How To Clean Bathtub Jets with Basic Household Ingredients (Image credit: Ashley Poskin) There's nothing quite like sitting down for a relaxing bath only to find water with floating black flecks, hair, and who-knows-what-else. Unfortunately, if you're the owner of a jetted bathtub, this lament may seem all-too-common given that the crevices of the jets tend to collect gunk that is hard to clean by hand. But there are some simple ways to keep those jets clean using basic household ingredients. Fill the tub until the jets are covered by 2-3 inches of hot water. Add 2 Tablespoons of a low-sudsing dishwashing liquid and 1/2 cup of bleach. If you want to keep things green, you can substitute 1 cup of white vinegar for the bleach. (Note: Some manufacturers don't recommend bleach since it can dry out internal gaskets with time, so you may want to resort to the tough stuff only in filth emergencies.) Alternatively, you can use powdered dish detergent. Run the tub's jets for 15 minutes.

Empty the tub, and refill it (cold water is fine this time). Run the jets for 10 minutes more. Drain the tub and rinse it well to get the gunk off.Hardwood Flooring Step Down If you need a really deep clean, you can attack the jets with a bottle brush and a nonabrasive cloth.Old Metal Tubs For Sale If there's still dirt around the jet covers, try using dental floss to get behind them.Mercedes Benz Car Seat Covers Sale And a final note: Before cleaning your jets for the first time, check the manufacturer's manual. Some manufacturers recommend closing the air controls, while others recommend leaving them open during cleaning, and certain manufacturers recommend specific cleansers for their tubs.User ReviewedHow to Clean a Jetted Tub

Three Methods:Cleaning Water Jets with Household SuppliesCleaning Air Jets with Household SuppliesCleaning With a Biofilm RemoverCommunity Q&A After a stressful day, you come home and decide to make use of that neglected Jacuzzi tub. You put on some music, fill the tub with steaming water, light scented candles, pour a glass of wine, slip into the bath, and fire up those jets to gently massage and relax you—only to be coated slimy black gunk and greasy gray bubbles! The bad news: those jets are a haven for bacteria and mold. The good news: it's quick and easy to clean, and even easier to maintain. We'll show you how to clean your jetted tub in the standard fashion with common household cleaners, as well as how to remove more stubborn problems (called biofilms) with special cleaners. Turn off the air induction valve. Add cleanser to the water. Add 1/2 cup (100ml) of household bleach. Run the jets for 10-15 minutes. Run the jets for another 10 minutes.

Add 1/2 cup (100 ml) of household bleach. Give it another run. Turn air bath unit off and drain tub. Over time, your jetted tub is likely to develop accumulations of stubborn combinations of deposits in the tubing called biofilms. These bio-films are not readily penetrated with common household cleaners[1], and can carry high levels of potentially harmful bacteria. To remove them, use special cleaners designed for this purpose. 1Read the instructions on the container and be sure to follow them carefully to avoid injury or potential damage to your jetted tub. Fill the bathtub with warm water high enough to cover the jets. Add the recommended amount of biofilm remover to the water, and run the jets in the tub for the specified interval. For the initial cleaning, run the tub for an hour. For maintenance cleaning, use a lighter concentration of the biofilm remover and run for a shorter duration (10-15 minutes). Drain your tub, and clean any residue around the sides.

Repeat the cleaning once or twice a month. Optionally, you can use a specialty tub cleaner instead of detergent and bleach. Tub dealers, manufacturers, and many online plumbing suppliers sell these cleaners. They are much more expensive, but have nicer looking bottles and they guarantee the results. If your tub is too gross to deal with yourself, there are professional cleaning companies that will clean your tub, but they are the most expensive option. With regular maintenance, you'll never need to call them. If bleach is not advised, use 1 cup (.23 L) of white vinegar instead. Do not leave children unattended near a tub. Check manufacturer's instructions and cleaner labels to make sure the cleaners won't hurt your tub. Never start the jets unless they are covered by at least a few inches of water. If the jets are exposed, the motor will be damaged. If the jets are covered but the water is too shallow, they may spray water upwards, bathing your walls instead.

Never use foaming cleaners or bubble bath in your tub. The effect will be overwhelming—and overflowing. They will also muck up the works. Ventilate the room while using the cleaners. Bleach fumes can be dangerous in poorly ventilated areas. Bath oils and lotions leave residue in the pipes as well. You should never use them in a hot tub.It's important to learn how to clean bathtub jets properly in order to extend the life of your tub and keep your family safe. Jetted bathtubs are the gold standard when it comes to creating a luxurious bathroom. The popular whirlpool bathtubs offer an oasis from the chaos of everyday life. Imagine being able to immerse yourself in warm water that massages your aching muscles courtesy of mechanical jets. These spa-like tubs are a welcome addition to any home. However, they differ from traditional hot tubs in that they are installed indoors and need to be filled before each use. What's more, the water in a hot tub maintains its heat longer and requires the use of chemicals to keep it clean.

This is not the case with jetted bathtubs. Since these high-end tubs aren't treated with chemicals to kill bacteria, they must be cleaned on a regular basis. Otherwise, they become havens for microbes, mold, and other bacteria that can make you sick. Learning how to clean bathtub jets will go a long way in protecting your family from harmful bacteria. If not maintained properly, you will find black flakes or brown scum in your jetted tub. This is the result of bacteria growing in your tubs warm, damp jets. In order to keep your tub sparkling clean and your family safe, consider the following cleaning tips for bathtub jets: This cleaning routine should be executed at least once a month to help your bathtub jets sanitary: If your bathtub jets are especially dirty or filled with soap scum, then use the following method to deep clean them: Prior to sanitizing your bathtub jets it is vital that you consult the cleaning instructions that came with your particular whirlpool tub.