Updated Aug. 22, 2024
A backyard spa is a year-round source of enjoyment—if you keep it clean. Here are the best hot tub cleaners to keep you soaking safely.
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Your outdoor hot tub is an all-or-nothing commitment. Treat it right, and you’ll enjoy years of soothing soaks, from summer parties to winter nights relishing that bubbly water. But neglect your hot tub, and it will come back to bite you. A dirty, contaminated spa can be a source of mold and algae, which can cause skin irritation and respiratory infections. As if hot tubs weren’t already an investment, poorly maintained ones can develop costly problems, including damage to filters, pumps and the solid surface shell. If you own a hot tub, maintaining it with the best hot tub cleaners is essential.
When buying a hot tub, a professional should walk you through all the necessary steps to ensure your new purchase stays pristine. Routine cleaning allows you to reap the many benefits of a hot tub while avoiding the potential headaches of poor care and maintenance. These top hot tub cleaner products make the job easier.
According to Merrick Miller, the education and content leader at Leslie’s, the leading pool and spa care retailer in the United States, chlorine and bromine are the two most common hot tub sanitizers. “While chlorine reigns supreme as the best choice for pool sanitization, bromine is generally considered the best fit for covered, outdoor hot tubs,” she says.
Miller adds that this is largely because bromine better maintains its effectiveness in hot water. “Unlike chlorine, which tends to gas off in temperatures above 100ºF, bromine continuously provides powerful sanitization in warmer water. Also, bromine is better at remaining stable in water with a high pH level—which is a common issue in aerated hot tubs.”
Ahead, see the seven best hot tub cleaners to make your spa sparkle.
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We give this hot tub cleaner top marks for its all-purpose, multitasking functions, ease of use and positive customer feedback. The AquaDoc cleaner comes in a convenient spray bottle—just spritz it on hot tub surfaces, wait a few minutes, wipe down the area with a cloth or sponge and rinse. The product works on hot tub covers, too, and it’s even suitable for pool areas and bathrooms.
“Wow! I was so impressed with the results. My hot tub had waterlines that wouldn’t wash a way with anything. Then I sprayed this and let it sit a few minutes. When I came back I was shocked by how clean it was without even having scrubbed it yet,” writes happy customer Deyni.
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This heavy-duty gel hot tub cleaner—suitable for solid surfaces and hot tub covers—comes with a sponge and cleaning cloth, so you won’t need to buy additional hot tub cleaning supplies. Let it sit for up to 30 minutes on especially dirty or stained surfaces, then simply wipe away. It’s a solid all-around cleaner at a value price, plus it’s biodegradable and nonabrasive, and there aren’t any harsh chemicals or odors.
“The product was good for wiping down the inside of our emptied hot tub, but it really excelled for cleaning the hot tub cover. I was sure a new cover was needed, but the cleaner restored shine and minimized what looked like cracked vinyl,” shares five-star reviewer, Randi Park.
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This eco-friendly hot tub cleaner doesn’t contain harsh chemicals and is odor-free—a big plus for those with allergies or chemical sensitivities. It’s part of EcoOne’s line of “green” pool and spa products. The fast-acting concentrated surface cleaner spray works on all types of hot tubs, whether it’s made of hard fiberglass or an inflatable heavy-duty vinyl.
“Had to use a little elbow grease, but the product did as advertised,” notes verified purchaser, KBW. “No odor and not harsh on your skin. I reordered the product to always have it on hand.”
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Outdoor spa covers exposed to the elements need special care to keep them looking spiffy. This Leisure Time conditioner is made specifically for covers, but can also be used on other vinyl surfaces, like car interiors and patio furniture. Spread a coating of the liquid cleaner on the cover, then buff to a healthy shine. Not only does it effectively clean and restore, but it also adds a protective layer that repels water, dust and dirt.
Among the hundreds of glowing reviews on Amazon, Larry Aceves, describes it best: “Our spa cover had gotten very worn looking and we weren’t sure we were going to be able to save it. This conditioner was like a miracle. The cover looks brand new and sheds water easily.”
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Hot tub and spa pros recommend cleaning hot tub filters every one to two weeks. This cleaning solution tackles tough dirt, grease and other accumulated residue. Take out the filter and soak it overnight in a bucket of water mixed with this hot tub cleaning solvent—the recommended ratio is one 32-ounce bottle per 8 gallons of water. Rinse thoroughly the next day and start enjoying your spa again! Note that several reviewers recommend wearing rubber gloves when you mix the solution and handle the filters.
