How do I clean a walk-in tub and its jets properly?

To clean a walk-in tub properly, work in three layers: wipe the acrylic shell and the door seal with a non-abrasive cleaner, clear hair and debris from the pump inlet cover each month, and flush the jet lines once a month with vinegar. The flush is simple: combine 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 tub for 10 minutes, then drain. Jetted Ella tubs also do part of the job themselves, since ozone sterilization runs whenever the hydro jets are on and the air system's Auto Purge blows the air lines dry after your bath. The intake grate that feeds the jets is explained in What Is the Pump Inlet Cover on a Walk-In Tub?.

The Four Surfaces That Need Attention

A walk-in tub has more to clean than a standard bathtub because it has a door, a seal and, on jetted models, a network of lines behind the jets. Each part has its own routine, and none of it takes long.

• The acrylic shell. Wipe the seat, floor and walls with a non-abrasive cleaner. An approved cleaner such as Dawn dish detergent and a soft towel are all the shell needs. Ella's maintenance guidance calls for this wipe-down twice a month.
• The door seal and frame. Wipe the seal and the frame with a common household cleaner or rubbing alcohol. Then leave the door open whenever the tub is not in use so the seal is not compressed. A seal that sits closed for a long time can stick to the frame.
• The pump inlet cover. Every drop of water that feeds the hydro jets passes through this suction cover, so hair and debris collect on it. Clear it and wipe it once a month with a non-abrasive towel and an approved cleaner.
• The jet lines. Residue, soap film and mineral deposits build up inside the hydro and air lines between baths. The monthly vinegar flush cleans the lines from the inside, which no amount of wiping can reach.

To keep hair out of the drains as well, the team suggests a silicone pop-up drain protector from a hardware store.

The Monthly Vinegar Flush, Step by Step

This is the same flush every new Ella tub gets before its first bath, and it is the whole answer to how the jets get cleaned. Run it once a month.

1. Fill the tub with water to 1 inch above the highest jets, so every jet is under water.
2. Combine 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water and add the mixture to the bath water.
3. Run the tub for 10 minutes with the jets on.
4. Drain the tub fully, then rinse the shell and wipe it dry.

Flushing after every bath is not necessary, because ozone and Auto Purge handle the day-to-day work between monthly flushes. If the tub has been sitting for a while, the first flush may bring out dark flakes or slime. That is old residue leaving the lines, and a second flush that runs clear is normal. The first video below shows the flush sequence: filling above the highest jets, adding the white vinegar, running the jets and draining. Use the mixture and the 10 minute run time given above, which is the current recipe.

Clean the Pump Inlet Cover in the Same Session

Do the inlet cover before you start the flush, so the pump pulls clean water through the lines. Clear hair and any debris from the grate, then wipe it with a non-abrasive towel and an approved cleaner. As material builds up on the cover, less water reaches the pump and the jets lose strength, which is why a weak jet is usually a maintenance question rather than a pump fault. Check the cover first whenever the jets seem weak or gunk appears from the jets, then run a flush. If the jets are still weak after the cover is clean and the lines have been flushed, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with your serial number, a photo of the inlet cover, a short video of the jets running and a note on when the last flush was done.

After a soap-heavy bath, rinse the tub and run the hand shower over the jets so soap film does not dry inside them. Shampoo and bubble bath foam far more under the jets than in a standard tub, so a small amount goes a long way. Can You Use Bubble Bath or Shampoo With the Jets Running? explains how to keep the foam under control.

What the Tub Cleans on Its Own

Jetted Ella tubs have two built-in helpers, and knowing what they do stops a lot of worry.

• Ozone sterilization runs whenever the hydro jets are on and sanitizes the water lines during the bath.
• Auto Purge belongs to the air massage system. It starts automatically about 20 minutes after the air pump is turned off and runs for 120 seconds, blowing residual water out of the air lines to prevent mold and mildew. It cannot be stopped, and it is normal even if it starts while you are still in the tub.

The second video explains the three-speed air massage and shows Auto Purge clearing the leftover moisture from the system to keep the tub fresh. A soaking tub with no jets has neither feature, because it has no pumps or lines. Its care comes down to the shell, the seal and the drain, and bath salts and oils simply rinse away, which is why Soaking Walk-In Tub vs Jetted Tub: Which Is Easier to Maintain? calls the soaker the easiest Ella tub to look after.

Bath Products That Add to the Cleaning

What goes into the water decides how much work the lines need afterward.

• Epsom salts are fine for the jetting system. Rinse the tub afterward, since salt residue may spot chrome finishes.
• Soaps, shampoos, body wash and bubble bath are fine, used sparingly and followed by a rinse.
• Scented bath salts and bath bombs are not recommended. Oils, dye, glitter and floral bits can affect the mechanics and clog the jets. If they are used, use them sparingly and rinse thoroughly.
• Bath oils are discouraged. If you use them, plan on an extra vinegar flush.

Cleaning Before a Long Idle Period, and After One

The same routine covers a tub that will sit unused and one that already has. Before a vacation, run the vinegar flush, drain fully, wipe the shell dry, clean the seal and leave the door open. The Printable Vacation and Seasonal Shutdown Checklist for a Walk-In Tub lists those steps in order. When a tub has sat idle for years or came with the house, run the flush before the first bath, expect a possible second flush, and confirm the seal is watertight by filling the tub and letting it stand 20 minutes with the door closed. How Do I Start Using a Walk-In Tub That Sat Unused for Years? adds the GFCI and control box checks to do before pressing any button.

Related Guides

• 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?
• Soaking-Only Walk-In Tubs: No Jets, No Pumps, No Electrical

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