How to Clean a Hot Tub without Draining It

Cleaning a hot tub involves an essential task for keeping your hot tub maintained and hygiene. Not only will it prevent skin irritations and rashes, but it will also maintain good hygiene for anybody using it. However, the task that involves draining the water and filling it back is tedious. 

Fortunately, today it is quite possible to learn how to clean a hot tub without draining it. However, it really doesn’t matter whether your hot tub is running on a salt system, chlorine, or ozone; periodically cleaning a hot tub is essential to keep them clean. 

There are several ways to clean your hot tub by adding a few tips and tricks:

  • Use bleach to keep your hot tub cover fresh. 
  • Use a hose filter for filling your hot tub. 
  • Use a spray cleaner for cleaning the filter cartridges.
  • Use dish soap to clean the interior surface.

Today, we are going to talk about the cleaning process of a healthy bathtub without draining it. 


How to Clean a Hot Tub without Draining It?

If you own a hot tub, you might know draining the water for cleaning the water is a terrible idea. It requires a lot of time and patience. But who has so much time for it, right? If there are better ways and easy methods for cleaning the water without draining it, why not try it?

Therefore, today we will show some easy ways to maintain your hot tub with small elements of cleaning.

Now, let’s look at the below-mentioned points to get a better idea:

Clean the Above Water Line

It is one of the essential factors while cleaning the hot tub. By cleaning the above waterline regularly will help your hot tub be in better condition. Also, you can do this often and make it a regular maintenance schedule. 

However, it involves an easy and simple process. You can use a waterline cleaner or spray with a mixture of diluted white vinegar to keep your above waterline area clean. 

Also, never use heavy chemical-based cleaning solutions in the hot tub water. It is because using excess chemical-based cleaning solution into the hot tub water can cause unbalanced pH levels.  

 After spraying the mixture of cleaning solution, just use a simple cloth to wipe it down. You can also use a sponge in that case. Next, get all of the dirt by flushing it down as much as possible with the help of a sponge.

Lastly, cleanse everything off by using clear water. However, it will be a good idea if you can check the pH levels to make sure everything is stable.

Half-Empty your Hot Tub and Refill It

When the amount of dissolved solids in the water gets high, it becomes an important issue of concern. At this stage, all the dirt and bacteria have accumulated inside water in the thick formation. In such cases, it is difficult to treat the water with a filtration or sanitizer system. 

What could be done then? Well, if you have no time to drain the water completely, you can do so by half-emptying your hot tub. Also, you can check the number of dissolved solids in the water by simply doing a test.

Here, you can use a test strip to measure the number of dissolved solids in the water. If it is above 1500 parts per million, it is an indication to change your water. 

So, what is this half-empty theory? Well, if you can take out half the water and replace it with fresh, clean water. It will help to reduce the problem. However, it will not take away the entire dissolved solid from the water. But it will reduce the amount of it to some extent. 

However, taking out the partial water involves an easy process. Completely turn off your hot tub and unplug the drain plug. Let the half water drain out and put back the drain plug. Next, refill the tub with fresh, clean water without using a hose filter. Lastly, mix the water by running the pump that will help to circulate the water inside. 

However, it will only partially solve your problem and not entirely. However, to do so, you need to completely drain out the water in the future.

Scrub the Hot Tub Interior

The first important thing to do is to clean its interior surface. Next, let the dirty water flow down the hot tub’s filter. However, it will help to remove any underlying dirt or bacteria. It is probably applicable if you haven’t cleaned it for a while. 

Also, the entire thing has to be done before you treat and balance the water. Well, scrubbing is an essential procedure for removing the excess dirt from the interior surface, such as seats, handles, edges, and the shell. To do so, you can use a soft brush and scrub all over the interior. 

Since everything will be accumulated in the water, it is recommended to use a vacuum or skimmer to collect the debris or large particles from the water.

Remove and Soak the Hot Tub’s Jets

Clogging takes place if your hot tub’s jets are not cleaned properly. It also creates less strain or pressure on the parts. Cleaning of the tub’s jets helps it to run smoothly. Also, it will allow high-stream water through it. 

Since they are removable, you can soak them in a mixture of vinegar and warm water. It should be soaked for at least four hours. This will help you to get rid of the built-up dirt. 

Scrub the Hot Tub’s Pipe

Even due to dirt or dust particles, the tub’s pipes also get clogged. To clean the hot tub’s pipes, you can use a soft-bristle brush to do so. However, you won’t be able to get inside the pipe, but with the help of a brush, you can clean the openings of it. But if you need to get further, you can always use a flexible brush to do your job.

Check the PH levels

You must check the pH levels of your water often. It is an essential part to carry out if you own a hot tub. By doing it often, you will gradually understand how to track and maintain the pH levels. 

Treating Acidic Water

It is recommended to track the acidic level before you go for the pH levels test. It will help you to make adjustments to the water level. However, if you want to bring a change in the water level, you can simply add chemicals to change the alkalinity of the water.

Also, to make sure everything is right, it sometimes requires checking the pH level more than 2-times or two or 3 hours in between each reading.

Treating Basic Water

Apart from acidic or alkaline water, you can treat your basic water by simply using ozone, sanitizer, sodium dichlor granules, salt water, or chlorine. With the help of these, it will keep your water balanced and safe to use.

Shock your Hot Tub

If you want to see your hot tub look cleaner, shock your hot tub. However, don’t perform it before checking your pH levels. Every often, if you shock your hot tub with chlorine, it will help you to get rid of that dirt from your water. 

However, after performing this, you need to check the chlorine level to see how safe it is for the bathers. Also, the shock method helps to kill germs and bacteria, making it safe for you to bathe.

Remove and Clean the Hot Tub Filter

Removing and cleaning the hot tub will help to improve the quality of your water. You can clean your filter by taking it out and spray them to bring out the dirt or debris from it. Therefore, it involves a quick wash method in a hassle-free way. 

Also, you can soak the filter overnight by using a mild cleaning solution. It will make your job done easily. Furthermore, if your filter has been used for a long time, you can replace it with a new filter. However, the second method looks easier than the first one to perform.

Wipe Down the Control Panels and Headrests

The control panels and headrest are the easiest and convenient to clean without difficulties. Since they are not immersed in the water, they involve less cleaning management.

Therefore, any kind of mild cleaner or disinfectant sanitizer will do the job of the cleaning process. You can also use a soft cloth to clean the opening of the control panels and the surface of the headrests.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the Parts of a Hot Tub that you can clean easily? 

Various parts of a hot tub involve an easy and simple cleaning process. It includes a headrest, control panels, hot tub cover, pillows, and skirt. 

2. Can I Use Vinegar to clean my Hot Tub?

Yes! Vinegar works as a powerful cleaning agent for cleaning a hot tub. You can use 50% of vinegar and 50% of warm water to proceed with your cleaning process. 


Conclusion

The deep-cleaning process requires both time and patience. However, it can be done from time to time. But to clean your hot tub within a short period, you can apply the above-mentioned methods for quick results.

These given methods are easy to imply and involve a simple process. So, next time when you are in a hurry, try to clean your hot tub without draining it.

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