How to Clean a Wooden Hot Tub？

In pursuit of the ultimate outdoor experience, some people like to soak in a wood hot tub outdoors to enjoy the atmosphere of nature and relax in a soothing spa. It can also be used with a cold plunge tub, hot and cold therapy, which is also very popular. How to clean a wooden hot tub after we use it? Let’s discuss this.

Why Do Wooden Hot Tub Need Cleaning?

Long-term use of wooden hot tubs will inevitably produce dirt and impurities. Where do these dirt and impurities come from? Let’s analyze it in detail from the user and the environment.

Dirt and Pollution from Human Metabolism

After a hard day’s work, soaking in a wooden hot tub will heal and relax your body, producing some keratin, sebum, hair and sweat, making the water in the tub turbid. After the water is placed out the wooden hot tub, the dirt and impurities produced by the human body will remain in the tub.
For some spas, SPAs, etc., the shower gel, bath gel and essential oils used by customers remain in the wooden hot tub, affecting the water quality and causing pollution.

Chemical Residues from Cleaning Products and Improper Cleaning

In order to extend the service life of the wooden hot tub, it is usually cleaned and maintained. Use disinfectants and detergents and other cleaning products to clean the tub and clean the water quality. After using the detergent, failure to inject a large amount of water to flush and drain, do not check the water quality, and do not test the pH value, resulting in chemical residues.
Failure to clean and maintain the wooden hot tub, or infrequent cleaning, will cause the filter and pipes to be blocked and unable to operate normally, affecting the water quality and use.

Pollution from Outdoor Use

If you use a wooden hot tub outdoors, dust and fallen leaves may remain in the tub. If you do not clean it in time, it will cause water pollution in the long run. It will be time-consuming and laborious to drain and refill the water.
There will also be invasions such as birds and insects outdoors. If the wooden hot tub is not covered and protected, biological invasions will bring pollutants such as animal hair and excrement.
Direct sunlight and rising temperatures can easily produce moss and algae, making the inner wall of the wooden hot tub slippery.

Effects of Unclean Use

Using a wooden hot tub without cleaning it will have an impact on the tub and human health, causing inevitable losses and injuries.

For Wooden Hot Tubs

Mold and rust: If the wooden hot tub is not cleaned or not cleaned properly, bacteria will breed, which can easily cause mold and rust in the tub.
Blockage of pipes and filtration: If the water quality is not clean, scale or algae will be produced, which will block the pipes and filters, making the wooden hot tub unable to operate normally and shortening its service life.
Odor generation: If the pollutants and turbid water in the wooden hot tub are not cleaned in time, fungi will multiply faster underwater, causing odor and affecting customer experience.

Human Health

Skin allergies: Bacteria and pollutants that are not properly cleaned allergies such as rashes on the human skin.
Respiratory infections: Odors and bacteria produced are inhaled into the human body, causing respiratory infections and a series of respiratory diseases, which are harmful to human health.

Is It Easy to Clean the Swimming Pool Membrane?

Pool membranes can effectively prevent pollution, reduce the frequency of cleaning, prevent the growth of algae and bacteria, reduce the consumption of chemical cleaning agents, and maintain water cleanliness, balance, and protect the tub.
Before covering the pool membrane, you need to clean the wooden hot tub liner to check whether there are pollutants and impurities in the water, clean it and then cover it with the pool membrane. Even if you use a pool membrane, you still need to clean the tub, and you need to make a cleaning plan. The pool membrane also needs to be scrubbed and dried regularly.

Alpha Sauna Manufacturer Advice: How to Clean a Wooden Hot Tub?

Through the above analysis of the reasons for wooden hot tub cleaning and the effects of not cleaning, as a wooden hot tub and sauna manufacturer, Alphasauna recommends setting up a cleaning schedule for gradual cleaning, which is discussed in detail below.

