Can You Use Bath Bombs in a Jetted Tub Without Damaging It?

Bath bombs are the one bath product we ask you to leave out of any jetted Ella walk-in tub. Their oils, dye, glitter and floral bits travel into the jets and can damage the pump system, so there is no reliable way to use one in a jetted tub without that risk. The wider product list is in Is Bubble Bath, Bath Bombs or Bath Oil OK in a Jetted Walk-In Tub? What the Jets Can and Cannot Handle, and this page stays with bath bombs alone: why they cause trouble, what to do if one has already gone in, and what gives you a lovely soak instead.

Why a Bath Bomb Is Different in a Jetted Tub

In a plain bathtub, whatever you add to the water simply goes down the drain at the end. A jetted tub works differently. A jetted Ella tub draws bath water in through the intake, pushes it through the pump and the in-line heater, and sends it back out through the jets. The jet lines are fully plumbed, so anything in the water makes that same trip.

That is why the jets set the rules. Plain soap and shampoo rinse away with the bath water and cause no trouble. A bath bomb is a mix of ingredients that do not rinse away so easily, and each one is a concern of its own:

• Oils. Oils coat the inside of the pumps and lines, where they are hard to flush back out.
• Dye. Dyes are among the ingredients that can affect the jet system.
• Glitter and confetti. These solids can lodge in the jets and clog the jet systems.
• Floral material. Petals and floral bits can clog the jets in the same way.

The published guidance adds that these ingredients may have long term effects on the tub mechanics. Ella's cleaning and maintenance video cautions against bath bombs for exactly this reason: they can damage the pump system that every jet line runs through.

Does It Matter Whether the Jets Are Running?

For some products it does. Epsom salts, for example, are welcome as long as they are dissolved first and saved for the still soak after the hydro, air or microbubble therapy is finished. Bath bombs are treated differently. The guidance is to leave them out of a jetted tub entirely, not only while the pumps are on, because the oils and solids stay in the bath water and the plumbed lines sit in that same water.

The one place a bath bomb is fine is a soaking-only tub with no jets and no pumps. There the rules are much more relaxed, and a bath bomb simply calls for a rinse of the tub afterward.

It is also worth knowing how the warranty guidance reads for similar products. Bath oils, bath beads and fragrance beads can get stuck in the jet and air pumps and damage the motors, and damage caused that way falls outside the warranty. Oils are one of the main ingredients of concern in a bath bomb, which is one more good reason to skip it. The verdict for every product is in Can I use Epsom salts, bath bombs, bubble bath, or oils in my walk-in tub?.

What to Do If a Bath Bomb Has Already Gone in

If you have already enjoyed a bath bomb in your jetted tub, a little care right away goes a long way. The published advice for anyone who has used one is to rinse thoroughly, and the monthly vinegar flush is the routine that clears what additives leave behind.

1. Drain the tub and rinse the whole shell with the hand shower. Run the hand shower over the jets so residue does not dry inside them.
2. Fill the tub with water to 1 inch above the highest jets.
3. Combine 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water and add the mixture to the tub.
4. Run the tub for 10 minutes, then drain completely.
5. In the same session, clear hair and debris from the pump inlet cover and wipe it with a non-abrasive towel and an approved cleaner. The cover is the suction grate where the hydro pump draws water in, so buildup on it is a common reason for weak jets.

The How To Clean Your Walk-In Tub video on this page shows the cleanout itself: the tub is filled to about an inch over the highest jets, white vinegar is added, and the jets are run before the tub is fully drained. Follow the 10 minute run time given in the steps above. If flakes or slime still appear after a correct flush, repeat the flush. If the jets stay weak after the cover is clean and a correct flush has run, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850. The whole schedule is laid out in How Do I Clean and Maintain My Walk-In Tub?.

What the Built-In Cleaning Features Do and Do Not Do

Jetted Ella tubs help keep themselves fresh. The ozone generator runs with the hydro system to sanitize the water lines. The air system's Auto Purge starts automatically 20 minutes after the air pump is turned off and runs for 120 seconds to blow residual water out of the air lines. It cannot be stopped, and it is perfectly normal.

These features are the reason you do not need to flush after every ordinary bath, because the air and hydro systems are fully plumbed and self clearing. They are designed around water, though. Auto Purge blows out residual water, and the vinegar flush is the step the guidance names for clearing what bath additives leave behind. So after a bath bomb, do not count on the automatic features alone. Run the flush.

What to Enjoy Instead of a Bath Bomb

You can still have a soothing, pampering bath with products the jets are happy with.

• Epsom salts. Fully dissolved Epsom salts will not harm the jetting system. Dissolve them completely in a cup of warm water, enjoy your therapy first, add the salts for the still soak, drain right after, and wipe down the chrome so salt residue does not spot or discolor it.
• Everyday soap, shampoo and body wash. These are fine every day, including with the jets on. Rinse well afterward.
• Bubble bath, sparingly. The jets make a great deal of foam, so use a fraction of the usual amount and watch the level. Tips for keeping suds under control are in Can You Use Bubble Bath or Shampoo With the Jets Running? Managing Foam in a Jetted Walk-In Tub.
• Microbubble therapy. If your tub has the microbubble function, it activates billions of bubbles that exfoliate, moisturize and invigorate, with nothing added to the water.

Scented bath salts, bath oils and bath beads sit in the same family as bath bombs, since their oils, dye and solids raise the same concerns. If you choose to use any of them, use them sparingly, rinse thoroughly, and plan on extra vinegar flushes.

Watch: How To Clean Your Walk-In Tub | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Can You Use Epsom Salts in an Air Jetted Walk-In Tub?
• Can I use essential oils in a walk-in tub with jets?
• Black Flakes, Brown Slime, or Debris Coming From the Jets: Cleaning Steps That Work

Related Videos

Common Questions