Bubble bath, bath bombs, scented bath salts and bath oils are not recommended in a jetted walk-in tub, because the oils, dyes and solids they leave behind travel into the pumps and jets and are hard to flush back out. Plain Epsom salts are the exception, as long as they are fully dissolved before they go in, and everyday soaps, shampoos and body wash are always fine. If you have a soaking-only tub with no pumps, the rules are much more relaxed. This guide explains why the jets set the rules, product by product, and what to do if you have already been using additives. For the full Epsom salt routine, see Epsom salts, bath bombs, bubble bath or oils in a walk-in tub.

The Quick Reference Table

Why the Jets Set the Rules

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. Anything in the water makes that trip too. An undissolved salt crystal can lodge in a jet, and oils coat the inside of the pumps and lines where they are hard to flush out. That is why solids must be dissolved before they go in and why oily products are discouraged. Plain soap and shampoo rinse away with the bath water and cause no trouble.

Epsom Salts, the Right Way

1. Dissolve the salts completely in a cup or bowl of warm water before adding them to the tub. No crystals should be visible.
2. Add the dissolved salts to your bath. Fully dissolved Epsom salt will not harm the pumps, heater, or jets.
3. Drain the tub when you are finished soaking rather than letting the salt water sit.
4. Rinse the whole tub with the hand shower, paying special attention to jet covers, drain plugs, handles, faucet, and other chrome trim, and wash the residue down the drain.

Salt residue that dries on chrome can eat at the finish and leave spots. If you already see marks near the drain or threshold, the rust spots on the threshold or drain article explains what they are and how to remove them.

Bubble Bath, Oils, and Bath Bombs

Bubble bath, bath oils, and bath bombs all leave oil behind, and bath bombs add dye, glitter, and plant material on top of that, so they are the worst combination for a jet system. Skip them in a jetted tub. If you have a soaking-only tub with no jets or pumps, these products only touch the acrylic and are fine as long as you rinse the tub afterward.

If You Have Been Using Additives Already

There is no need to worry. Run the standard cleaning flush: 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, then drain. If jets feel weak or debris comes out after heavy additive use, repeat the flush and clean the pump inlet cover of hair and debris. The same flush is the one we recommend before the very first bath, described in the first-use checklist. Between flushes, the hydro system's ozone sterilization and the air system's Auto Purge, which runs about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off, keep the lines fresh on their own.

Related Guides

• How Do I Clean the Jet Lines on My Walk-In Tub?
• Black Flakes, Brown Slime, or Debris Coming From the Jets: Cleaning Steps That Work
• Which cleaners are safe for my walk-in tub, and which chemicals should I avoid?

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.