Keep it simple with the essential hot tub cleaning routine outlined below. We’ll go through what we recommend daily, weekly and monthly to keep your hot tub sparkling clean. For the hot tub novice, we’ll go through all the basic chemicals you’ll need and why. Step up your hot tub maintenance routine!
All of the guidelines below are recommended for average hot tub users, 2-4 bathers using their hot tub about 5 times weekly). If you rarely use your spa, it likely won't need cleaning as often, much like a kitchen that's seldom used for cooking. It may take a year of ownership to really nail down your perfect hot tub maintenance routine, but start here for best practices and adjust to your needs as you go along.
How To Clean A Hot Tub
There are five parts of your spa that need to be cleaned regularly, they are your filters, hot tub shell, hot tub cabinet, plumbing, and cover. Regularly cleaning your cabinet and cover will keep both clean of dirt and debris. Cleaning and airing the cover will prevent mould. The same can be said of pipes/plumbing, doing a hot tub flush prevents biofilm build up- excessive biofilm build up leads to water issues. Regular cleaning of your filters can help prevent biofilm build up as well, and helps keep your water pressure optimum, preventing clogs and overheating pumps. Plus, all of the aforementioned cleaning is just plain safe! Your shell probably needs cleaning the least, but if you notice scum lines or any film on the acrylic shell, do consider cleaning it off.
Daily Hot Tub Cleaning Routine
Test water, if necessary, add shock. Make sure your water level is maintained.
Weekly Hot Tub Cleaning Routine
Air out your tub while you do a test reading for chemical levels. Adjust chemicals as needed. Wipe off any mould if you see any (you shouldn’t if your chemicals are correct).
Weekly or Biweekly you’ll want to give your filters a quick rinse. Make sure to get in those folds! Allow to dry before replacing.
Monthly Hot Tub Cleaning Routine
Give your filters a chemical rinse using a spa filter cleaner. After removing your filters, soak them for 5-15 mins in your filter cleaner. Be sure to rinse it all off or it will cause foaming in your hot tub. Don’t forget to let them dry before putting them back. Never use dish soap or your hot tub will turn into a foam party.
Quarterly Hot Tub Cleaning Routine
Every 3-4 months you may go a step further and soak your filters in a fitting bucket with chemical cleaner added. Soak for 24 hours then follow previous instructions. Drain the spa once per quarter, clean the shell surface, and refill and chemically adjust.
You may not need this if your hot tub doesn’t fit the average bather/use parameter. If the water is clear, doesn’t smell, and still takes chemicals you are fine!
Yearly Hot Tub Cleaning Routine
Flush your spa! Hot tub hygiene is impacted by biofilm overgrowth, ensure this doesn’t happen by using hot tub flush and running the jets as the product advises before completely draining it. If you would like our professionals to handle this, we offer a range of services, just make sure you check it includes a full flush.
Advantages of Hydropool Self Cleaning Hot Tubs
Hydropool Self Cleaning Hot Tubs have unique patented pressurised systems that cycle spa water in 15 minutes. This makes for some of the cleanest hot tub water in the world when properly chemically balanced. Pair this with our Purewater System which uses Ozone and UV Light to purify water, and you have a complete hot tub cleaning system that ends up using 50% less chemicals than other hot tub brands. This saves time and money! Hot tub hygiene couldn’t be simpler.
Our Signature Self-Cleaning range of hot tubs also has customisable filtration settings, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your hot tub on when going on holiday. Just set your tub to “Away From Home mode”. Take advantage of “Energy Saving mode” to save energy, money, and the planet!
Hot Tub Starter Chemicals Guide
When we install a hot tub, we include a free Hot Tub Starter Chemicals kit. This includes Bromine, pH plus, pH minus, Foamaway, and test strips. These are the absolute basics for home hot tub care. Bromine is your sanitiser, this latches on to the bad stuff and kills it. pH adjusters do just that, and this is to help the sanitiser perform to the best of it’s ability.
Don’t worry if you skipped chemistry, all the products have simple instructions on the backs of the containers on how to use them. When in doubt, just read up about hot tub chemicals.
If you find yourself having water care troubles, we have a blog article for that: Simple Solutions to 10 Common Hot Tub Water Problems
If you are interested in water chemistry and why the chemicals interact as they do, check our our blog about that: Water Chemistry: Where to Begin
Happy Hot Tubbing!
If you have any questions related to your Hydropool spa, please get in touch! To dive into your own hot tub journey, give us a call or contact us.
