A Homemade Hot Tub Filter Cleaner In Under 7 Minutes

How to Clean Your Hot Tub Super Fast

Before you start making your own homemade bath tub filter cleaner, it’s a good idea to get familiar with cleaning a hot tub from start to finish.

Cleaning a Jacuzzi style hot tub is not the same as cleaning a regular hot tub. It’s a little more complicated and there are some parts of the tub that need extra care.

The video below will help you know exactly how to use your homemade hot tub filter cleaner solution and how it fits into the cleaning process.

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Step-By-Step How To Clean a Hot Tub Filter:

• Drain the tub by turning off the power first. So you stay safe. If you do not turn off the power, you can damage the pump by operating it without water.
• Empty your hot tub. This is easy to do, and the process by which you can do it is usually described in your manual.
• After draining the water, use a tub cleaner to scrub the surfaces of the tub. Depending on the type of bathtub you have, you may need to buy another type of cleaner. You can find certain cleaners for bath surfaces. But you can also use household items. Acrylic baths can be cleaned with a standard bath cleaner or with ¼ teaspoon of chlorine diluted in five gallons of warm water.
• Follow the instructions in your manual to empty your tub.
• Rinse the inside of your bathtub thoroughly. Wipe it off with a towel. Do not leave any residue in the tub.
• Remove the filter and clean it. Most of the time your filter can be removed by hand, but you may need to use a screwdriver. Rinse the filter thoroughly. Put it in a large plastic bucket and immerse it in water. Add your filter cleaning solution to the water and let it soak.
• Turn the power back on to your tub. That’s it, the cleaning process is complete.

How to Tell if Your Hot Tub Filter Needs Cleaning

You may be wondering if it is possible to simply clean the filter so that you reduce the need to thoroughly clean the tub after each use?

The short answer is yes.

You can and should clean the filter more often than the rest of the bath tub. Filtered water means a cleaner bath tub and less bath tub cleaning time.

However, do not forget to also periodically clean the entire bath so as to stop bacteria developing within the bath tub.

This is because although the water will run through filters, it will do nothing if the bath tub is already filthy.

If you are not sure if your filter needs cleaning, have a look at this checklist to see if it’s time.

Do The Bath Tub Filters Need Cleaning – Checklist:

• Is your water dirty?

Do you notice that the water is taking on a strange color? Or do you see lots of debris floating on the surface of your water? Then it’s probably time to clean the filter.

This may also be a sign of a filter that needs to be modified. This is because visible signs of dirty water is usually one of the last things you notice if the filter does not work as it needs to.

• Does your water feel strange on your skin?

If your filter is not working properly or is clogged, your water may feel too hard or too soft.

You may notice that your skin feels strange after leaving the bath. Soft water can feel too slippery.

While hard water can feel dirty or scaly. If you notice any of these, your filter could be the problem.

• Have you noticed any problems with your hot tub?
  

Are there sounds that sound like air in your pipes? Do you hear strange noises from your pump or do you see smoke or other visible signs that the pump is working too hard to do its job?

Are your jets working the way they should? If any of these apply, you may have a clogged filter.

• Does the filter look dirty?

Take out the filter cartridge and view it again. Does it look dirty? Is it yellow, green or grey? If so, it’s time to clean it. You need to do a more thorough clean if you notice dirt in your filter.

So simply rinsing is not enough. If you also notice an accumulation of calcium then you may need to buy a special solution to remove calcium from the filter.

Why Keep Your Hot Tub Filter Clean?

The hot tub filter is supposed to keep your tub water clean but unfortunately it is not self-cleaning.

Remember that your tub cleaner will come into contact with bacteria, dirt, debris and other contaminants. All of this means that the filter itself will probably need to be cleaned from time to time.

Keeping your tub filter clean makes it run more efficiently and do its job better.

Why It’s Essential To Keep Bath Tub Filters Clean:

• Regular cleaning of the bath tub filters can improve the functionality of all its parts. If the filter in your tub is clogged, the pipes and pump must work harder to keep the water clean. It is possible to overheat the pump in this situation, which can be a very expensive problem.
• Some contaminants that can get caught in a clogged filter can also get caught in the pipes, damaging the pipes and destroying the pump. Finally, a dirty filter can cause the jets to work harder to move the water. And they can also become clogged with debris and bacteria. This can damage the nozzles.
• Regularly cleaning your filter will ensure that the water in your tub is safe for you and your family. When the filter stops working, the water in the tub becomes increasingly dirty. In some rare cases, it is even possible for dangerous bacteria to grow in the water, which can make your family sick. Even the least problematic bacteria can sometimes cause a problem.
• A clean hot tub filter can protect you from injury. I know this sounds extreme but if your filter is clogged with sticks or other debris, there is always a risk that it may get into your water. It can then float when the nozzles are turned on. If they are sharp then expect cuts. This means that it can damage both you, the filter and the tub itself.

Homemade Mixtures for Cleaning Your Hot Tub Filter

Well it is now time to prepare your filter cleaning solution.

Making your own homemade hot tub filter cleaner is a great way to save money.

