Can I Use Epsom Salts, Bath Bombs or Bubble Bath in My Walk-In Tub?

Yes to Epsom salts, with two simple habits, and no to bath bombs. Epsom salts will not harm the jetting system as long as they are fully dissolved; the best practice is to enjoy the hydro, air or microbubble therapy first and add the salts for the soak afterward. Bath bombs are the one product we ask you to skip in any jetted Ella tub. The first thing to check is whether the jets will be running, because everything in the water travels through the fully plumbed jet lines and the pump. Ordinary body wash, soap and shampoo are fine every day; oils, beads and foaming bubble bath call for more care. The full list with verdicts lives in our guide to Epsom salts, bath bombs and other bath products.

Likely Causes

• Bath bombs: their oils, dye and glitter lodge in the jets and can damage the pump system, so they are not used.
• Bath oils, bath beads and fragrance beads, including oil products such as Skin So Soft and bead products such as Calgon: they lodge in the pumps and jets, and damage caused that way falls outside the warranty.
• Undissolved Epsom salt crystals, or salts left sitting in the tub: they reach the jets and spot the chrome.
• Foaming bubble bath with the air massage on: excess foam and a soap film that stays in the lines.

What to Check, in Order

1. Run your hydro, air or microbubble therapy first, then add the dissolved salts for a still soak once the systems are finished. Dissolved salts will not harm the jetting system, but keeping them out of the running pumps is the team's best-practice advice.
2. Dissolve Epsom salts completely in a cup of warm water before they go into the bath, so no crystals reach the jets.
3. Drain right after soaking and wipe down all chrome finishes so salt residue does not spot or discolor them.
4. Leave bath bombs out of the tub entirely. Oils, bath beads and fragrance beads are not recommended in a jetted tub; if you choose to use them anyway, plan on more frequent vinegar flushes and rinse the tub well.
5. Use foaming bubble bath sparingly, watch the foam when the air massage is on, and rinse afterward. Any ordinary body wash or shampoo brand is fine.
6. If the jets have already seen additives, run the monthly flush from our cleaning and monthly maintenance guide: 2 cups white vinegar mixed with 2 cups water, tub filled to 1 inch above the highest jets, run 10 minutes, then drain.

The video shows why bath bombs are off the list, since their ingredients can damage the pump system, and covers the helpers built into your tub: ozone whenever the hydro jets run, Auto Purge after the air massage, and a wipe of the tub surface about twice a month with a non-abrasive cleaner. For the flush itself, use the recipe above. Watch: Walk-In Tub Cleaning and Maintenance Guide with chapters and a full transcript.

When to Open a Ticket

If the jets are weak or you see flakes or slime after using an additive, run the vinegar flush once and then reach out. Include your model, the product you used, a short video of the jets running, and a photo of anything coming out of them, and send it to your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. Our article on black flakes or slime from the jets covers the cleanup in detail.

Related Guides

• Which Cleaners Are Safe on Your Walk-In Tub and Where to Find the Pump Inlet Cover
• Can You Use Bubble Bath or Shampoo With the Jets Running? Managing Foam in a Jetted Walk-In Tub
• What Is a Bubble Tub and How Does Air Massage Work?
• Can You Use a Bath Bomb in a Jetted Walk-In Tub?
• What Is an Air Bath Tub and How Do Air Jets Work?
• Can Epsom Salt Damage a Walk-In Tub, Its Jets or Its Chrome?

Common Questions