How to Clean a Hot Tub Water Without Draining It?

How to clean a hot tub without draining it? Though it sounds weird it is one of the most common questions tub owners make. And there are so many reasons people want to clean their tub without draining it.

Now, the question is if it is possible to do that. Fortunately, yes. You can clean all the parts of your hot tub even when it is full of water.

Well, if you are interested to learn the process, look no further. Here, I have come up with an easy solution to clean a filled hot tub. So, check the process and follow it sequentially for the best outcome.

How to Clean a Hot Tub Water Without Draining It: Lean with 6 Easy Steps

You must be wondering how it is possible to clean the tub even when it is full. The process is easy but we never recommend using the tub before changing the water after you use some chemicals to clean it.

So, if you need to use it regularly, cleaning the tub after draining it is the best solution. You can follow the steps below to clean your tub without draining it.

Step #1: Gather the necessary supplies

The first thing you need to do is to collect all the tools you will need for cleaning the tub. You could clean the tub with only a few tools if you let it drain. If you don’t want it, you will need a few more tools.

However, to clean the hot tub without draining it, you’ll need a hot tub cleaning solution or a non-foaming spa surface cleaner, a soft sponge or cloth, a pool skimmer or net, a spa vacuum, or a small submersible pump, vinegar, water testing kit, pH or alkalinity booster, clarifier, etc.

Step #2: Remove All the Debris from the Tub

Once all the tools are right by your hand, you can start. You need to first use a pool skimmer or net to remove all the debris from it. Make sure to take out all the leaves, insects, or other debris from the surface of the water.

As you don’t want to drain the water, you need to clean it properly and there should be no noticeable debris in it. You need to clean the water, in the beginning, to prevent the dirt from clogging the filter. It will ultimately make the cleaning process easier.

Step #3: Clean the Hot Tub Jet

Once the waterline is clean, you have to remove the hot tub jet so that you can clean it. For that, you have to take it out from the tub and then soak it in a natural cleaning solution. You can use a solution with half warm water and the other half filled with vinegar.

It will take a few hours to be cleaned inside the solution. So, wait for three to four hours and check if the jet is cleaned or not. Remember that cleaning the jet is essential to make it work more efficiently.

Step #4: Check If the Waterline is Clogged

The waterline of your hot tub can be clogged with oils, dirt, and grime. And it is essential to clean it as well. For that, you need to check the waterline or the pipe first.

If there is dirt and debris, you need to clean it too. You can now use a sponge or cloth that is dampened with the hot tub cleaning solution. You can also replace the solution with a non-foaming spa surface cleaner as well.

Gently scrub the affected areas to remove any buildup. Also, make sure to check the area if it is clean finally. Also, be extra careful not to damage the waterline by any means.

You can also put some cleaning powder chemicals inside it. The chemicals will dissolve all the dirt inside the deepest part of the pipe. But it can affect the quality of your tub water. So, be careful while choosing the right chemicals.

Step #5: Clean the Filters

As you know, the filters in your hot tub help remove impurities from the water. So, cleaning it is a must-have for you. However, you need to first remove the filters following the manufacturer’s instructions

Now, rinse the filters with a hose to remove all the noticeable dirt from them. If the filters are excessively dirty and full of oil content, you may need to soak them in a filter cleaner solution. 

You can use Leisure Time 12X1QT Enzyme Simple Care or any other chlorine cleaning solution. Once the filter is clean, reinstall it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Step #6: Clean the Tub Body

If your hot tub is so dirty and the tub body is not clean as well, it’s time to give it a good wipe. You can use a sponge soak with a good quality hot tub surface cleaner and wipe all the areas of the tub.

You can also replace the cleaner with a disinfectant if you think there are fungi and bacteria all over it. If there is so much debris in the bottom, you can use a spa vacuum or a small submersible pump.

Make sure to follow the instructions provided with the vacuum or pump to effectively clean the bottom of the tub. Also, try to clean the headrest and the control panels of the tub properly.

Step #7: Treat the Tub Water

After cleaning, you should balance the water chemistry in your hot tub. For that, you need to treat the water. First, you have to use a water testing kit to measure pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels.

Next, you need to adjust the pH and alkalinity using appropriate chemicals. After that, add the recommended sanitizer, like chlorine or bromine to kill bacteria.

You might need to shock the water to get rid of contaminants and maintain clarity. For that, you can simply add a higher dose of hot tub chemicals to the water of the tub.

Besides, you can use a clarifier or flocculant to improve water clarity by removing all harmful particles.

Your hot tub must be clean now. At this point, it is suggested to drain the water as a lot of chemicals have been used in the water already. But if you don’t want it, you can leave it as it is.

But make sure not to be in the trub for a long time. Also, don’t allow your kids to use the tub before draining the water.

FAQs

Wrapping Up

Cleaning the hot tub is not difficult even if you don’t want to drain it. You need to follow the steps sequentially. Also, be careful while choosing the chemicals for it.

Make sure to choose a branded chemical that is safe and effective. However, whether you drain it or not, make sure to clean your hot tub regularly. Best wishes.