How Do I Clean a Walk-In Tub That Has Jets?

Cleaning a jetted Ella walk-in tub comes down to three habits: wipe the shell about twice a month with a non-abrasive cleaner such as Dawn dish detergent or Formula 409, run the vinegar flush once a month (2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, tub filled 1 inch above the highest jets, run for 10 minutes, then drain), and clear the pump inlet cover in the same session. Between flushes the tub's own ozone sterilization and Auto Purge keep the lines fresh, so there is no need to flush after every bath. How Do I Clean the Jet Lines on My Walk-In Tub? covers the flush step by step.

Step 1: Wipe the Surfaces with a Safe Cleaner

Formula 409 or Dawn dish detergent with a soft cloth or sponge handles soap film and water spots on the acrylic shell, chrome fixtures and stainless steel parts, so one cleaner works around the whole tub. A gentle brush with dish detergent cleans around the jets and the intake screen. Never use an abrasive on the acrylic: scouring pads and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser pads dull and scratch the finish, and CLR and stainless steel polish should be kept off the shell for the same reason. Homes on well water should wipe down a little more often so mineral deposits never take hold. The full list is in Which Cleaners Are Safe on Your Walk-In Tub and Where to Find the Pump Inlet Cover.

Step 2: Flush the Jets with Vinegar

The vinegar flush is the cleaning the jet lines need, and the recipe is the same on every Ella model, including microbubble tubs.

• Fill the tub with water to 1 inch above the highest jets, at whatever temperature you would use for a normal bath.
• Mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water and add it to the tub.
• Run the tub for 10 minutes so the solution circulates through every jet line, then drain completely.

Do this once before the first bath in a new tub and then once a month. A flush that uses too little vinegar or runs too short is the usual reason it seems not to work, so follow the recipe exactly. If black flakes or slime still appear after a correct flush, repeat the flush and open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with a photo.

Step 3: Clear the Pump Inlet Cover

On hydro massage tubs, every drop that feeds the jets passes through the pump inlet cover, which sits between the calf jets just below the seat. Hair and debris collect on it, and as it clogs the jets lose strength, so a weak jet is often a cleaning question rather than a pump fault. Once a month, clear the cover and wipe it with a non-abrasive towel and an approved cleaner. Some newer tubs have a fixed intake screen instead, which is cleaned in place with a gentle brush and dish detergent. What Is the Pump Inlet Cover on a Walk-In Tub? has more.

What the Tub Does on Its Own

Ozone sterilization runs whenever the hydro jets are on, and Auto Purge starts automatically about 20 minutes after the air massage is switched off, blowing residual water out of the air lines for about two minutes to prevent mold and mildew. The video shows the three-speed air massage and the Auto Purge cycle. Both features are automatic, and Auto Purge cannot be stopped, so it is normal to hear it run after you have left the tub. Skip bath bombs, oils and beads, which are carried into the jets and can damage the pump system. Before a trip, run the flush, drain and dry the tub, and leave the door open so the seal is not compressed; the Printable Vacation and Seasonal Shutdown Checklist lists the steps.

Watch: Walk-In Tubs Featuring Three Speed Air Massage & Auto-Purge Technology | Ellau2019s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Is Bubble Bath, Bath Bombs or Bath Oil OK in a Jetted Walk-In Tub? What the Jets Can and Cannot Handle
• Why Do Black Flakes or Slime Come Out of My Tub Jets?
• Printable Monthly Maintenance Checklist for a Walk-In Tub

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