How To Properly Clean A Hot Tub

There is something almost spiritual about hot water. Whether you want to wash off the stress and grime of a particularly tiring day at work in a hot tub or you're simply interested in setting up a spiritual bath at home, the healing elements of heat and water combined cannot be stressed enough.

Hot tubs, as enticing as they are, can also become breeding spaces for bacteria mainly due to the fact that they operate at increased temperatures (via The Home Depot). It goes without saying that properly, and regularly, cleaning your hot tub is a must — especially if you are to enjoy its benefits without worrying about safety and health concerns.

As with all cleaning processes, it is a good idea to make sure you have the necessary supplies before you begin. Let's start off with a simple checklist: a garden hose, a shop vac, a hot tub cleaner, and basic chemicals — a hot tub shock, sanitizer, or clarifier, as recommended by The Home Depot. If you're someone who wants to make your own hot tub cleaner, you can certainly try that route with a solution made from vinegar as well. You can create this with some dish soap and a combination of eight parts water with one part vinegar (per Busy Backyard).

You start by turning the power to your hot tub off before draining the existing water (via The Home Depot). Simply follow the instructions set out by the manufacturer. Brady's Pool and Spa Care recommend the additional step of using a shop vac to drain whatever water you can't get out after draining.

Next, using your favorite hot tub cleaner (or the vinegar solution you made), start to clean the inside of your hot tub. You can do this by spraying some water and applying your cleaner of choice. If you're using vinegar solution, it is recommended that you consider wearing safety goggles — according to Busy Backyard — in order to avoid fumes irritating your eyes. It is also best to use a microfiber cloth to do the cleaning. While you're at it, you can also clean the hot tub cover using the same method (per The Home Depot).

Just like with pools, a hot tub filter's job is to remove dirt and bacteria from the water, so it's only natural that it collects a lot of muck. You can tackle the hot tub's filter next, carefully removing it and hosing it down with a garden hose. The Home Depot notes you can use the hot tub cleaner to wipe them down, and as an extra step in the cleaning process, you can disinfect the filters with some hot tub chlorine. Rinse the filter with water afterward.

Now, all that's left to be done is refilling the tub and treating the newly filled water with your chemicals of choice. Once you've filled your hot tub with clean water using the garden hose, you can turn the power back on (via The Home Depot). Give it a few hours and you'll be ready to test the water's pH and chlorine levels. The Home Depot recommends following the levels recommended in your manual, and adjusting the levels "depending on whether you use hot tub bromine or hot tub chlorine."

According to Brady's Pool and Spa Care, your hot tub should be properly cleaned every few months depending on how often you use it. Other recommendations include cleaning the plumbing quarterly, rinsing out your filters a few times a year, and replacing your hot tub filters every year to year and a half.

Although getting in the hot tub is not recommended all the time, there is no denying its allure and we hope this article has motivated you to maintain your hot tub in the best possible condition so you can dive right into it when you feel the need.