Hot Tub Cleaning: The Secret to a Sparkling Clean Hot Tub

Everyone wants their hot tub to have clear, pristine water but not all hot tub owners have an effective cleaning strategy for their spa. Let’s take a look at the fundamentals of hot tub cleaning and the secret to getting a sparkling clean spa.

Before You Start

Before you clean your hot tub, you need to have the right tools and equipment. 

• An electric sump pump or garden hose

• A wet-dry vacuum

• Towels or rags

• Hot tub cleaning spray

• Water treatment chemicals

• Hot tub plumbing cleaner

Once you have your supplies and equipment, you’re ready to start the hot tub cleaning process.

Drain the Hot Tub

To properly clean your hot tub, the first thing you’ll need to do is fully drain the unit. 

Draining the water has two main benefits:

• Allows you to add fresh water

• Allows you to clean the shell of the spa

This process is fairly simple but might take some time to complete. Here’s what you need to do:

How to Drain Your Hot Tub

1. Unplug your hot tub or turn off the circuit breaker to ensure no power is running to the spa.

2. Drain the water by removing the drain plug and opening the drain valve. You can either use a sump pump to accelerate the process or let the water drain naturally. Depending on the particular model, you may even be able to attach a garden hose to the drain plug to facilitate easier drainage - although this method takes a little more time.

3. Once most of the water has been drained, use a shop vac to vacuum up any remaining water in the unit.

Clean Your Filters

You can also use this time to take out your hot tub filters. Simply remove the filter and spray with a garden hose to remove any debris. Soak the filter overnight in a bucket of diluted filter cleaning solution and repeat every three to four months.

Clean Your Hot Tub Cover

You should also consider cleaning the hot tub cover. All you need to do is spray the cover with your hot tub cleaning solution and wipe it away with a rag or paper towel. Pay close attention to creases and nooks where mildew can grow. 

Clean the Shell

Now that the hot tub has been drained, you can clean the shell of the spa. 

1. Spray the entire shell with a non-sudsing hot tub cleaning product, then wipe away with paper towels or a cloth. 

2. Be sure to wipe around the spa jets, retainer rings, and filter case. Just take care not to spray any cleaning solution directly into the control panel or other electronic components. 

3. After you’ve cleaned the surface of the hot tub, close the drain valve and replace the drain cap and begin refilling the spa. 

4. Place the fill hose into the tub. Depending on your manufacturer’s recommendations, you may need to place the hose in the filter housing in order to reduce airlock issues when you turn the tub back on.

5. When the hot tub is fully filled, turn the power back on and let the unit heat up.

6. Once the water has reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit, add in your water treatment chemicals. 

Clean the Plumbing

For the cleanest possible hot tub, you’ll also need to clean out the plumbing. As you use your hot tub, bacteria known as biofilm build up in your spa’s plumbing and create a layer of slime. 

This biofilm slime reduces the effectiveness of sanitizers and may cause water to turn cloudy. And as effective as the standard drain and clean method can be, it doesn’t address bacterial slime in hot tub plumbing.

You can clean your hot tub’s plumbing in as little as a half hour before cleaning the rest of the spa. Here's how:

1. 30 to 60 minutes before you drain your hot tub, add a hot tub plumbing cleaning product into the water. 

2. Allow the cleaner to circulate, then remove any brown foam or debris from the tub with a wet-dry vacuum. 

3. Once the foam turns white, the biofilm has been removed and you can begin the process of draining your hot tub.

If you want the cleanest hot tub in the neighborhood, Watson’s has everything you need.

When you shop with us, you’ll find an amazing selection and personalized service, along with the guaranteed lowest prices in the USA. We have a wide variety of hot tubs from the leading brands along with tons of pool and spa supplies to make your spa stand out. Shop online or stop by your nearest Watson’s location today.