9 Tips for Keeping Your Hot Tub Clean

A nice, relaxing soak in a toasty hot tub is one of life’s simple pleasures. But a less-than-squeaky-clean hot tub can put a damper on that experience. These nine tips will walk you through how to keep a hot tub clean so it stays in peak condition for both entertaining and solo soaks.

1. Consider Using a Hot Tub Cover

Constantly cleaning leaves, sticks, and bugs from hot tub water can be the bane of your existence if you’re a hot tub owner. The good news is that covering the hot tub after each use can significantly reduce the amount of debris in the water. 

Stretchable hot tub covers fit tightly over the hot tub, and hard spa covers have a hinged center that rests on top. Buying your hot tub cover at the same time as your hot tub may increase the hot tub cost, but it can also help you save on maintenance costs down the road.

2. Drain Your Hot Tub Regularly

Draining your hot tub regularly, every three to four months, can help keep it clean because you’re removing organic matter left behind from debris. This will also clear out the pipes and keep them functioning properly, flush out the jets, and remove any built-up debris.

Draining your hot tub is also an excellent time to check and clean your hot tub filters (though, ideally, you’re doing this monthly). You can drain and refill your hot tub yourself, but you can hire a hot tub installer near you to complete the work and show you how to care for a hot tub.

3. Use the Right Chemicals

Add the right chemicals to your hot tub to keep it as clean as possible and ensure the water is safe to soak in. Chemicals sanitize the tub and keep the pH level in the hot tub water balanced. You can also raise or lower the alkalinity as needed. 

Some chemicals to have on hand are an alkalinity increaser, calcium increaser, pH increaser, and pH decreaser. You’ll also need test strips so you know which chemicals to add. Keeping the proper chemical balance can also help you avoid hot tub health risks.

4. Avoid Adding Things to Your Hot Tub

Bath oils, bubble bath suds, and other foreign substances don’t belong in a hot tub. While they may seem like a good idea, they can make your hot tub’s water cloudy, foamy, and unappealing and increase hot tub maintenance costs in the long run.

5. Rinse Your Swimsuits

Before getting into the hot tub, it’s a good idea to rinse swimsuits in plain water and ask your guests to do the same. Almost all machine-washed swimming suits carry soap residue. It only takes a minuscule amount of soap residue to create a foamy mess when the jets turn on, and foam is difficult to remove and unsightly.

6. Rinse Yourself

You should make sure you and your visitors rinse yourselves before hopping in the hot tub as well. Deodorants, perfumes, lotions, and sweat are best left down the drain rather than in your hot tub, and rinsing is a great way to keep your hot tub sparkling clean.

7. Avoid Messy Snacks

It can be tempting to snack while soaking, but certain snacks can be a pain to clean out of your hot tub. Light snacks like fruit are great choices since they’re easy to clean up if spilled. On the other hand, you should avoid messier snacks like chips and crackers. An accidental spill can create a mess that’s difficult to remove.

8. Keep Your Pets Out

Going swimming with your furry friend can be a fun summer adventure, but you shouldn’t let your pet in your hot tub. No matter how much you or your cute pets want to soak together, pets and hot tubs don’t mix; it’s not good for your pet or the water quality.

9. Throw in a Tennis Ball 

The fuzzy fibers of a tennis ball aren’t just for your furry friend—they can also soak up dirt, oil, and grime that gets left behind in your hot tub water. Throwing a tennis ball or two into the hot tub after a soak can help keep the water cleaner.