Support Center / Maintenance & Cleaning / How Do I Clean and Maintain My Walk-In Tub?
Back to Maintenance & Cleaning

How Do I Clean and Maintain My Walk-In Tub?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary9
  1. Before the First Bath
  2. Twice a Month: The Acrylic Surface
  3. Once a Month: Jet Lines and Pump Inlet Cover
  4. The Door and the Seal
  5. What the Tub Does on Its Own
  6. If You Have a Soaking Tub
  7. Related Guides
  8. Related Videos
  9. Common Questions

To clean a walk-in tub, wipe the acrylic about twice a month with a non-abrasive cleaner, and once a month run the vinegar flush and clear the pump inlet cover. The flush is 2 cups of white vinegar mixed with 2 cups of water, added to a tub filled to 1 inch above the highest jets, run for 10 minutes and then drained, as explained in How Do I Clean the Jet Lines on My Walk-In Tub?. Between flushes, the tub's ozone and Auto Purge features keep the lines fresh on their own. This page puts the whole routine in one place.

Before the First Bath

An initial cleanout is required after the tub is installed and before anyone bathes in it. Run the vinegar flush once before the first bath, using the same recipe as the monthly flush. Fill the tub with water until it sits 1 inch above the highest jets, add the 2 cups of vinegar and 2 cups of water, run the tub for 10 minutes and drain completely. The How To Clean Your Walk-In Tub video shows the cleanout: 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. The recipe is the same on every Ella model, including microbubble tubs, and it does not call for a particular water temperature.

Twice a Month: The Acrylic Surface

Wipe the tub surface with a non-abrasive cleaner. Dawn dish detergent is an approved cleaner, and a non-abrasive towel protects the finish. Keep bath bombs, oils and beads out of a jetted tub, because they are carried into the jet lines and can damage the pump system. The cleaning video cautions against bath bombs for exactly that reason. To keep hair away from the drains, a silicone pop-up drain protector from a hardware store is the team's suggestion.

Once a Month: Jet Lines and Pump Inlet Cover

Run the vinegar flush, then 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. What it is and how to check it are in What Is the Pump Inlet Cover on a Walk-In Tub?. You do not need to flush after every bath, because the air and hydro systems are fully plumbed and self clearing. If flakes or slime still appear after a correct flush, repeat the flush. If 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 Door and the Seal

Wipe the door frame and glass with a mild, non-abrasive cleaner and clean the seal with rubbing alcohol. On tubs with the removable stainless steel inward-swing door, found on the Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, Ultimate, Companion and Escape, take the door out from time to time to clean the seal and the tub wall behind it; the steps are in What Is the Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Door on a Walk-In Tub?. Leave the door open whenever the tub is not in use to protect the seal, and never lean on the door or use it to lower yourself into the seat, since the door and seal warranty depends on the alignment staying correct.

What the Tub Does on Its Own

  • Ozone sterilization runs whenever the hydro jets are on.
  • 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 is normal even if it begins while you are still in the tub.

If You Have a Soaking Tub

A soaker has no jets, pumps or therapy lines, so there is no monthly vinegar flush and bath salts and oils simply rinse away with the drain. Care comes down to the acrylic, the door seal and the drain, and the comparison is in Soaking Walk-In Tub vs Jetted Tub: Which Is Easier to Maintain?.

Video
Watch: How To Clean Your Walk-In Tub | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.
Video
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Automatic Tub Cleaning Features The video explains how the hydrotherapy jets activate ozone sterilization and the air massage uses auto Purge to clear water.
  2. 0:32 Manual Cleaning and Maintenance The video demonstrates wiping the tub with a non-abrasive cleaner and cleaning around the intake screen.
  3. 1:00 Avoid Bath Bombs The video cautions against using bath bombs due to potential damage to the pump system.
Video
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Clean Your Door Seal Regularly The video explains how to clean the door seal and frame to prevent leaks and debris buildup.
  2. 0:38 Replacing a Loose Door Seal The video demonstrates how to replace a loose or damaged door seal by applying a thin bead of silicone to the gasket channel.
  3. 1:02 Adding Silicone to Inward Doors The video shows how to add a bead of silicone to the corner of the gasket where it meets the frame on inward swing doors.
  4. 1:23 Extend Gasket Life The video recommends leaving the walk-in tub door slightly open when not in use to extend the gasket's flexibility and life.
Video
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Air Massage Speed Control The video demonstrates how to control the three-speed air massage function on the walk-in tub.
  2. 0:23 Auto Purge System Explained The video explains how the auto purge system keeps the walk-in tub fresh and clean by blowing water out of the air pipes.
  3. 0:48 Auto Purge While Bathing The video addresses what happens if the auto purge system activates while someone is still in the tub.

Common Questions

How often should I clean my walk-in tub?
Wipe the acrylic about twice a month with a non-abrasive cleaner. Once a month, run the vinegar flush and clear the pump inlet cover. Clean the door seal with rubbing alcohol and leave the door open between baths.
What is the vinegar flush recipe for a walk-in tub?
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 tub for 10 minutes, then drain. Do it once before the first bath and then once a month.
How often should I run the vinegar flush on my walk-in tub?
Run it once before your first bath and then once a month. The recipe is the same on every Ella model, including microbubble tubs, and it does not call for a particular water temperature.
Do I need to flush the jets after every bath?
No. The air and hydro systems are fully plumbed and self clearing, so a monthly flush is enough. Between monthly flushes, ozone and Auto Purge keep the lines fresh.
What cleaner is safe on an Ella walk-in tub?
Use a non-abrasive cleaner and a non-abrasive towel on the acrylic and the pump inlet cover. Dawn dish detergent is an approved cleaner. Use rubbing alcohol on the door seal.
Can I use bath bombs in a jetted walk-in tub?
Keep bath bombs, oils and beads out of a jetted tub. They are carried into the jet lines, can damage the pump system, and are a common reason a flush seems not to work. In a soaking tub with no jets, salts and oils rinse away with the drain.
Does a soaking walk-in tub need the monthly vinegar flush?
No. A soaker has no jets, pumps or therapy lines, so there is nothing to flush. Care comes down to cleaning the acrylic with approved non-abrasive cleaners, looking after the door seal and keeping the drain clear.
Why does my tub run by itself after a bath?
That is Auto Purge. It starts automatically 20 minutes after the air pump is turned off and runs for 120 seconds to clear water from the air lines. It cannot be stopped and is normal.

About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.

Related guides

Did this solve your question?

If not, open a ticket and our team will pick it up from here.

Open a Support Ticket