Wondering how to clean a hot tub? It is easy if you follow a few basic steps.
The most important step is to sanitize the water. The most popular way to do this is with chlorine or bromine based chemical, usually in a slow dissolving tablet form. There are several alternative sanitizing agents such as ozone, silver ions, copper ions, and enzymes but use these with caution since most are not effective without additional chlorine or bromine agents.
Note: New water treatment technology based on salt water electrolysis has made sanitizing hot tub water even easier. Our Onzen™ salt water system utilizes this technology to drastically reduce traditional chemical use and time needed to maintain hot tub water.
The next step is to “balance” the water. This refers to the acidity of the water and is important because the clarity and effectiveness of the sanitizing agents depends on the acidity (pH) of the water. This is done by occasionally adding small amounts of acid or base to the water, usually in granular form.
Measuring the sanitizer and acid levels is quick and easy, usually with a litmus-style test strip that changes color when dipped in the water.
The next step is to filter the water. Most hot tubs have automatic built-in filtration systems with replaceable filter cartridges. However, the filter cartridges must be cleaned or replaced regularly for the water to be filtered adequately. We recommend a depth style cartridge such as the Silver Sentinel from Arctic Spas, rather than a pleated style filter that requires frequent cleaning.
Lastly, over months of hot tub enjoyment dissolved particles build up in the water. These need to be removed or they start to prevent the sanitizing agents from working properly. Usually, people replace all of the water every 3 or 4 months but it is just as effective to do smaller more frequent water changes. There are easy to use test strips available to measure these dissolved particle levels.
Get Detailed Hot Tub Cleaning Instructions
Hot tub cleaning can be very simple if you have the right materials and instruction. All Arctic Spas™ dealers can provide you with expert written and personal instruction about how to clean a hot tub. We invite you to download the Arctic Spas™ owner manual for a more detailed guide, contact one of our 300+ Arctic Spas dealerships, or request a phone call right now from a hot tub service specialist.
If you are shopping for a new or used hot tub, the best place to start learning about the brands, models, features, and prices we offer is here on the ‘our hot tubs‘ page.
