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Keeping your spa clean is relatively easy. Just don't fall
into the habit of draining once a month and waxing the shell! (Yes people do
this!).
Water properly maintained in accordance with the simple
instructions I have put on this website should be virtually maintenance free
for 3-6 months at a time... Monthly draining and cleaning is a waste of water,
and effort!
SPA SHELL CLEANING
Most spa shell materials are designed to be maintenance
free. If you maintain your water the way I have described on the "water
maintenance" page, your spa should stay clean all by itself! About the
only problem you should ever have with the shell will be the appearance of a
"bathtub ring". The best way to deal with this is to make sure the
water is heated, and use a sponge to rub it off. If the ring is excessive,
using a 3-M scotchbrite pad LIGHTLY on the ring will get rid of it rather
quickly! Be sure the water is warm first. If your spa shell is a very
"slick" acrylic or other shiny material, use the scotchbrite pad with
a very light pressure, because it will scratch the acrylic... particularly if
done frequently!!! Actually, you should only use the pad if it is a last
resort. Otherwise, if the water is heated to at least 98 degrees farenheit, you
should be able to rub it off with your fingers.
GREEN WATER!
If your water looks stained or brown, use this method for
cleaning the water first before you drain the spa water! You will be suprised
how easily it works in virtually all cases!
If however, you begin to get "green" water,
somewhere recently, your bromine/chlorine levels have dropped too low to keep
the algae in check. Algae will adhere to the walls of the tub, but do not try
to get rid of it unless you have killed it FIRST! When algae is alive, it's
ability to attach itself and hang on to the tub wall is great, and very
difficult to remove!!
When dead, it will usually wipe off with your hands, or by
running a forced stream of water against it with a garden hose. Kill any algae
presence in your tub by shocking the water with either chlorine or non-chlorine
shock according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you don't have shock,
then household CHLORINE bleach will do the job quickly! If you have a small
tub, add about 1/2 cup. Medium Size tub use 3/4 cup.
A large tub (over about 90" across) use a full cup of
chlorine bleach. Be sure to run the jets and blower (if equipped) so the
circulation actioin will ensure adequate application of the bleach throughout
the tub and plumbing system. Run the blower for about 10 minutes...
Keep the jets running for about 15 minutes. At that point,
put the pump on low speed for at least 30 minutes to an hour to ensure adequate
filtering of the water. I have cleaned "sewer swamp" tubs this way
and it works almost every time!
Remember, the spa is designed to constantly CLEAN the water,
and it will if you follow the methods I have outlined here.
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