The safe cleaners for a walk-in tub are gentle, non abrasive household bathroom cleaners: Dawn dish detergent, Simple Green, Tilex, Pine-Sol, Clorox Fraganzia, and the other products on the printed Ella cleaning instructions, applied with a soft cloth. The acrylic surface keeps its glossy white finish for many years as long as abrasive products, bleach, and harsh chemical corrosives never touch it. Below is the full approved list, the short list of products and ingredients to keep away from your tub, and the water-side routine that keeps the jets clean.

Approved Cleaners

These products are listed in the Ella walk-in tub cleaning instructions and are safe for the acrylic surface:

• Dawn Dish Detergent
• Rubbermaid Commercial Strength Shower Tub & Tile
• HDX Shower Tub & Tile (Home Depot)
• Scrub Free Original Soap Scum Remover
• Kaboom with OxiClean
• Simple Green All Purpose, Simple Green Lime Scale Remover, and Simple Green Natural Bathroom Cleaner
• All Tilex products
• All Pine-Sol products
• All Clorox Fraganzia products

Some model manuals also approve dishwashing detergent, Lysol Power Bathroom, CLR Bath & Kitchen, Formula 409, and Iron Out. For everyday wipe-downs, mild dish soap in warm water or a 1 to 1 mix of white vinegar and water on a soft cloth or sponge works well; rinse and wipe dry afterward.

Watch: The Cleaning Routine in Two Minutes

The video shows the whole routine: ozone runs whenever the hydro jets are on and the Auto Purge clears the air lines after an air massage, you wipe the tub about twice a month with a non-abrasive cleaner because abrasives damage the surface, keep the intake screen clear of debris, skip bath bombs because their ingredients can damage the pump system, and flush the jets with white vinegar monthly to prevent mineral deposits. For the flush, use the published recipe in this article.

What to Avoid

Stubborn Marks, Construction Debris, and Scratches

1. For everyday soap scum and water marks, use any approved cleaner from the list above with a soft cloth or non abrasive towel.
2. For construction debris after installation, start with a mild detergent.
3. For stubborn debris, sticker glue, or caulk that will not lift, use denatured alcohol or Clorox Soft Scrub.
4. For fine scratches or dull spots on the acrylic, use a fine grade automotive polishing compound, such as a Turtle Wax type product, and buff gently. Our acrylic surface care article goes deeper on scratches and chips.

Do Not Forget the Water Side

Surface cleaning is only half the job. Once a month, flush the jetted plumbing: mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, fill the tub to 1 inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the pumps for 10 minutes, and drain. This prevents calcification inside the lines. While you are at it, clean the pump inlet cover of hair and debris and wipe it with a non abrasive towel. The full schedule is in our cleaning and monthly maintenance article, and if debris ever appears from the jets, see black flakes or slime from the jets.

Door Seal and Metal Finishes

Clean the door seal and door frame regularly with a common household cleaner so residue never builds up, since buildup there can lead to door leaks. Rubbing alcohol is appropriate for cleaning the silicone door seal itself; see door seal cleaning and care. For chrome parts, plain soap and water works well, and remember that heavy or prolonged use of Epsom salts can discolor or spot chrome finishes, so rinse metal surfaces after salt baths. Glass screens, the stainless door, and chrome are covered in cleaning glass screens, doors, and chrome.

Common Questions

Still need help? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and our team will be happy to walk you through it.