. Bromine is less irritating to the skin and eyes and has a milder odor, making it a good choice for indoor pools or spas. It is also more effective at killing algae and is often used in hot tubs.

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A hot tub that isn’t taken care of can become unsanitary and grow bacteria. The bacteria can wreak havoc on the PH levels and cause extensive damage to your hot tub. You can leave your spa unattended for up to two weeks if you follow these instructions. If you will not be using your spa for longer than 14 days and a spa maintenance service is not available, we strongly recommend you drain and winterize your spa. Otherwise, these instructions will be good enough.

Lock Your Cover

Always lock your cover using the cover locks if you plan to be away from home and the spa is filled with water. This keeps out unwanted dirt, debris, or pests. Covering your spa also helps prevent children from drowning in the spa. Covered spas will use less electricity in maintaining your set temperature. Additionally, covering your spa will protect your spa’s finish from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Keep The Water Clean

Follow the water quality instructions in your spa owner’s manual. As the owner of a spa, it is important that you maintain your spa water and keep your spa equipment in excellent condition.

Use A Chemical Sanitizer

Spa owners with an ozonator still need to use a chemical sanitizer. Sanitizers kill bacteria and viruses and keep the water clean. A low sanitizer level will allow microbes to grow quickly in the spa water. Use either bromine or chlorine as your sanitizer or a non-chlorine/non-bromine sanitizer. All work well when maintained regularly.

Shock The Water

Shocking the water helps remove burned-out chemicals, bacteria, and other organic material from your spa’s water and improves your sanitizer’s effectiveness.

When You Return

When you return, unlock your spa and check the water chemistry. You should then adjust the chemicals according to the water quality. You can now take a vacation and not have to worry about your hot tub. 

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The Natural Cleaner

To make caring for a spa easier, the ozonator was created. Ozone (O³) is a purifier created in nature by lightning storms and the sun’s ultraviolet rays. An ozonator is designed to replicate this process by using an ultraviolet light bulb that converts oxygen (O²) in the hot tub water into ozone. The created ozone is then pushed into the spa through the jets. When the ozone comes into contact with the water, it starts to kill those harmful bacteria, fungi, oils, suntan lotion, sweat and more.

Many people like an ozonator because it acts as a natural cleaner. An ozonator is not designed to act as your sole means of cleaning your spa. You should still use a chemical sanitizer to help clean your spa, but you can now use less. Using less chemicals can save you money and reduce any skin, eye, or nose irritation from the chemicals used. When spa shopping, you might hear people talk about “UV” or “ozone”; they’re talking about an ozonator.

The Cost

Many hot tubs are built with an ozonator or offer it as an add on to be added. It’s usually $150 to $450 to install an ozonator onto a hot tub. It’s much easier to add an ozonator to the hot tub when it’s being built versus when it’s already built. MyHotTub offers an ozonator add on for all our spas. As of the writing of this article, to add an ozonator to our resin spas is $79.99, and because more work is involved, $149.99 for our acrylic spas.

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How a Hot Tub Filter Works

A hot tub filter is generally a cartridge that can be removed when needed. It takes a porous material, and the hot tub water flows through it. Porous means liquids and gases can pass through, but solids cannot. So the hot tub water flows through this porous material, but all the unwanted particles and debris gets stuck and cannot move through the filter. A hot tub filter is pleated, meaning it has folds on the sides for things to get caught in. The porous material used is typically paper or polyester, but other materials have been used before. The trapped particles remain in the hot tub filter until it is cleaned out. We recommend cleaning your filter out once a month, but you can do daily, weekly, or even bi-weekly. Cleaning out your filter more often never hurts.

What If I Don’t Clean My Filter?

A clogged or dirty filter will cause the heater and pump to work harder than they need to, possibly causing them to fail. The spa’s heating system will only function with the proper amount of water flow through the system. Without a filter, the particles can grow and develop into a bigger issue. Bacteria and fungi can be created, both of which can harm you or your spa. The filter is the part of your spa that removes the debris from the water and needs to be cleaned on a regular basis to maximize your spa’s filtering performance and heating efficiency. To help keep your spa clean, you should spray off the filter weekly. In addition to spraying off the filter weekly to remove surface debris, your filter should be deep cleaned periodically to dissolve particles that get lodged deep within the filter fibers and impede the filtration process. Even if the filter looks clean, particles can clog the fibers and prevent water from flowing through the filter resulting in the most common spa problem – no heat, caused by a dirty filter.

How To Clean Your Filter

• We recommend you clean your filter once a month and replace it once every 6 months or as necessary (if you notice it’s frayed or damaged).
• Remove the filter with the spa turned off.
• Place the dirty filter into a bucket of water deep enough to cover the filter. Add 8 oz of liquid filter cleaner to the bucket of water.
• Soak the filter for a minimum of 24 hours.
• Spray pleats of the filter with a water hose.
• Reinstall the filter.

