How to Clean a Jetted Tub
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Taking a hot bath after a long day is one of the small joys in life. This is particularly true for those with jetted tubs that work to relieve achy muscles and leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
There are few things that can inhibit this feeling of relaxation and cleanliness more than realizing your jetted tub is in fact harboring masses of dirt and bacteria that are being emitted into your bathwater. This is why it is so vital that jetted bathtubs are cleaned regularly and thoroughly. Here, we will look at how to clean a jetted tub.
Failing to deep clean jets in your bathtub on a regular basis could result in the serious buildup of bacteria, mold, mildew, limescale, and soap scum. We are going to talk you through our favorite method for deep cleaning your jetted tub so that you can rest assured that every bath you take will be both relaxing and sanitary!
Related: How to Clean a Bathtub Without Harsh Chemicals
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Top Choice  | Natural Plant-Based Scrub Sponge by Scrub-it
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2 Pack  | Zwipes Microfiber Kitchen and Bathroom Cleaning Sponges
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How to Clean a Jetted Tub
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
Listed here are all of the products, tools, and ingredients that you’re going to need to deep clean your jetted tub in your bathroom:
- Microfiber Cloth x2
- Soft Bristle Scrubbing Brush or Cleaning Pad
- Old Toothbrush
- Hot Water
- Natural Liquid Soap or Distilled Water and White Vinegar Mixture
- Baking Soda
Step 2: Remove Visible, Surface-Level Dirt
The first step to take when deep cleaning your jetted bathtub, is to remove as much visible dirt as possible. This means removing any soap scum, oil residues, hair, and other debris from the surface of the tub and the outer jets.
To do this, use your choice of natural liquid soap diluted with some warm water and use a microfiber cloth or mildly abrasive scrubbing brush (if the bristles are too stiff you risk scratching the surface of the tub or jets) to clean the tub as well as possible.
E-Cloth Starter Pack
Alternatively, you could make your own DIY cleaning solution using equal parts distilled water and white vinegar. The acidity of the vinegar is great for breaking down dirt and grime and it is also naturally antibacterial and deodorizing.
After cleaning as much surface-level dirt off of your tub as possible, give it a quick rinse or use a clean microfiber cloth to remove any residual dirt.
Step 3: Fill the Tub
Next up, you will need to fill the tub with water. We recommend using hot water as this will ease the lifting of stubborn dirt and help to kill bacteria.
Fill the tub until the water reaches around two to three inches above the jets.
Now, add your choice of cleaning solution. Again, you can choose between an all-natural liquid soap or detergent or the DIY white vinegar mixture. You could also add some lemon juice, this will help to cut through grease and grime and leave the tub looking and smelling sparkling clean.
Dr. Bronner’s – Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner
If you choose to use a natural liquid soap, opt for one that is non or low-sudsing. You don’t want to be faced with a mountain of bubbles once the jets are turned on!
Let the cleaning solution sit in the tub undisturbed for around 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 4: Activate the Jets
After allowing the tub and the jets to soak in the cleaning solution for a few minutes, it’s time to turn on the jets.
It might be a good idea to turn off the air-induction valves before doing this to allow the cleaning solution and water to flow only through the internal plumbing system, intensifying the cleaning process. Consult your manufacturer’s guide to figure out whether this is necessary or whether the valves should be left on at all times.
By turning on the jets, the water and cleaning solution is forced through them, allowing any dirt build-up or debris to be loosened and expelled into the tub itself. You’ll know it’s working when you begin to see lumps of dirt, limescale, or soap scum being emitted from the jets!
Leave these running for a further ten minutes, or longer if dirt is still being expelled from the jets.
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Most Versatile  | Dr. Bronner’s - Pure-Castile Liquid Soap (Peppermint)
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Step 5: Drain the Tub
After switching off the jets, the next step in how to clean a jetted tub is to drain the tub. If there are any particularly large pieces of dirt floating around, it might be a good idea to try and remove these first using either a net, cloth, or jug. This will prevent them from getting lodged in your drain and potentially causing blockages.
After draining the tub, you will probably be left with a considerable amount of gunk and dirt lingering in the bathtub. This just means that the deep clean is working! You can rinse it off with some regular water or use a clean cloth to remove any dirt that has been left over.
