Hot tub cleaning and maintenance

Keeping the water clear without complications

A hot tub is not emptied after every use like a bathtub: the same water stays in circulation for around thirty days, continuously filtered and held at temperature. That changes the logic of maintenance entirely, which is not about cleaning but about chemical balance. The 10 products on this page are there to maintain it: sanitisers, correctors, filters and surface cleaners.

The three things to check

Sanitiser keeps bacterial load under control: bromine or chlorine depending on the system chosen, dosed consistently rather than intermittently. pH determines whether the sanitiser works at all: outside the correct range, even a correct dose loses effectiveness and the water becomes irritating. The filter holds back solids, and when it is dirty everything else stops working properly. These three elements are linked: cloudy water is almost never solved by adding more product, far more often by cleaning the cartridge and correcting the pH.

The maintenance rhythm

After heavy use it is worth checking sanitiser and pH with test strips: it takes thirty seconds. The filter cartridge should be rinsed every two or three weeks with regular domestic use and replaced roughly once a year. A complete water change happens around every thirty days. Acrylic surfaces should be cleaned with neutral, non-abrasive detergents: aggressive products dull the shell permanently.

Frequently asked questions about hot tub maintenance

How often does the water need changing? Around every thirty days with domestic use. The paper filtration system keeps the water in condition for that period, provided the cartridge is cleaned regularly.

The water is cloudy: what should I do? In this order: check the pH, clean the filter cartridge, check the sanitiser level. Adding more product without checking these three points generally makes things worse.

Bromine or chlorine? Bromine is more stable at the temperatures a hot tub runs at and has a less pungent smell; chlorine costs less. Once a system is chosen it is best to stick with it rather than alternating.

How do I clean the acrylic? With neutral, non-abrasive detergents and a soft cloth. Never abrasive sponges, solvents or ammonia-based products: dulling of the acrylic is irreversible.