On The Job Site With Jen #3: How to Polish Up An Old Hot Tub or Spa

It’s a sad sight to see an old hot tub or spa look so bad that nobody wants to open the lid and get in.  With every passing day, the hot tub is less and less likely to be used again.

When a local customer asked for help “flipping her hot tub,” I happily took on the challenge!  With just a few products and a little elbow grease, this hot tub owner and her family had a new place to connect.  No screens, no homework, no dishes…just some time to catch up.

STEP 1:  In this hot tub story, we started with a hot tub that had been sitting empty and under a shedding tree for a year.  Imagine rotting leaves, thick and wet dust, sap and bugs.  So, we got to scrubbing right away!

For the hot tub cover, we used 303 Aerospace Protectant which is SPF 40 for Vinyl, Rubber, Plastic, Leather and Fiberglass.  It wiped on and off so easily, the cover looked brand new within the hour.

303 Aerospace Protectant is a premium surface treatment that provides superior protection against harmful UV rays that cause discoloration, cracking, chalking and fading.  It restores and maintains a like-new appearance, color and texture.  It repels dust, soiling and staining.

There are several key benefits to using 303 Aerospace Protectant on your spa cover, including:

• Prevents fading and cracking
• Restores lost color and luster
• Repels smudges, dust, soiling and staining
• No greasy residue; nice matte finish
• Anti-Static
• Keeps treated surfaces looking new
• Easy to use. Simply spray on then wipe dry

STEP 2:  The inside of the hot tub looked like there was no hope.  Dirty, aged-looking and sitting empty for a year, the excitement I once had was quickly wearing.

For the shell of the hot tub, we used Power Blue Waterline and Tile Cleaner by Jack's Magic.  This is a great product for pools and hot tubs with waterline and tile scum line issues. Even the hardest sun-baked, oily black scum lines and water marks disappear with ease.  It worked quickly and required a lot less scrubbing than we thought!

Power Blue is safe for use on Tile, Fiberglass, Vinyl Liners, Pool Stairs and Slides, Solid Pool and Spa Covers, and Patio Furniture.  Do not use on glass!!

Power Blue is easy to use:

• No hard scrubbing
• Won't affect water balance
• Non-Acidic Formula
• Eco-Friendly

STEP 3:  A simple inspection of the spa’s original spa ozone generator determined it had expired and needed replacing.  If you have an ozonator, when you open up the skirt of your spa you will find the Spa Ozone Generator along with its Ozone Supply Tubing, Ozone Check Valve(s) and point of injection (either an Injector or a return line where ozone gets returned and sucked in through a jet located at the bottom of the hot tub).

To learn more about replacing your spa’s expired ozone generator, click here.

STEP 4:  Replace your hot tub or spa filter.  This will ensure you get the cleanest water possible.  In other words, this is not an area you want to save a few bucks on.  Over time, the fibers and materials in the filters wear out, allowing bigger debris to continuously cycle in the spa water.  Your spa is only as good as your filter.  Using ozone will clump tiny particles together, so your filter can catch more than it can without ozone.

STEP 5:  Now it’s time to clean the pipes from the inside out.  We used one of my favorite products, Spa System Flush by SeaKlear.

SeaKlear Spa System Flush benefits:

• All natural, Eco-friendly, 100% Biodegradable
• Compatible with all sanitizers
• Safe for all spa plumbing

To use SeaKlear Spa System Flush:

1. Remove filter and adjust water level if necessary.  If you currently have water in your hot tub, DO NOT DRAIN.  In our case, we needed to fill it once first to flush out the pipes.

2. Add SeaKlear Spa System Flush directly into old spa water - 4 Tablespoons per 100 gallons

3. Run spa at high-speed with all jets and water features for 15-30 minutes, or run overnight on low-speed

4. Drain water and clean spa shell using a small amount of Spa System Flush on sponge or terry cloth to wipe residues

5. Reinstall clean filter, refill, then balance spa water

6. Repeat steps 1-5 with every water change (which is 3-4 months without ozone or 6-8 months with ozone)

For crystal clear water, use SeaKlear Spa System Flush,
change your Spa Ozone Generator (3-5 year lifespan), and replace your Spa Filter.

STEP 6:  Fill up your spa with clean water.  If you have hard water or desire start with the cleanest water possible, you might want to use a pre-filter which screws onto a garden hose and removes particulate matter (dirt).  Some pre-filters also remove heavy metals and other contaminants such as Mercury, Lead, Iron, Hydrogen Sulfide (rotten egg smell), Fluoride and Arsenic.

STEP 7:  To be extra safe about water quality, use the recommended dose of Balanced Shock Oxidizer after filling up your spa water.  You can get in the spa water after 20 minutes, so it’s not like chlorine shock.It’s oxygen-based and burns off quickly.

STEP 8:  ENJOY YOUR NEW, TRANQUIL HOT TUB!  Leave your worries (and screens) behind, and open your senses to relaxation.  After each soak, put the proper amount of SeaKlear Spa Sanitizing Granules in the spa water.  The combination of Ozone, Spa Sanitizing Granules and Balanced Shock Oxidizer will give you water that you will call you back, day after day*.

Get all these handy products in one box!  Check out the Flipping Hot Tub Package now!

*and night after night.