Step 6: Repeat Steps 3 to 5
Now, it’s time to repeat steps 3 to 5; refilling the tub with your cleaning solution, blasting the jets, then draining and rinsing the tub.
This might not be necessary if you clean your tub regularly and are simply carrying out a basic maintenance clean.
However, if your tub has not been cleaned for a long time, you will probably be surprised by how much dirt has built up in the jets. Carrying out a second clean should remove this thoroughly and allow any stubborn bacteria to also be killed.
Step 7: Scrub with Baking Soda
After draining your tub for the second time, before drying the tub or wiping it clean, sprinkle baking soda all over the surface of the tub, the jets, and any hardware. It’s important not to add too much baking soda here, as you don’t want it to cause any blockages in your pipework when it’s rinsed away, but use enough to give the entire tub a light coating.
Once your tub is coated, take your soft bristle brush or cleaning pad and scrub the entirety of the tub, focusing primarily on any stubborn stains, limescale, mildew, or dirt that may have been left behind from the deep clean. Be sure to work the baking soda into any hard-to-reach crevices around the jets and hardware.
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If you’re having trouble getting into some tighter spots, this is where that toothbrush will come in really useful. Use this to really get into any cracks or crevices.
If there are any particularly stubborn spots, for example, if you have some limescale on your taps or a little mildew around the plug, you can also spray some of your water and vinegar mixture over the top of the baking soda, let this soak for a couple of minutes and then scrub once again, this should lift any dirt right off.
Step 8: Rinse Off and Wipe Clean
The final step in how to clean a jetted tub is to rinse away all of the residual dirt and cleaning products to leave you with a sparkling clean tub and sanitized, clear jets!
As we said earlier, it’s important not to wash too much baking soda down the drain to avoid any blockages, so if you’re worried that you may have added a little too much during the scrubbing process, you can remove some of the baking soda with a cloth or some kitchen towels before rinsing the tub.
Finish off by polishing the tub, jets, and any hardware with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. You can now enjoy your newly cleaned jetted tub!
Related: How to Clean a Shower
How Often Does a Jetted Tub Need to be Cleaned?
Most jetted tubs will need to be deep cleaned a minimum of once a month, with smaller maintenance cleans carried out periodically. Although this will vary greatly depending on how often you use the tub.
There are a few steps you can take to elongate the time between deep cleans and to keep your jetted tub consistently clean and sanitary. We’ve listed these below:
Avoid Certain Products
Firstly, you can avoid using oil-based products while in the tub, if possible. These liquids can quickly cause greasy buildup within the jets. If you just can’t resist your favorite bath oil, the following step might help to reduce this problem.
Rinse the Tub After Every Use
After each use, fill the tub with clean cold water straight from the tap. Switch the jets on and allow the water to run through them for around ten minutes. This should flush out a good amount of gunk and soap scum since it should still be fairly loose because it hasn’t been left to sit for a long period of time.
Clean Visible Dirt by Hand
If you see dirt build-up on the surface of the tub or around the jets, simply clean this with a cloth and your choice of cleaning solution to prevent this from making its way into the jets. You can do this after every use or just once every one to two weeks to ensure your jetted tub stays clean for longer.
Related: How to Keep Your Glass Shower Doors Sparkling Without Chemical Cleaners
| Image | Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Choice | Natural Plant-Based Scrub Sponge by Scrub-it
| 9.8 | Check Price on Amazon |
| SCRUBIT Cellulose Scrub Sponge
| 9.6 | Check Price on Amazon |
2 Pack | Zwipes Microfiber Kitchen and Bathroom Cleaning Sponges
| 9.5 | Check Price on Amazon |
Final Thoughts on How to Clean a Jetted Tub
Jetted bathtubs are a great luxury and relaxing into one after a long day can bring a real sense of calm and wellness, so long as they are well-maintained and cleaned regularly.
By using the method and tips listed in this article on how to clean a jetted tub, you can effectively deep clean your jetted tub using only natural, safe products that won’t harm you, your loved ones, your bathtub, and plumbing system, or the environment.