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Much like the pipes of a kitchen sink, the places you can’t see in your hot tub are where the really nasty stuff can lurk. Ahh-Some’s jet cleaner claims to work like “a complete colonoscopy for your hot tub” (yay, but yikes!) by removing built-up dirt, grease, white water mold and sludge from the inner workings of your spa. The manufacturer says the product also cleans hot tub cartridges and filters.
There are nearly 2,000 five-star Amazon reviews that rave about the effectiveness of this plumbing decontaminator. “We have a large outdoor spa that needed a deep cleaning, as it had not been used for some time. The tiny jar of Ahh-Some arrived and I was a bit skeptical. Following directions and using only a small amount, the results were fantastic!” says verified purchaser Vivian B.
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Reduce the amount of periodic cleaning your hot tub needs with a weekly dose of this cleaner and water clarifier. Simply add the prescribed dose directly to the hot tub water, turn up the jets and let it run for 15 minutes. Then, wipe down the gunk accumulated at the waterline. This product runs through pipes and helps clean them of accrued nastiness, resulting in clearer water.
There are several hot tub cleaning supplies with specific functions that target different areas. Here are the most common formulas:
Deciding what to buy means assessing just how dirty your hot tub is. If you’re giving it some TLC after a long period of neglect, you might need a heavy-duty cleaner rather than an all-in-one or eco-friendly spray. You also need to decide how much elbow grease you want to commit to—some cleaners are wipe-and-go, while others require scrubbing or buffing. Ultimately, consistent cleaning is a necessary part of protecting your investment.
When shopping for hot tub chemicals and products, it’s important to consider the following features:
Elizabeth Heath is a travel, lifestyle and home improvement writer based in rural Umbria, Italy. Elizabeth covers various topics for Family Handyman and is always ready to test out a new pizza oven or fire pit. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, Reader’s Digest, TripSavvy and many other publications. Elizabeth and her husband are passionate about the great outdoors, endless home improvement projects, their tween daughter, and their dogs.
We also consulted Merrick Miller for her expertise on hot tubs. She’s the education and content leader at Leslie’s, the leading pool and spa care retailer in the United States.
We perused the web and analyzed an array of hot tub cleaners across the web, considering noteworthy brands, customer reviews and our personal favorites. We considered how well each hot tub cleaner removes dirt, its ingredients, whether or not a cleaning product is compatible with most hot tubs and clean ingredients safe for your skin and hot tub.
“To ensure optimal performance and enjoyment of your hot tub, it’s important to maintain a regular cleaning and sanitizing schedule,” Miller explains. “Clean the hot tub filter cartridge approximately every other week or more if there are problems with water quality, and replace the filter cartridge annually to ensure optimal filtration.”
You must also drain the hot tub every three to four months and thoroughly clean the hot tub body and pipes. “Use a designated hot tub cleaner, like Natural Chemistry Clean & Perfect, to safely and effectively remove grease, grime, waterline scum, and other contaminants. For weekly cleanings, use a skimmer net to remove floating debris, and vacuum up any dirt or debris with a designated hot tub vacuum or robotic cleaner, like the Polaris Spabot,” Miller adds.
Any of the products we included on this list work without draining the hot tub. Spray cleaners are especially suited for cleaning the waterline, where a layer of scum is most likely to form. For stains and build-up under the water level, you’ll need to drain your hot tub, clean it thoroughly and refill it.
The chemicals you use to clean a hot tub depend on the system you’ve installed. Your pool and spa pro should walk you through routine maintenance and cleaning tips and provide a list of the necessary chemicals, including test strips, to check for chemical balances. When in doubt, always refer to the instruction manual for the best cleaning and hot tub safety tips.
Along with the best hot tub cleaners, a soft brush or scrubby tool should be sufficient to clean off most of the grime on the inside of your hot tub or jacuzzi. You can buy the items separately or purchase a maintenance accessory kit with all the hot tub cleaning tools you’ll need.
“Vinegar is not suitable for sanitizing a hot tub,” Miller explains. “While vinegar can be used for cleaning purposes, such as removing minor scale buildup and stains, due to its acidic nature, it does not have the sanitizing properties necessary to kill bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. For proper sanitization, use chlorine, bromine or other approved hot tub sanitizers.”
Originally Published: January 19, 2023
