If you bought an inflatable hot tub, rest assured it’s easy to clean it. That’s because the pump filters impurities from the water which means less goo on your tub. And, if you have an incorporated hard water system, the pump will deal with that too.
Your tub might also have a chlorine dispenser which floats in your tub and releases chlorine. As such, your water will be germ-free.
These automatic systems do most of the work for you. Your job is to make sure these systems work, plus to drain and refill your tub. This article will tell you how to clean your inflatable hot tub step by step, so read along!
Table of Contents
Tools and Steps
The first step is the right equipment. So here’s what you need:
- A long hose
- Pump
- Plugs
- Cleaning gloves
- Towel
- A small vacuum
- Liquid hand soap or dish detergent
The best way to clean your tub always follows these four steps, with additional tasks:
- Drain your tub
- Clean the filters
- Clean the tub
- Add water again
Let’s begin!
How to Drain Your Tub
First things first: get the water out of your tub. Then, all you have to do is:
- Unplug your tub to avoid electrocuting yourself.
- Take out the drain plug so water can get out.
- Insert your hose in the plug so you can pour the water somewhere else, like maybe on your flower garden.
- If you want the water to drain faster, use your pump!
How to Clean Filters
Here’s where you learn how to clean your pump and filters. Is best to do this while the water drains. This step isn’t difficult either if you have the right cleaning products:
- Unscrew the filters.
- Add plugs in all of the filter holes, but one.
- Attach your vacuum to this hole and turn it on “blow”. That way, your vacuum will blow out the dirt inside your filter pump.
- Grab your hose and a small brush, and wash the filters inside. You’ll know you’re done when you see no trace of goo.
I recommend Pro-Kleen 5 Litres Hygienic Whirlpool Bath-Jacuzzi-Hot Tub Cleaner for your filters, pump, and your whole tub. I tried it myself because it’s affordable and noticed a big difference in my bubbles. That tells me my tub is completely flushed from all bacteria and debris. Bonus: it has no expiry date, so you can use it whenever you need.
How to Clean the Inflatable Hot Tub
This step is about the main tub. Grab a pair of gloves and towels, as well as mild hand soap and get ready:
- Wipe the entire area of your hot tub.
- Use your hose to wash down the dirt and goo.
- Add more liquid soap and wipe again, especially if you have stubborn stains.
You might also be curious about how to get yellow stains out of the hot tub. You can succeed with at least two tried-and-tested methods, such as:
- A damp cloth sprinkled with baking soda
- A mixture of water and white vinegar
Cover your stain with either baking soda or water and vinegar, and then start scrubbing!
If you’re looking for a chemical-free way to clean your tub, you should consider the Clearwater CH0025 Miracle Sponge Eraser Pad. All you have to do is add water on these reusable pads, and they’ll clean your stains, grime, and build-up. These eco-friendly pads are very convenient because they’re affordable and you can use them on your other furniture too.
Pro tip: Stay away from hard cleaners or wiry brushes, which will damage your tub’s surface.
How to Refill Your Tub
Reassemble your hot tub, then attach a hose to your filter unit and start adding water. It’s that easy.
Don’t forget to make sure the water in your hot tub is top quality. That means:
- Check the levels of chemicals
- Ensure the water isn’t hard
- Make sure the water pH is balanced
Your hot tub will come with some included test strips for the job. When these run out, get some Clearwater CH0012 25 Dip Test Strips for Swimming Pool and Spa Treatment. The pack of 25 strips measure your chlorine, pH, and alkalinity levels. The colours on the strips are intuitive, and the whole process takes you just a few seconds.
- If your water pH is too low, you might get itchy skin. In that case, many people recommend the alkalinity increaser from Happy Hot Tubs.
- If your water pH is too high, you might also get skin irritations plus lime build-up on your tub. In that case, get an alkalinity increaser such as Happy Hot Tubs PH- Minus 7kg Swimming Pool Hot Tub Spa PH Decreaser.
These products come from a trustworthy brand and you can use them easily. They’ll balance your pH quickly, ensuring you stay healthy.
How to Maintain Your Hot Tub
Two frequent questions are how often to clean your hot tub and how often to change the water. Here’s what you have to remember:
- Clean the tub every time it gets dirty, for instance, if:
- You have falling leaves or debris.
- It smells.
- It’s cloudy or foamy.
- Change the water every month.
- Do general maintenance at least every ten weeks.
Remember to also check your hot tub instructions manual regarding the chemicals you need to add. You need to add some of these chemicals every day, while others you can add every week.
Wrap Up
If you’re here, you learnt how to clean your hot tub quickly and how to keep it clean. You know to avoid wiry brushes and hard cleaning products because they’ll damage your tub. All you need is regular maintenance and a lot of patience.
If you want to prolong your hot tub’s life and ensure you stay healthy, choose some of the products I mentioned above. I’ve tested all of them, and they’re all top quality. They’re safe to use and help keep you safe as well.