Jacuzzi baths are kind of OUT at the moment. Of course that didn’t stop me from getting one few years ago when we renovated our downstairs bathroom. It was my husbands wish to have one. I wasn’t too fussed to be honest. Funnily enough, I use it more than he does. I suffer from back problems so it has been a godsend in many ways. But jacuzzi baths aren’t exactly hassle free which you may have guessed already. We followed manufacturer’s instructions but still had to learn this the hard way.
Whirlpool bath technology has certainly come a long way since they were invented in the 1950 by the Jacuzzi brothers. There are many design options, water filtering is better and the jets are more powerful. It’s the ultimate relaxation for many, but obviously they don’t come totally hassle free. Just imagine all the things that can get trapped in those jets over time. We had our Bathstore whirlpool bath for almost two years until we started having few problems with it. I should also probably add that I did absolutely everything that our bath manufacturer adviced us to do. Which was cleaning the whirlpool bath with non-bio powder every few months or so. That was pretty much it. I should have done a bit more research about what type of products to use with it as well how to avoid build up. Whirlpool baths can differ a lot too, so always check your manufacturer’s guidelines first before you start the cleaning process.
So, you may be wondering what exactly happened with our bath tub. Well, we hadn’t used the jets for a while, although my husband kept having regular baths (just without the bubbles). Since he wasn’t switching on the jets the dirt inside the pipework started building up. The trouble is that the water that sits inside the plum lines starts to grow mold and bacteria. Of course you wouldn’t notice it as long as you weren’t using the jets, but the minute you switch them on after a break you’ll start to see brown bits floating in your bath water. Pretty gross, right?
Anyway, the reason I wanted to write this post was to give you a realistic idea what it’s like to maintain a whirpool bath. It’s not as bad as it may sound, but it’s certainly more work than a regular bath (especially if you use it frequently).
1) C L E A N Y O U R B A T H (R E G U L A R L Y)
I thought I’d start with the obvious one first. Good cleaning regime and prevention is the key to a clean whirlpool bath. There are no set rules how often you should clean your bath. It totally depends on how often you use it and what products you use with it. We are a family of 4 and our whirlpool bath is used at least 4 times a week. Yes we like our baths, but this also means that cleaning it once a month isn’t enough. Or every three months like our bath manufacturer recommended. We also use bath oils which can leave an oily residue and affect the pipework (I’ll talk more about this soon). I really miss having my Finnish ‘sauna’ here in the UK and our whirlpool bath is the substitute. Obviously it’s not the same thing, but it’s probably my second favourite thing after sauna. You can either buy whirlpool bath cleaners online or use non-bio washing powder. Fill the bath with lukewarm water first, add the bath cleaning solution and switch the jets on for at least 15-20 minutes. Then empty the bath and fill it with cold water and switch the jets on for another 5-10 minutes. You shouldn’t see too much dirt when you do the regular clean up, if you do then it’s time to do a deep clean (I’ll get to this soon).
2) S W I T C H O N T H E J E T S (E V E N I F I T’S F O R A F E W M I N U T E S)
This is something we didn’t realise. Even if you’re not using the jets all the time you should still switch them on for few minutes after having a regular bath. It’s so easy to forget but I really think this is one of the most crucial things you need to do in order to avoid build ups.
3) U S E N O N – O I L Y B A T H P R O D U C T S
The recommendation is to use bath products that don’t foam a lot (for obvious reasons). If you are using bath gel, you’ll only need one or two drops as it will foam once the jets are switched on. Apparently bath oils (or any oily, moisturising products) aren’t recommended but I still love using my Jo Malone Lime, Basil & Mandarin bath oil weekly. I love the scent and I’m willing to take the risk. I love my bath oils and that they foam just the right amount (I use a small capful each time). If you’re using oily products like me, you’ll need to stay on top of your cleaning regime to avoid build up.
4) D E E P C L E A N (I F N E E D E D)
Although we’ve been following manufacturer’s cleaning instructions since we bought the bath, it wasn’t quite enough. Since we use ours a lot (multiple times a week with bath oils) cleaning it every 3 months isn’t enough. If the water doesn’t look clear or you’re seeing black bits floating in the water it’s time for a deep clean. Buy a product designed for whirpool baths, like the Pro-Kleen pipe cleaner from Amazon. This is meant to deep clean the pipes. Not so much the bath itself. I had to switch on the jets for 5 times to get rid of all the dirt (which was mainly mold). I filled the bath with warm water first and then added the Pro-Kleen solution. Switch on the jets for 30-45 minutes (at least) and make sure that the room is well ventilated. Empty the bath and fill it with cold water and run the cycle for another 15 minutes. It is important to keep doing this until the water is crystal clear. Luckily I’ve only had to do a deep clean once. I used the deep clean solution first but ran out after the second cycle, so I had to use non-bio powder in stead. Both work fine but for really bad build up I would always recommend using a specialist product.
5) D I S I N F E C T
There are many different ways you can disinfect your bath. Your regular clean will help but I also like to use Method anti-bac spray after each use. It obviously won’t disinfect the internal pipes which is why it’s important to clean it with a detergent regularly. You can also buy disinfectant tablets for your bath. Just simply pop them in after you’re done and let them neutralise the bath. Remember to wipe all the surfaces with a cotton cloth or a sponge afterwards.
6) I N S T A L L A W A T E R S O F T E N E R
This is something that we should have done when we first moved in 7 years ago. We live in a hard water area and it has ruined multiple taps and appliances for us. You can read about 13 Things I Learnt From Our Marble Bathroom Make-Over here. The calcium build up will eventually damage the pipes and it will shorten the life of your whirlpool bath. The cleaning part isn’t so much fun either (especially if you have matt black appliances).
7) A V O I D P R O D U C T S W I T H B L E A C H
Many cleaning products contain bleach so make sure that you are not using them (unless you absolutely have to). Bleach is great for killing bacteria but it can also corrode the rubber seals in your whirlpool bath.
So, would I get another whirlpool bath? Honestly I don’t know. I would love a big stand alone (regular) bath but I would need a much bigger bathroom for that. I think my back would still miss those jets though (but I could certainly live without the maintenance). My husband on the other hand would love one in the garden, but the cleaning aspect does frighten me a little bit. I love the idea of Finnish ‘Palju’ (a Finnish spa heated with a wooden stove) but I think they are much better in colder climates than here in the UK.
If you have any tips you’d like to add, leave a comment below!
P R O D U C T L I S T
Custom bath tray by The Urban Workshop – Byredo Fleur Phantome scented candle – Missoni hand towel (previously gifted by Amara Living) – Byredo Bal d’Afrique shower gel – Champagne flute by Riedel – Book: How to be Parisian – Jo Malone Lime, Basil and Mandarin bath oil – Faux Succulent in Pots – Whirlpool Bath
