How to clean a hot tub

How to clean a hot tub's filter, cover, shell and jets If you have invested in a hot tub, you will certainly want to enjoy it for as long as possible. For that, it is a good idea to know how it should be cleaned and how often you should do it. The best hot tub brands provide their own recommendations and instructions on how to clean and properly maintain a hot tub, and for instructions specific to your model it is best to follow the manufacturer's advice. Even so, the basic principles of how to clean a hot tub are the same whatever the brand. This guide gives you everything you need to know about how to clean a hot tub, from cleaning the jets and the shell through to cleaning the filter and the cover. Many of these suggestions will also be useful if you want to know how to clean a swim spa, since they are fitted with the same or similar filters, as well as with covers or shells made from the same material. How to deep clean a hot tub If you want to clean as many components as possible in a single session, use a cleaning solution that passes through the jets while they are running, in order to degrease and clean the internal pipework. Online shops offer several jet cleaning solutions that you can use for your hot tub, but the manufacturer may also provide a cleaning solution or may have their own recommendations. So consult the manufacturer before choosing the best cleaning option for your tub. Once you have added the cleaning solution to the water in the hot tub, start all the jets and all the waterfall elements. This will push the cleaning solution through the jets and the internal pipework, and it is recommended that the solution should run through the components of the spa for at least 30 minutes to two hours, in order to ensure that any oils or accumulated impurities are completely flushed out. Once this process is finished, it is time to drain the hot tub. Draining makes it possible to completely remove all the residue flushed out by the jets and the waterfall elements. For draining instructions, consult the user manual and make sure you can empty the hot tub safely. For this reason, the hot tub must be switched off completely at the isolator. Once empty, clean the spa shell with a mild, non-abrasive, non-foaming solution, using a soft cloth, to prevent damage to the finish and gloss of the interior of the tub. Sometimes residue can build up around the waterline of the hot tub, where oils and impurities usually gather. To clean this and other more difficult areas, you can simply use a soft cloth lightly soaked in a solution of vinegar diluted in water. Before refilling the hot tub, rinse it thoroughly with a hose to remove any residue of cleaning solution that could create foam and chemically unbalance the water inside it. Refill the hot tub according to the manufacturer's instructions, including applying a chemical treatment to the water that is to be used. How to clean a hot tub filter You can clean the filter at the same time as your hot tub. This is easy to do when the tub is empty, but it can also be cleaned monthly by simply removing the filter from the water-filled hot tub when it is switched off at the isolator. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning the filter with a garden hose, removing the impurities between the pleats with a strong jet of water, or difficult stains with a brush. Every hot tub is different and each has its own cleaning instructions. Caldera Spas recommends soaking the filter in a 19-litre container filled with warm water and 120 ml of chlorine for 12 to 24 hours before reinstalling it. Caldera Spas also offers the option of using a special filter cleaning solution and replacing it every few years. Caldera Spas suggests cleaning the filter in a dishwasher as well, but warns that no soap should be used if you use this method. How to clean a hot tub cover If you own a hot tub, buying a cover is essential in order to keep it in the best possible condition. A cover will help prepare the hot tub for winter and will protect it from debris such as leaves, twigs or dirt. Before cleaning the cover, remove it from the hot tub and place it on a soft, non-abrasive surface. Rinse with a hose to soften the dirt, then clean with a soft cloth or sponge and an ordinary washing solution to remove dirt and dust. Repeat the procedure on the inner side of the cover as well, then dry both the top and the underside completely, to prevent any residue of washing solution from getting into the hot tub water. It is also recommended to apply a maintenance treatment to the vinyl surface for long-term durability – Caldera Spas warns against using any product containing petroleum, citrus extract or silicone. How often should a hot tub be cleaned? Different components of the hot tub require specific, regular care. The filter, for example, should be cleaned monthly, according to Caldera Spas. The debris baskets, which remove residue from the hot tub, should be emptied and cleaned every two weeks. Less frequent cleaning is needed for the hot tub cover – according to Caldera Spas, it should be done at least a few times a year. As for the hot tub, draining is recommended at least 4 times a year. According to Caldera Spas, this process takes only four hours each time you do it, but it is essential to keep the hot tub clean and disinfected. Disinfecting and treating the water with chemicals must be done weekly, however. To clean the hydromassage jets, Caldera Spas recommends running them at maximum speed for at least 30 minutes after applying a shock treatment to the water, in order to remove any trace of residue.