Skip to Content

2 Natural Ways to Clean a Hot Tub (Without Chemicals)

2 Natural Ways to Clean a Hot Tub (Without Chemicals)

Share this post:

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cleaning a hot tub properly is essential if you want to reuse it again and again. A hot tub that hasn’t been cleaned properly should not be used again. When you get out of the hot tub after a while, you should know that you leave behind a cesspool of bacteria, germs, and substances that need to be disposed of as quickly as possible.

However, before you get into the tub again, it’s imperative that you clean it. If you search online, you are going to come across a bunch of different cleaning products that are designed to be used with hot tubs and home spas. Many of these claim to clean your hot tub completely and offer a plethora of benefits.

But, almost all of these cleaners contain toxic chemicals that can cause long-term damage to your hot tub. If you continue using these toxic chemicals, there will eventually come a time when the jet sprays inside the hot tub are likely to get clogged up.

More importantly, the paint on the ceramic material used within the hot tub is also going to fade away over time.

Cleaning the hot tub properly without chemicals is not difficult, but it requires a careful understanding of how different chemicals affect the hot tub.

There are a number of everyday household cleaning products that you can use as well, though it’s recommended that you first take a look at the ingredients to determine which products are likely to have what impact.

After all, knowing how each product reacts will make it easy for you to decide which ones you should choose for your hot tub cleaning.

Some of the most common types of cleaners you will find in your kitchen or bathroom cabinets are described below.

Acids: Acid-based cleaners are designed to break rust and get rid of stains formed due to hard water. They are ideal for use in toilet bowls and for cleaning mold.

Detergents: Ideal for getting rid of those sticky stains that you can’t get rid of. They emulsify the oils that make the dirt stick to the surface. You might have dishwashing soap or detergent for your laundry in your house.

Bases: Ideal for all-purpose cleaning; they can get rid of grease, fat, as well as dirt.

Sanitizers: They are used for disinfection purposes primarily. However, you can also use the sanitizers to get rid of odors and stains. They are quite harsh though, and contain powerful chemicals, such as chlorine bleach.

Abrasives: You probably have a better understanding of what these are all about. As the name clearly suggests, abrasive chemicals usually scratch any surface they come into contact with. For instance, scouring powder or steel wool often fall under this category.

Now, if you want to avoid the use of chemicals such as chlorine or bromine, you should know that there are quite a few natural materials that you can use instead. Here is a brief guide for cleaning your hot tub properly without using any chemicals.

1 – White Vinegar

All-natural white vinegar is one of the best options available for you when cleaning your hot tub.

White vinegar is available in almost every house nowadays, and if you have used white vinegar before, you might already have a clear idea that it is one of the best cleaners out there. If you need a robust cleaning agent, white vinegar is a great choice.

Usually, white vinegar has an acidity level of 2.5 pH, though you can also find concentrated variants with a pH value as high as 4 pH. This makes it one of the best cleaning agents for getting rid of all the stains and odors in your hot tub.

You don’t even need to worry about the damage caused by heavy duty commercial cleaners. On top of that, because it’s all natural, you should know that there’s no risk of damage to the cover of your hot tub.

Vinegar is capable of cleaning the particles by charging them properly. You just need to scrub the hot tub properly, because the charged particles are generally attracted to the positive and negative charges found in the water molecules. This makes it much easier to remove the stains.

Just drain your hot tub shell first, and then create a solution using vinegar and water in a bucket. You can also use a spray bottle if you want. Once the solution has been mixed properly, you can spray the mixture thoroughly throughout the hot tub.

You have to let the solution sit for at least 15 minutes before you wipe it down. You can use a sponge or a piece of cloth to wipe the surface down properly. Vinegar is also a pretty effective cleaning agent for cleaning the filters.

2 – Olive Oil

Natural olive oil is also a common kitchen product that you might find in your house. This might come as a surprise to most people, but natural olive oil can be used quite effectively for cleaning your hot tub.

When most people think about cleaning their hot tubs, they don’t really think about using any kind of oil.

In fact, if you think about it, using any kind of oil seems a bit counterintuitive, doesn’t it? But, you should know that if used correctly, olive oil can be used for cleaning the stains. Get rid of stains that are sticky and are firmly stuck to the surface.

Obviously, you will have difficulty in removing the stain on your own. You can’t wipe it away, especially if the stain is glued directly to the surface. Olive oil is made from triglycerides, which are essentially the molecules that contain fat in most animals and plants.

Triglycerides are also found in soap. You need to clean the bathtub properly and prevent such stains from sticking so firmly to the surface. You are going to need a bucket of water, olive oil, mild soap, and a microfiber cleaning cloth for this job.

Start off by draining your hot tub, and then pour a bit of olive oil on the microfiber cleaning cloth. You can then gently rub on all the stains that you can see on the hot tub. You will see that all of these stubborn stains are going to fall off quite quickly.

Once that happens, you can apply a bit of soap and wash the surface of the hot tub properly. Make sure that there is no oil residue left on the surface.

Soap is generally more than enough to get rid of the oily stains. You can then wash it with water and your hot tub will be as good as new. It is important that you clean your hot tub on a regular basis.

If you let stains fester, they might eat up the paint on the ceramic, and eventually, a stain might become permanent. You have to follow a proper maintenance regime to get rid of the stains on your hot tub.

These are just some of the simplest ways to clean your hot tub without using any kind of harmful chemicals or abrasive substances that could eventually cause damage to the tub.

--

If you want more backyard tips including recipes, how-tos and more, make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel

Share this post: