While your hot tub is likely to be a fantastic source of relaxation for you and your family, keeping it clean can be one of your least favorite household duties.
Your hot tub looks after you at the end of the day, allowing you to unwind. It is only fair that you reciprocate. Hot tub maintenance not only keeps your tub looking wonderful but also protects the components from corrosion.
Preventing hot tub breakdowns by properly maintaining your hot tub now will save you a lot of money in the long run. At first, comprehensive care may appear frightening, but it rapidly becomes second nature.
White vinegar is an acetic acid solution created from grain and water that can be used for cooking as well as cleaning. Cleaning a hot tub or spa with vinegar is a safe and effective way.
You should focus on scouring these five main areas with vinegar for comprehensive and proper cleaning of your hot tub: lines and pipes, water jets, inner-shells, tub cover, and filters.
These parts are necessary for your hot tub to work properly and last a long time. To clean a hot tub with vinegar, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Make a cleaning solution for yourself. In a spray bottle, combine the vinegar and water in a one-to-one ratio. To ensure that the solution is evenly mixed, shake or stir it vigorously before use.
- Step 2: Spray the interior of your spa shell in stages, allowing each section to sit for at least 15 minutes to kill mildew, algae, and germs. To guarantee a thorough clean, concentrate on the nooks and crannies, then wipe them down with a soft cloth. Drain after thorough rinsing.
- Step 3: Aim your jets at them. When you flush your lines, most of the jet-blocking debris and bacteria are swept away, but bacteria can easily get trapped behind the jet caps. Spray the same solution on the jet covers and wipe them down with a soft cloth or brush. Using the same tools, remove the caps and clean them below.
- Step 4: It’s time to clean the filters in your hot tub. Filters remove dirt and bacteria from the water, so they need to be cleaned often to keep working properly. Soak your filters for at least two hours in the same vinegar solution in a large bowl, then rinse completely.
- Step 5: Don’t forget about your hot tub cover, which can collect bacteria and debris from being exposed to the weather. Spray your cover with vinegar and let it sit for 15 minutes before washing it clean with a soft towel and thoroughly rinsing it.
Steps in using baking soda in a hot tub
Baking soda can help you keep your water’s pH level in the right range. Baking soda is a terrific household alternative to use for homes that have hot tubs because it is safe for your hot tub shell and safe for you without having to use harsh chemical cleaning agents.
Cleaning your hot tub with baking soda can be a daunting task, particularly for new hot tub owners. Here are a few suggestions to make things easier.
- Step 1: Flush Your Lines; If you see a buildup of biofilm in your hot tub, you should consider flushing your lines first. Draining the hot tub and changing the water won’t help if your pipes will only reintroduce the same bacteria into the water once it is switched back on.
- Step 2: Turn Off Your Hot Tub; Now that your lines have been flushed, turn off your hot tub entirely before continuing. If you forget to turn off the electricity, the hot tub pump may activate when there isn’t enough water in the tub. As a result of this, the pump and filters are harmed. To ensure that your hot tub is not accidentally turned back on during cleaning, turn it off immediately at the circuit breaker.
- Step 3: Draining Your Hot Tub; You have two options for draining your hot tub: manually with a hose attached to the drain or rapidly with a submersible pump. The quickest method is to use a pump, and you may expect a complete drain within an hour. If you’re only relying on gravity and a hose connected to the hot tub’s drain, you could be waiting a long time for a complete drain.
- Step 4: Clean the Surface Now that your hot tub is empty, it’s time to clean the outside shell of the hot tub. This can be done with towels or special hot tub cleaning mittens. These cleaning mittens are pre-moistened and will make wiping down the surface of your hot tub much easier. If you choose to use your towels or clothes, make sure they will not scratch the shell of your hot tub. They should be soft and able to wick aqueous liquids away quickly.
- Step 5: Handling Problem Regions; You may come across areas where the built-up scum or stains refuse to come off. You’ve tried a variety of cleaners 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 mixture of baking soda and water and liberally apply it to the problem areas. Allow the baking soda to sit for a few minutes so that its cleansing properties can get to work on the soap scum. Wipe away the baking soda mixture with your mittens, a damp towel, or a sponge. If any of the muck remains, reapply and repeat the process.
