Hot tubs are meant to be your personal retreat, but biofilm can turn your relaxation into a maintenance nightmare. The good news? With regular upkeep and a few simple cleaning steps, you can stop biofilm before it becomes a problem.
Whether you’re opening your hot tub for the colder months or just need a relaxing soak after a long day, the last thing you want is to find hot tub slime, also known as biofilm.
Hot tubs are meant to be your personal retreat, but biofilm can turn your relaxation into a maintenance nightmare. The good news? With regular upkeep and a few simple cleaning steps, you can stop biofilm before it becomes a problem.
Why is Hot Tub Biofilm a Problem?
Biofilm is more than just an eyesore—it’s a real issue for your hot tub’s health. Biofilm slime is a sticky mix of bacteria and microorganisms that cling to hot tub surfaces. These microorganisms create a protective layer that resists disinfectants like chlorine and bromine, resulting in a scummy, smelly slime floating in your water.
If left untreated, biofilm can have severe negative consequences on your hot tub. Additionally, once hot tub biofilm takes hold, it’s very difficult to get rid of – so prevention is key. It’s crucial to take action before hot tub biofilm becomes a persistent problem.
The Impact of Hot Tub Biofilm:
- Clogged Plumbing: Biofilm buildup can block water flow.
- Poor Water Quality: Visible signs of cloudy water and floating debris.
- Bacteria Colonies: Once biofilm takes hold, it’s hard to remove and can harbor harmful bacteria.
What Causes Hot Tub Biofilm Slime?
Neglected biofilm can clog plumbing, cause cloudy water, and create floating debris. Contaminants like skin oils, lotions and deodorants contribute to biofilm buildup. Factors like old filters, imbalanced water chemistry and inadequate sanitation also increase the likelihood of formation of biofilm hot tub slime.
Hot tubs provide the ideal environment for biofilm growth: the plumbing offers a dark, warm (>90°F), and moist setting, which fosters the growth of microorganisms. Even worse, when biofilm dries on hot tub surfaces, it goes dormant, reactivating when water is reintroduced.
Main Causes of Hot Tub Biofilm Growth
- Ideal Environment: Hot tub plumbing offers warmth (>90°F), moisture, and darkness—the perfect conditions for biofilm.
- Bather Contaminants: Skin oils, lotions and personal care products from bathers contribute to biofilm buildup.
- Inadequate Maintenance: Old filters and unbalanced water chemistry acce
- Neglected Maintenance: Old filters, unbalanced water chemistry, and poor sanitation create an environment for biofilm to thrive.
To avoid these issues, preventing biofilm before it becomes a persistent problem is key. Regular maintenance and sanitation go a long way in keeping your hot tub biofilm-free.
How To Get Rid of Hot Tub Biofilm
1. Spa Purge Products
To prevent biofilm from forming you can incorporate specific spa products that help mitigate and eliminate the potential of slime. Spa purge products work well in the spa plumbing as a cleaner activating a foaming agent that lifts the biofilm from the surfaces of the plumbing. The purge product is added with the jets running for several cycles, allowing for proper circulation through the entire plumbing system. Several treatments may be necessary in extreme cases. Closely follow the manufacturer’s instructions, step by step.
2. All-Surface Cleaner
To apply an all-surface cleaner, you’ll first want to completely empty your hot tub. Then, scrub your hot tub surfaces well with an all-surface cleaner. Make sure you clean every part of the tub including the floor and the jets. You want it to be as clean as possible to make sure the biofilm does not grow back. Upon completion, fill up the spa or tub with water.
3. Filter Cleaner
First, empty your hot tub and scrub all surfaces, including the jets and floor, with an all-surface cleaner to remove biofilm. Next, soak your filters in a chemical cleaner specifically designed for hot tub filters (e.g., Ahh-some). Soak for a few hours or, for best results, overnight.
How To Prevent Hot Tub Biofilm
The best approach to dealing with biofilm is prevention. Regular maintenance, cleaning, and sanitizing go a long way in keeping your hot tub free from biofilm. By being proactive, you can avoid the hassle of dealing with biofilm buildup.
Follow these simple steps to keep your hot tub clear, healthy and free of biofilm:
1. Balance Your Water
Test and balance your water once a week to determine pH and alkalinity levels. Aim for a pH level of 7.2 to 7.4. Below this range, water becomes too acidic; higher levels reduce sanitizer effectiveness. Keep alkalinity between 60 to 120 ppm—contact your spa manufacturer for specific recommendations. Add a sanitizer and test for the suggested level of ppm for your spa or hot tub.
For more information on balancing pH levels, take a look at our pH blog here.
2. Shock Your Hot Tub Weekly
A weekly shock treatment using your preferred sanitizer prevents bacteria and microorganisms from building up in the plumbing.
Additionally, hot tub products like Aquafinesse and Natural Chemistry’s Spa Perfect weekly will break down the protective layer that covers bacteria in biofilm, slowing its formation. Again, spa purge products, like Ahh-Some, should be used at least once a year.
3. Clean Your Filter Regularly
Your hot tub filter plays a crucial role in maintaining water clarity and overall system health. It captures debris, oils, and contaminants that contribute to cloudy water and biofilm buildup. To keep your water fresh, rinse the filter with water every 1 to 2 weeks to remove surface-level dirt.
For a deeper clean, soak the filter in a chemical cleaner once a month to break down oils and particles trapped in the filter media. A clean filter not only improves water quality but also helps your hot tub’s system function more efficiently.
4. Cover Your Hot Tub When Not in Use
A hot tub cover does more than just trap heat—it’s an essential tool for keeping your water clean. When the tub is not in use, covering it prevents debris like leaves, dirt, animals, and rainwater from contaminating the water. This simple action helps reduce the need for extra cleaning and chemical adjustments, ensuring your water stays clearer for longer. A cover also helps maintain water temperature, which can lower energy costs and minimize evaporation.
5. Drain & Clean Periodically
Regularly draining and cleaning your hot tub helps prevent chemical buildup and ensures optimal water quality. While this maintenance is essential, there’s an easy way to minimize the need for frequent draining, cleaning and toxic chemical use.
6. Add Hydroxyl-Based AOP Water Treatment
Hydroxyl-Based AOP (advanced oxidation process) systems are the best practice for keeping hot tub water clear, odor-free and refreshing. This patented technology makes hydroxyl radicals that instantly destroy contaminants and biofilm in the plumbing – never touching bathers.
AOP systems work alongside chlorine, bromine or salt, minimizing the need to excessively use them by handling what they can’t manage alone. Unlike other AOP methods, Hydroxyl-Based AOP hot tub systems are easy to maintain and are backed by industry-leading money-back guarantees and warranties.
Prevent Hot Tub Biofilm, Don’t React
Biofilm can turn your hot tub from a relaxing retreat into a maintenance headache, but with proactive care, you can prevent it from becoming a problem. Regular maintenance, water balancing, and effective cleaning products are essential in keeping your hot tub water fresh, clear, and healthy.
By following these simple steps—using spa purge products, maintaining water chemistry, cleaning filters and considering healthy alternative solutions like Hydroxyl-Based AOP systems—you can enjoy a hassle-free, biofilm-free spa experience. With reduced reliance on harsh chemicals and more efficient water treatment, your hot tub will stay the personal oasis it was meant to be.
Looking for an easy way to keep your hot tub water clearer and free from biofilm longer? To see how a Hydroxyl-Based AOP system can simplify your routine, learn more here.
Originally Published: August 19, 2021.
