How To Clean a Hot Tub Filter

Your hot tub water is only as clean as the filter it passes through. You know that, so you regularly clean the hot tub filter. But, like your swimming pool maintenance, the real trick here is clean the filter properly. If not, you’ll presume the filter is clean, but it, and the water in the tub won’t be.

3 Steps to Clean a Water Filter

If you follow the steps below, you may not ever have to clean really dirty filters again. Following these steps will keep your filter relatively clean throughout its life span.

1. The Weekly Rinse – If you keep water flowing fairly regularly in your tub, a weekly rinse is called for. Remove the filter from the tub simply rinse them in water from the garden hose or kitchen sink. Let the filter dry before replacing it and operating the tub.
   
2. The Monthly Rinse – Once a month, after a regular weekly rinse, spray a liberal amount of hot tub filter cleaning solution throughout the filter and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then rinse them really well with a hose or in the sink. Any cleaner left on the filter is liable to cause a lot of foam in your hot tub when you turn it back on.
   
3. The Quarterly Soak – It’s a good maintenance habit to change the water in your hot tub every three or four months. When you do, it’s a great time to do a deep cleaning of the filter.  In a bucket large enough to hold the entire filter, dilute some hot tub filter cleaning chemical with water according to the instructions on the cleaner’s label. There must be enough liquid in the bucket to completely cover the filter cartridge. Leave the filter at least overnight and for 24 hours if you suspect that it is dirtier than usual. As always, thoroughly rinse the filter to avoid unwanted suds in the pool.

One Final Point: You should never use bleach, laundry detergent, other household cleaner or the dishwasher to clean your hot tub filter. They can damage the filter media and trigger even larger foam displays in your spa than the hot tub cleaners.

If you liked this post, check out our recent article about how to open an above-ground pool.