Tip: Keep a spare filter to use in the spa while the dirty filter is being deep cleaned.

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Detergent Overload

More often than not, our bathing suits and swim trunks are the culprits. When you use too much detergent or fabric softener in your washing machine, excess soap results in residue on clothes. Detergent residue combined with the power of hot tub jets can leave you with a foaming spa. Consider using less detergent in your next loads of laundry – you may be pleasantly surprised with clearer spa water and money savings on laundry products, too!

Body Products

Soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, perfumes and colognes all affect the chemical balance of your water. The more you and your spa guests use, the more likely buildup can occur. This build-up could lead to a sudsy situation.

Try to rinse off your body before you take a soak to minimize the residue introduced into your spa. In addition, regularly rinse or replace your hot tub filter(s) to be proactive against product build-up. Clean filters also help your pump(s) operate properly.

Beverages

Spilled your sweet tea, your juice, wine or beer? While we love indulging in refreshments while enjoying a soak, beverages spilled in the spa water can lead to a foaming hot tub.

Low-Quality Spa Water Chemicals

We all love saving money! However, with cheaper chemicals comes the risk of more buildup of body oils and particles. Spa chemicals are not something to skimp on. Cheap chemicals could lead to costly damage, or to the expenditure of even more money to buy additional products to clean your spa. Choose quality chemical products that you’ll need to maintain healthy water treatment of your spa. Using the right products the first time ensures fewer chemicals purchased over time and a healthier water system that is better for your skin!

Poor Water Maintenance

The proper management of your pH level is extremely important. Imbalanced levels can lead to a foamy tub. Be sure to monitor your pH levels to ensure a clean tub for future use.

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You’ll likely have to occasionally brush dirt or even now off your hot tub cover, but it’s important to give it a proper clean every now and then. Here’s what you’ll need to clean your hot tub cover:

• A Hot Tub Cover Cleanser
• A Scrub Brush
• Sponge
• A Hose

How To Clean Your Hot Tub Cover

1. Remove your hot tub cover and place it flat with the top up.
2. Spray on the cover cleanser and scrub it into your cover.
3. Wipe your cover clean of any cleanser.
4. Some cover cleansers may tell you to rinse them off, others will not. Read the instructions on yours to see what you should do.
5. Flip the cover over to the other side.
6. Spray the cover cleanser on your cover and scrub it in.
7. Wipe the cover clean of any cleanser.
8. Consult your cleanser’s directions to see if it needs to be rinsed off.
9. Wipe down the underside of your cover with a solution of 10 parts water to 1 part white vinegar. This helps to prevent mold and mildew buildup.
10. Apply a vinyl protectant to your cover.
11. Now that your cover is clean, you can place it back on your spa.

Do I Need To Use a Hot Tub Cover Cleanser?

No. You don’t have to use a hot tub cleanser to clean your cover, but you should still clean your cover. Most hot tub covers are made with vinyl. The benefit to a hot tub cleanser is most are safe to use on vinyl, and some even contain protectant. If you choose to use something else besides a cleanser specifically for hot tubs, look for something without alcohol, oil, detergent, or silicone. All of these can damage your hot tub cover.

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Regular water maintenance is key to achieving optimal performance and longevity from your hot tub. You may find that the cleaning and maintenance of your spa doesn’t rank high on your list of priorities in your busy life. But with too much time between cleaning tasks, the water in your spa can become discolored (algae) or you find you have a mold or mildew problem that can appears as slime or discolored patches on your spa shell. It’s not too late! But we suggest immediately going into cleaning and correction mode.

Now what?

At the first sign of algae, shock your spa water with a sanitizer. If it is too far gone, drain your spa completely and thoroughly clean it. Don’t forget the jet nozzles and the filter. Your filter may also need to be replaced.

Preventable? Yes!
Of course, the best way to deal with algae, mold, and mildew in your spa is prevention. It’s in the details: checking water quality before you use your spa with test strips to measure alkalinity and pH levels. Correct the levels by balancing the water with spa chemicals. Also, fight the onset of algae, mold, mildew and bacteria by adding a sanitizer after you use your spa.

Beyond that, get into a regular maintenance routine. Clean the filter thoroughly once a month and clean your spa cover — both sides. Then two or three times a year, depending on frequency of use and how many people are using your spa, you can drain your spa, scrub it, and then refill it. Consider an annual maintenance inspection by a professional. This is simply to prevent any problems that would shorten the life of your spa.

Love your spa and it will love you right back. Download and review our manuals for helpful instructions on upkeep and maintenance.

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