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

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. Before the First Bath
  2. The Monthly Routine for a Jetted Tub
  3. Between Flushes
  4. Soaking Tubs Need Less
  5. Related Guides
  6. Related Videos
  7. Common Questions

Cleaning an Ella walk-in tub comes down to three habits: wipe the acrylic with a non-abrasive cleaner about twice a month, clear the pump inlet cover once a month, and run the vinegar flush once before your first bath and then once a month. The flush recipe is the same on every model: 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. How Do I Clean the Jet Lines on My Walk-In Tub? covers the flush; 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. 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. Use the recipe above for the amounts and the run time; no particular water temperature is called for.

The Monthly Routine for a Jetted Tub

  • Run the vinegar flush: 2 cups of white vinegar and 2 cups of water, water 1 inch above the highest jets, 10 minutes of running, then drain completely.
  • In the same session, clear hair and debris from the pump inlet cover, the suction grate where the hydro pump draws water, and wipe it with a non-abrasive towel and an approved cleaner such as Dawn dish detergent. What Is the Pump Inlet Cover on a Walk-In Tub? shows where it is.

You do not need to flush after every bath. The air and hydro systems are fully plumbed and self clearing, and between flushes ozone sterilization runs whenever the hydro jets run, and Auto Purge blows residual water out of the air lines automatically about 20 minutes after the air pump is turned off, running for 120 seconds.

Between Flushes

  • Wipe the tub surface about twice a month with a non-abrasive cleaner.
  • Wipe the door frame and glass with a mild, non-abrasive cleaner and clean the door seal with rubbing alcohol.
  • If your tub has the stainless steel inward-swing door found on the Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, Ultimate, Companion and Escape, remove the door from time to time to clean the seal and the tub wall behind it. What Is the Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Door on a Walk-In Tub? describes that door.
  • Leave the door open when the tub is not in use to protect the seal.
  • Keep bath bombs out of a jetted tub. The cleaning video cautions against them because they can damage the pump system.

Soaking Tubs Need Less

A soaking walk-in tub 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, as Soaking Walk-In Tub vs Jetted Tub: Which Is Easier to Maintain? explains. 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.

Watch: How To Clean Your Walk-In Tub | Ellau2019s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

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.
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 run the vinegar flush on my walk-in tub?
Run it once before your first bath and then once a month. 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 and drain. The recipe is the same on every Ella model, including microbubble tubs.
Do I need to clean the jet lines after every bath?
No. The air and hydro systems are fully plumbed and self clearing, so a monthly flush is enough. Between flushes, ozone runs whenever the hydro jets run and Auto Purge clears the air lines automatically about 20 minutes after the air massage is shut off.
What cleaner is safe for the acrylic of a walk-in tub?
Wipe the acrylic with a non-abrasive cleaner about twice a month. For the pump inlet cover, use a non-abrasive towel and an approved cleaner such as Dawn dish detergent. The door seal is cleaned with rubbing alcohol.
Can I use bath bombs in a jetted walk-in tub?
The cleaning video cautions against bath bombs in a jetted tub because they can damage the pump system. Bath bombs, oils and beads can be carried into the jets and are a common reason a flush seems not to work.
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.

Related guides

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