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Each person’s dream bath set-up will be unique to their own tastes, but there’s something special about the specific type of relaxation you experience when using bath bombs.
They add a luxurious, spa-like feel to your bath and can bring swirling colors to the fizzing water. Many are engineered to produce specific scents that promote tranquility – with a glass of red wine, what could be more relaxing?
Have you ever wanted to take this one step further and add a bath bomb to your hot tub, but wondered if it was even safe to do so?
The short answer is, yes – but don’t stop reading here!
There are certain precautions you’ll need to take to avoid damaging your hot tub. Even with these in place, there are still some risks associated with using bath bombs in your hot tub which you should be aware of before you toss one in.
What Are The Risks?
Hot tubs are an expensive piece of equipment, so it’s understandable that you’re wary about causing potential damage.
The first way to minimize any risks is to choose the right bath bomb, as many contain a number of ingredients that could be harmful to your tub.
Usually the most exciting bath bombs to look at and experience will be the hardest on your tub, as these tend to use things like glitter and flower petals, but even the most carefully chosen will contain salt or some type of essential oils.
These could lead to clogged pipes and dirty water, and if they’re allowed to build up over time they could damage the jets or worse, your tub’s entire operating system.
The best way to manage these risks is to cover your bath bomb with a fabric bag or a nylon stocking, as this will effectively collect everything released from the bath bomb and prevent it from causing any blockages. Best of all, it won’t stop the fizzing so you can still enjoy the full experience!
Will The Bath Bombs Stain Hot Tubs?
Baking soda is a key ingredient in bath bombs and this itself will not cause any staining. However, some products may contain colors that remain long after the fizzing stops. If it does, don’t panic! You can wipe away stains using a microfibre cloth and gentle cleaning products.
The color should come off easily, especially if attended to right away, but if left to build up it could require a bit of elbow grease to get the color off completely.
Cleaning Your Hot Tub
Any hot tub owner will know that, even without the use of a bath bomb, cleaning your hot tub regularly is the key to maintaining it.
This keeps the operating system running smoothly, prevents a scummy surface from forming on your water, and reduces the chance of bacteria building up.
Using bath bombs makes this an even more essential step, and it’s one you shouldn’t skip if you want to keep your hot tub in good condition.
You should always clean your hot tub after using a bath bomb, and definitely before using it again.
How to clean it
Allow the hot tub to run for 30 minutes using hot water and soap. This will remove any oil product that has been released from the bath bomb. This isn’t a bubble bath, so try to avoid dish soaps that foam up too much.
Add 2 capfuls of bleach and wait a further 30 minutes. This will sanitize the jets which is especially essential after bath bomb use.
Finally, allow the hot tub to run for another 30 minutes, but this time using cold water. Don’t add anything else in this time, as the aim is for the hot tub to remove any lingering oil and other impurities. You can also drain your hot tub at this point if it’s necessary.
Cleaning The Jets
As tempting as it is to leave the job for another day, if you notice any debris or clogging around the jets of your hot tub it’s worth going to the effort of cleaning them properly before their next use.
This will prevent excess build-up which could cause serious problems down the line, potentially causing a complete mechanical malfunction of your equipment.
How to clean them
Drain your hot tub. If you’re only intending to clean the jets, then you could drain it to just below where the jets sit, but if you’re going to all this trouble anyway you might as well drain the whole tub and give the insides a good wipe down.
Remove the jets. Some tubs have jets that easily screw or snap off, but do this carefully so as not to cause any damage to the operating system.
Soak the jets. Using a large container, cover the jets with white vinegar and leave them to soak for 24 hours as this will lift or loosen some of the grime.
Clean the jets. Check your tub’s care instructions first to see which cleaning products can be safely used, then start scrubbing! You can use an old rag or a tooth brush for any nitty gritty areas.
Return the clean jets to your tub. Screw or snap them back into place depending on your equipment, then fill your tub with fresh water.
While this may seem like a lot of trouble to go to, cleaning your jets will mean you can continue to get the most out of your hot tub and enjoy the occasional bath bomb without damaging your tub.
A Final Note
And there you have it! You now know the secret to having the most indulgent hot tub experience ever by using a bath bomb safely.
However, that doesn’t mean you should toss one in at every opportunity.
Even with the best care, excessive use of bath bombs is sure to stain or damage your hot tub eventually.
The oils they produce can build up and reduce your jets to sub-par performance, or they can malfunction completely.
Just like you would with an all-the-trimmings bubble bath, it’s a good idea to save using bath bombs in your hot tub for occasional use so you can really enjoy it when you do.
Happy hot tubbing!
