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Can I use Epsom salts, bath bombs, bubble bath, or oils in my walk-in tub?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary6
  1. The Quick Reference Table
  2. Watch: What the Jets Can and Cannot Handle
  3. Epsom Salts, the Right Way
  4. Love Scents? Consider Aromatherapy
  5. If You Have Been Using Additives Already
  6. Common Questions

Yes, you can use Epsom salts in a walk-in tub, along with regular soaps, shampoos, and bubble bath, with a few simple rules. Epsom salts will not harm the jetting system as long as you dissolve them first, enjoy them for the soak after the jets are finished, drain right away, and rinse the chrome. Bath bombs are the one product we ask you to avoid, because their dyes, glitter, and floral bits can clog the jets. Oils, bath beads, and heavy fragrances are discouraged, since they can foul the pumps and mean more frequent cleaning.

The Quick Reference Table

ProductVerdictNotes
Epsom saltsYesWill not harm the jetting system. Dissolve them in a cup of warm water before adding, use them for the soak after the hydro, air, and microbubble systems are finished, drain right after, and rinse the tub. Prolonged use may discolor or spot chrome finishes.
Soaps, shampoos, and body washYesFine for everyday use. Rinse thoroughly to avoid residue.
Bubble bathYes, sparinglyFine in most Ella tubs. Jets make a lot of foam, so use a little, watch the foam level, and rinse well so soap is not left in the jets.
Bath saltsUse sparinglyOkay if fully dissolved first. Rinse the tub thoroughly after use.
Bath bombsNot recommendedOils, dye, confetti, glitter, and floral material can clog the jet systems and may have long term effects on the tub mechanics. Fine in a soaking-only tub with no jets, with a rinse afterward.
Bath oils, bath beads, and fragrance oilsDiscouragedThey can get stuck in the jet and air pumps and damage the motors, which is not a warranty matter. If you use oils, plan on extra vinegar flushes.

Watch: What the Jets Can and Cannot Handle

The cleaning and maintenance video shows why bath bombs are off the list: their ingredients can damage the pump system that every jet line runs through. It also shows the built-in helpers, ozone with the hydro jets and Auto Purge after the air massage, the twice-monthly wipe with a non-abrasive cleaner, and the monthly vinegar flush that clears anything additives leave behind.

Epsom Salts, the Right Way

  1. Dissolve the salts fully in a cup of warm water before adding them to the bath, so no undissolved crystals reach the jets.
  2. Enjoy your hydro, air, or microbubble therapy first, then add the dissolved salts for a still soak once the systems are finished. Salts will not harm the jetting system, but keeping them out of the running pumps is the team's best-practice advice.
  3. After draining, rinse the tub well, paying attention to chrome surfaces such as the drain trim, jets, and faucet, since salt residue left on chrome can cause discoloration and spots over time. Our chrome and glass cleaning article has the details.
Close-up of a chrome fast fill faucet set with hand shower on an Ella walk-in tub deck
Rinse chrome faucets, hand showers, and trim after a salt bath so residue never dries on the finish.

Love Scents? Consider Aromatherapy

Spa bath setup with candle, soap bars, bath salts, and essential oil bottles beside a walk-in tub
Essential oils belong in the aromatherapy canister, not in the jetted water.

If what you want from bath products is fragrance, many Ella models offer an aromatherapy option that uses a built in canister or diffuser tray. You add essential oils to the canister, and the scent is dispersed into the tub area without the oils ever entering the jetted plumbing. That gives you the spa experience with none of the cleanup concerns. See how the aromatherapy option works.

If You Have Been Using Additives Already

No need to worry. Simply 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, and drain. If you notice weak jets or debris coming from the jets after heavy additive use, repeat the flush and clean the pump inlet cover of hair and debris; our black flakes or slime from the jets article covers stubborn cases, and the full routine is in cleaning and monthly maintenance.

Common Questions

Can I use Epsom salts with the jets running?
Epsom salts will not harm the jetting system, so there is no damage to worry about if dissolved salt reaches the jets. That said, the team's best practice advice is to enjoy your hydro, air or microbubble therapy first and then add the fully dissolved salts for a still soak once the systems are finished, keeping the salts out of the running pumps. When you are done, drain right away and rinse and wipe the chrome so salt residue never dries on the finish.
Can I use Epsom salts for a sitz bath with no jets running?
Yes, a sitz bath with Epsom salts and no jets running is a fine use of your walk-in tub. Dissolve the salts fully in a cup of warm water before adding them, drain as soon as you are finished, and rinse the tub well. Pay particular attention to chrome surfaces such as the drain trim, jets and faucet, since salt residue left to dry on chrome can cause discoloration and spots over time.
Is bubble bath okay in a hydro or air jetted tub?
Yes, bubble bath is fine in most Ella tubs when used sparingly. The hydro and air jets create far more foam than a still bath, so add a small amount, keep an eye on the foam level while the jets run, and rinse the tub well afterward so no soap is left sitting in the jets. If you notice residue building up over time, the monthly vinegar flush clears it.
Can I use a bath bomb if I do not turn on the jets?
In a soaking-only tub with no jets, a bath bomb is fine as long as you rinse the tub afterward. In a jetted tub, the dye, glitter, confetti, oils and floral material can still reach the plumbing through the jet openings even when the pumps are off, and those ingredients can clog the jet systems and affect the tub mechanics over time. For that reason we ask you to skip bath bombs in any jetted tub, and to consider the aromatherapy option if fragrance is what you are after.
What about bath beads, Calgon, or scented oils?
Bath beads and fragrance oils are not recommended in any jetted tub, because they can get stuck in the jet and air pumps, clog the jets and damage the motors, and that kind of damage is not a warranty matter. If you do use oils, plan on extra vinegar flushes to clear what they leave behind. For a specific branded product that is not listed in this article, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with the product name and the team will check it for you.
Which body wash or soap is safe?
Regular soap, shampoo and body wash are all fine for everyday use in your walk-in tub, and no special product is required. Rinse the tub thoroughly after each bath so soap residue does not build up in the jets or on the surface. If you use a lot of product, the monthly vinegar flush keeps the lines clear.
Someone has been adding bleach and rock salt to the tub. Is that harmful?
Yes, please ask them to stop. Bleach can damage the acrylic surface over time and is not part of the Ella cleaning instructions, and salt should always be fully dissolved before it goes in and rinsed away afterward so it does not sit on the acrylic or the chrome. Run the standard vinegar flush to clear the lines, then switch to a product from the approved list; see approved cleaners and chemicals to avoid.
Epsom salt spotted my chrome. Can it be fixed?
Start by rinsing the fixtures thoroughly and drying them with a soft cloth, and make a habit of rinsing the chrome after every salt bath so residue never dries on the finish. Our chrome and glass cleaning article linked above has the details for the fixtures themselves. If marks remain after cleaning, send a couple of clear photos through a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support and the team will advise on the best next step for your fixture.

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.

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