Who doesn’t enjoy a bubble bath after a long week of hard work? Hot water, bath oils, and streams massaging your back… This ideal scenario is ruined when the next time you want to relax, you find soap scum and other impurities in the tub. You realize that the whirlpool tub requires deeper cleaning than you presumed and are looking for a cleaner that will help you effectively take care of it.
Is keeping a whirlpool tub clean a challenge?
It is important to keep the jets as clean as the tub itself. Regular cleaning of the jets and the tub is a key element in maintaining bathroom hygiene. In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to clean the tub jets using dish detergent, baking soda, white vinegar, and a steamer.
Before you start cleaning whirlpool tubs
Not all whirlpool tubs can be cleaned the same way. Make sure you have checked the manufacturer’s instructions and/or recommendations on whether they want you to shut the air induction valves or not. If you can’t find this information, a simple Google search or contact with the company’s customer service should answer this question.
How to clean a whirlpool tub with baking soda
What do you need?:
- a bottle brush or a toothbrush
- white vinegar
- baking soda
- a bucket
- dishwasher tablet or dish soap
- microfiber cloth
- sponge
Step 1: Clean the whirlpool tub with a sponge
Rinse off any hair and black dirt with a wet sponge or microfiber cloth.
Step 2: Fill the tub with hot water
Fill the tub with hot water up to the jet level.
Step 3: Add the cleaning agent
Add two tablespoons of dish soap to the hot water or dissolve a tablet in a cup before adding it to the tub. Then add two cups of white vinegar.
If you only have dishwashing powder, not liquid, add 4 tablespoons and stir the water.
Note!: DO NOT use hand dish soap as it will create too many bubbles
Step 4: Turn on the jets
Unless the user manual told you to leave the air induction valves open. In any other case, close the air induction valves to the jets. This will force the water with the cleaning agent to circulate only through the internal installations of the tub and perform deeper cleaning. Run the jets at full power for 15 minutes. You will see all the dirt from the internal installations being flushed into the tub.
Step 5: Drain the tub
Turn off the jets and drain the tub. With a soft cloth or sponge, wash off the residues that remained after draining.
Step 6: Refill the whirlpool tub
Refill the tub a second time with warm water a few inches above the jets.
Step 7: Run the jets
With the air induction valves open, run the jets at full power for another 15 minutes. Again, drain the whirlpool tub.
Step 8: Clean the Jets
Pour some baking soda into a cup or bowl. Take an old toothbrush and dip it into the dry baking soda. Use the toothbrush to gently scrub the jacuzzi jets.
Step 9: Clean the Air Intake Cover
After removing the air intake cover, gently scrub the area with the same toothbrush and baking soda, but wetted in water beforehand.
Step 10: Clean the Interior of the Whirlpool Tub
Sprinkle baking soda all over the surface of the tub and start scrubbing with a sponge. The baking soda will help you remove soap scum and greasy residue.
Step 11: Rinse the Whirlpool Tub
When you’ve scrubbed all the surfaces of the tub, take a bucket of cold water to rinse the tub. Then use a microfiber cloth to wipe the tub walls.
Alternatives for Cleaning Whirlpool Tubs
The method shown above is commonly used, but it requires a lot of work, involving multiple tub drainings, nozzle scrubbing, and rinsing. However, there is a method that is not often talked about, which requires only one cleaning agent for whirlpool tubs.
Using a Steam Cleaner to Clean a Whirlpool Tub
Steam cleaning has been gaining popularity over the last decade in commercial sanitizing projects such as car washes, medical facilities, and floor and carpet cleaning. However, people are not aware that steam cleaners can clean literally everything in your home!
What is a Steam Cleaner?
Fortador Volt MINI is perfect for cleaning and disinfecting homes. Over the past few years, steam cleaning has become the preferred method of cleaning and sanitizing various items. The biggest advantage of steam cleaning is its ability to kill and remove over 99% of bacteria, viruses, germs, and other pathogens.
Fortador Volt Mini Steam Cleaner
This incredibly portable steam cleaner is lightweight, weighing only about 7.5 kg, which allows users to easily carry it to and from a van and transport it to the job site. Like other Fortador steam cleaners, the Volt MINI boiler heats up quickly, requiring only five minutes to generate steam. Unlike other small portable commercial cleaning steam cleaners, the Volt MINI also operates under high pressure and temperatures, giving you the power of 101.5 psi of steam at a maximum temperature of 170 degrees Celsius. The boiler is made of durable AISI 304 stainless steel, which attests to its durability.
Like other Fortador steam cleaners, the Volt MINI comes with an impressive range of accessories and equipment (including a steam mop). To start, you get a 4.5-meter hose, which is 1.5 meters longer than the hoses you get from most other commercial-class steam units. Combined with a long power cord, you can get this pure steam to hard-to-reach places that larger steam cleaners can’t get to. Next, you get different types of nozzles for deep cleaning after construction, tiles and wooden floors, carpets, upholstery, and even bathroom tiles.
How to Clean a Whirlpool Tub Using a Steam Cleaner
What you’ll need:
- steam cleaner
- cold water
- clean cloth
- sponge
- old toothbrush or bottle brush
Step 1: Clean the Whirlpool Tub with a Sponge
Remove any hair and black residue using a wet sponge or microfiber cloth.
Step 2: Steam Clean the Whirlpool Tub
Once the steam cleaner is ready to use, fit the jet nozzle onto the gun and start steaming the walls of your whirlpool tub. You should move from the top of the tub downwards to avoid spreading the residue all over the tub.
Step 3: Steam Clean the Jets
Start steaming the jets one by one. The dirt should start coming out of them.
Step 4: Run the Jets
Turn on the jets to make sure all the dirt has come out from inside them. When this happens, turn off the jets. With a bottle brush, finish cleaning the jets by scrubbing them and additional steaming if more force is needed.
Step 5: Rinse the Tub
Steam the surface of your whirlpool tub to make sure everything has come off and the tub is sanitized.
Cleaning Tips to Keep Your Whirlpool Tub in Great Condition
- Don’t use bubble baths or bath oils in a whirlpool tub, as they can clog the jets.
- If you want to use bleach for your whirlpool tub, make sure you’ve read the instructions or checked information online before you start. While bleach is great, it can be too harsh for the seals in the tub and dry them out.
- Avoid using abrasive cleaners for your tub. These types of cleaners typically leave scratches on the surfaces of whirlpool tubs.
- Regular deep cleaning of your whirlpool tub (once a month) will help you achieve the best results.
- Never turn on the jets (unless they are covered by at least several inches of water), if the jets are uncovered, the motor will be damaged. If the jets are covered, but the water is too shallow, they may spray water upwards, wetting the walls instead of the inside of the tub.
- Most whirlpool tubs can be cleaned using baking soda and vinegar, so you don’t need to spend extra money on a cleaner right away.