- Step 6: Replace or clean the filters; The algae, bacteria, oils, and organic substances in the hot tub filters have most likely built up a good coating. They must be removed from the filter canister and cleaned correctly to function properly. Your hot tub filters will not last indefinitely, so if they are getting increasingly difficult to clean, it may be time to order new ones and replace them entirely.
- Step 7: Reinstalling the Filters; Before reinstalling your filters, make sure your hot tub’s filter canister has been cleaned and wiped off. 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 can be reinstalled.
- Step 8: Adding Water to the Hot Tub; The best approach to adding water to your hot tub is to run it through your filters first. Simply place your hose in your hot tub’s filter housing and allow the water to flow through the filters and into your tub. This method of filling your hot tub decreases the risk of a hot tub airlock. When the air becomes trapped in the hot tub, it prevents the jets from working properly. If this isn’t rectified quickly, it will eventually do some serious damage.
After following the steps, your hot tub is ready to be used without cloudy and smelling water.
What Is Biofilm in Hot tubs?
Biofilms are colonies and communities of live, sophisticated bacteria that multiply to form colonies.
Because they create a warm and humid climate in which many bacteria and microbes thrive, hot tubs are breeding grounds for a variety of bacteria and germs.
The bacteria are placed into the hot tub, where they interact with body oils, skin cells, and organic materials to form biofilms.
Biofilms are most commonly seen in the pipes and spouts of hot tubs, where water is rarely released. You should be cautious when purchasing old or reconditioned hot tubs, and always inspect the tubes for biofilms so that they can be completely disinfected.
When do you use vinegar and baking soda in a hot tub?
Chemicals and perfect balance aren’t enough for a hot tub. Even if the water chemistry appears to be fine, it may be time to drain the tub and replace it with vinegar and baking soda.
Other indicators to keep an eye out for while assessing if it is time to clean even before your regular timetable mandates it.
Below are some signs to look out for, indicating it is time to clean your hot tub. They include:
- 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, perspiration, 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.
Will vinegar hurt my hot tub?
White vinegar is an acetic acid solution created from grain and water that can be used for cooking as well as cleaning. Cleaning a hot tub or spa with vinegar is a safe and effective way.
Vinegar is a safer and more affordable alternative to commercial chemical products. Vinegar is safe to use around children and pets, does not pollute the water source, and effectively cleans and deodorizes.
The vinegar will aid in the prevention of spa jet clogging, the removal of water spots and bacteria, as well as the cleaning of residue and odors.
Does vinegar raise or lower pH in a hot tub?
Maintaining the proper pH level in your hot tub is a very important element of spa care. The production of white calcium scaling along the tub‘s walls is caused by an excessively high pH.
To adjust the pH, you can buy goods at a pool supply store, but if you don’t have these chemicals on hand or prefer a more natural method, you can safely lower the pH by adding vinegar to your spa.
Vinegar is an acidic substance that can change the pH of hot tub water. Although it can reduce pH, it is not suggested for use in hot tubs; instead, it should be used as a cleaning agent.
What does vinegar do to a hot tub?
Several spa operators have resorted to vinegar as a low-cost alternative to hot tub cleaning products. However, it performs admirably and is one of the greatest cleaning agents available.
Baking soda and vinegar are natural cleaning agents that are safe for both the body and the hot tub. Vinegar aids in the removal of calcium deposits from hot tubs. It also acts as a disinfectant during the procedure.
Vinegar can be used to clean your spa and is both effective and safe. However, it should not be used as a hot tub sanitizer. In a hot tub, vinegar can be added to reduce the pH.
However, it is not the most effective chemical for the job. Muriatic acid is a stronger acid, which is also more effective and widely recommended for hot tubs.
Will baking soda lower pH in a hot tub?
Baking soda is used in hot tubs as a cleaning agent as well as an alkalinity increaser. It’s a natural alkaline chemical that reacts with water to help introduce bicarbonates into the hot tub.
As much as baking soda is an alkaline material, it cannot be used to lower pH.
Any material that lowers the pH in a hot tub must be able to release acidic hydrogen ions when it mixes with water. When baking soda combines with water, it produces the hydroxyl ion, which is alkaline.
Conclusion
Balancing the water, cleaning the filters, and deciding which chemicals to buy and add to your hot tub might make you feel more like a chemist than someone looking to unwind after a long day.
Using common household items such as vinegar and baking soda to clean and remove calcium scales from your hot tub makes the procedure much easier and less of a herculean task, and it is as effective as store-bought hot tub chemical treatments.