Daily

Each time you use it, you can simply rinse your body first to prevent contamination from sweat and other human excretions. After use, check whether there are leaves or other things that have fallen into the tub. If so, you can use a fine net to simply salvage them. You also need to make sure every day that the power supply of the wooden hot tub can keep the water circulation system running normally, use test paper to test whether the water quality pH is neutralized, use bromine, chlorine and scale cleaners to clean the water inside the tub, and whether the lid is airtight and protected, and whether there is any damage, to ensure that there is a clean water source next time you use it. You can also cover it with a pool membrane for protection.

2-3 Weeks

Stainless steel liner wooden hot tub:The stainless steel liner tank can be dissolved in water by adding weak alkaline disinfectant. Turn off the power, put on gloves, and use a soft cloth to simply clean and wipe the inside of the wooden hot tub. Then, use a hose to let water flow in, rinse the cleaned liner wall, and open the drain valve to drain the sewage, and then fill the tub with water. If you are in an area with expensive water charges, you can do a good job of cleaning and maintenance based on the water quality and adjust the cleaning and water change cycle.

Wooden liner hot tub: Add a proper amount of baking soda dissolved in water to the wooden liner, use a soft brush to clean the liner wall of the wooden hot tub, remove the scale between the wood gaps, use a hose to rinse and drain the sewage, and then fill the tub with water. At the same time, you also need to test the water quality and adjust the cleaning and water change cycle appropriately. For the tubs with wood stoves, you also need to simply clean and pour out the debris in the wood stove to prevent the debris from blocking the next use and causing slow heating.

Regardless of the liner and the use way, the tub cover needs to be simply wiped clean and the debris on the cover, such as leaves and dust, should be swept away to prevent impurities from entering the wooden hot tub and polluting the water. After cleaning, add water and use a test paper to check the water quality of the tub to see if its pH value is balanced and whether the disinfectant content exceeds the standard. Use chemical cleaning agents such as bromine and chlorine appropriately to maintain pH balance and water cleanliness.

Quarterly (3-4 Months)

After using the wooden hot tub for 3-4 months, you need to deep clean the inside.
In addition to the above cleaning, use a small brush to clean the gaps and water/drain holes, and then perform the following cleaning steps for different liners or usage methods.

Electric wooden hot tub: In order to make the water cleaner, the filter element needs to be cleaned once a month. If you use the wooden hot tub frequently, you need to remove the filter element first, then add filter element cleaner to rinse, use a spray gun with a hose to spray water to impact the dirt on the filter element, and gently wipe stubborn stains with a soft cloth. After cleaning, put the filter element back into the wooden hot tub.

Wood-fired wooden hot tub:Use a brush to simply clean the chimney and the outer wall of the furnace to prevent smoke backflow, and use baking soda soaked in water and a soft cloth to clean the outer wall of the wooden hot tub that is dirty by wood burning smoke.

Each Year

Ask a professional technician to come and check whether the wooden hot tub is operating normally, whether the related equipment is damaged, and whether the hardware, debugging lines and wood are leaking. Also check whether the strapping is worn or loose, and replace the damaged straps.

After checking that there is no damage, cut off the power supply and drain the water. Use a soft brush with a neutral detergent, such as mild soapy water, to clean the inner and outer walls and dry them.
Wooden hot tub need to be applied with wood wax oil and mildew inhibitor every year for maintenance and maintenance to prevent wood mold and water leakage.
Electric wooden hot tub need to replace the filter element once a year to maintain the performance of the filter element and keep the water clean.

Conclusion

Keeping your wooden hot tub clean requires not only regular cleaning but also disciplined usage practices.In some cold weather, you need to prepare for freezing in advance. Turn off the power and heater, drain the wooden hot tub, and dry the tub and pipes to prevent freezing and damage to the wooden hot tub. When using a wooden hot tub, rinse your body before entering the tub and reduce the use of chemical cleaning products such as shower gel. Remember to close and lock the tub lid after use or when not in use for a long time.

About Alphasauna

Alphasauna is a manufacturer of ice baths, cold plunge tubs, wooden hot tubs and saunas with over 10 years of manufacturing experience, It implements a vertically integrated industrial chain model, strictly controls every link of production and sales, produces high-quality products and gives the most affordable quotes. If you need it, please contact us!