Doing it by yourself also means that you know that the solution does not include any nasty chemicals that you don’t want.

You can control how much you use and you can keep any left over solution for next time. This is a great inexpensive way to keep your filter clean for a long time.

Here are 3 different ways of making your very own homemade hot tub filter cleaner.

1. Clean Hot Tub Filter Dishwasher Detergent

Using dish washing powder or detergent is a common way to clean a dirty filter. The good news is that this is a very cheap method. It is also something that you’re very likely to already have at home.

Materials Needed:

• Five gallons of water.
• One cup of dishwashing detergent.

PROCESS:

1. Fill a plastic bucket with 5 gallons of water. If your filter is larger than your 5 gallon container then you may need to double the mixture in order for the filter to totally submerge.

2. Add your cup of dishwashing soap to the water and combine it well by stirring.

3. Submerge your filter completely in the dishwashing detergent solution.

4. Leave the filter alone and let it soak for 1 to 2 hours.

5. After soaking, rinse the filter well with clean water.

6. Put the filter back in the hot tub.

2. Cleaning Hot Tub Filters With Vinegar

Using vinegar to clean your tub is a much gentler cleaning method than the previous 2 solutions. This is a good option if your filter is not very dirty, but remember that you need to use something stronger if there is a lot of dirt in your filter cartridge.

Materials Needed:

• Five gallons of water.
• Three cups white vinegar.

PROCESS:

1. Fill a plastic bucket with 5 gallons of water. If your filter is larger than your 5 gallon container then you may need to double the mixture in order for the filter to totally submerge.

2. Add your three cups of white vinegar to your water and stir the mixture well.

3. Put the filter into the vinegar water and submerge it completely.

4. Let it stand for one to two hours to soak.

5. Remove it and rinse it with your garden hose.

6. Replace it in your hot tub.

3. Cleaning Hot Tub Filters With Bleach

Cleaning hot tub filters with bleach is popular. It’s old-fashioned. Bleach is a way to keep the water in the hot tub always clean. Remember, however, you should not use chlorine to clean your tub filter. This is because many filter cartridges can not withstand chlorine over a long period of time.

Materials Needed:

• 1 garden hose.
• ¼ cup of bleach.
• 1 old towel.
• 1 large pickle tub container.
• 5 gallons of hot water.

PROCESS:

1. Remove the filter cartridge from your hot tub and place it in the pickle container.

2. Use the garden hose to add 5 gallons of water to your container or bucket.

3. Stir in the ¼ cup of bleach until mixed well.

4. Let it soak for about 2 hours. Do not soak overnight.

5. Remove the filter and use your garden hose to rinse it completely of any remaining bleach residue.

6. Let the filter dry.

7. Use the old towel to remove any lingering bleach residue from the filter.

8. Replace the filter cartridge in your hot tub.

9. Fill the hot tub through your filter and turn it back on.

Tips and Tricks for Cleaning Your Hot Tub Filter

It can be difficult to understand the best way to clean your hot tub filter. However, keep the following tips and tricks in mind so you can make sure your tub stays in a good condition and lasts for many years.

• Run water quality tests from time to time by using a water test kit. Although it is not necessary to do this every month. It is a good idea to run a water quality check twice a year. This will make sure everything in your tub is working properly. If the water quality control shows signs of bacteria or other water problems, you may have a dirty filter or an ineffective filter.
• Buy a second set of filters to switch to while cleaning. That way you will not have any idle time between tub cleaning. While one filter is drying, you can easily replace it with the other one. However, be sure to keep track of how many times you have used each one so you can throw them away when the time comes.
• Do not use filters from manufacturers outside your tub brand. This is because they may not work well and may not work as well as official filters for your particular tub. Always use products approved by the company that makes your tub so as not to damage your bath tub.

More tricks…

• Always remove visible dirt from your filter when you notice it. If you see leaves, sticks or other residue on your filter, remove it immediately. These can damage your filter and cause many problems when sucked through the pipes.
• Check your filter every two weeks, but expect to clean it once a month. If your filter does not look very dirty during your two-week inspection. You may not need to do more than simply rinse it off with your garden hose. Sometimes, if you soak your filters too often, they can wear out faster. Therefore, it is worthwhile to pay attention to the dirt of your filter.
• Discard the filter after two years. There are a handful of long term filters on the market. But in most cases it is a good idea to throw the filters out every two years. However, check them after one year. As they may need to be replaced at this time, depending on how many times you have used your tub.

Hot Tub Filter Cleaner Alternatives?

You can make your very own homemade hot tub filter cleaner with almost anything.

This includes a number of things that are probably already in your kitchen.

TSP, dishwashing liquid, bleach, vinegar and almost any other type of mild cleaning detergent you can find at home.

The most important thing is that the hot tub filter is clean at the end.

Doing it by yourself also means that it does not get damaged by harsh chemicals.

Cleaning your hot tub filter is necessary if you want to prolong its life.

Regular cleanings will also mean that the filter will work more efficiently.

And the good news is that you don’t have to buy expensive filter cleaning agents to do it.