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Printable Monthly Maintenance Checklist for a Walk-In Tub

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary10
  1. Print and Tick Once a Month
  2. The Vinegar Flush
  3. Pump Inlet Cover
  4. Door Seal and Frame
  5. TCV Filter or Mesh, Where Fitted
  6. GFCI Test
  7. Surfaces, Glass and Chrome
  8. What Never Goes in the Tub
  9. Related Guides
  10. Common Questions

This printable monthly maintenance checklist covers everything your Ella walk-in tub asks of you in a month: the pump inlet cover, the 10-minute vinegar flush, the door seal, the TCV filter where fitted, a GFCI test, and a gentle clean of surfaces, glass and chrome. Print it and tick the boxes once a month. The full routine lives in our month-by-month maintenance guide.

Print and Tick Once a Month

The air and hydro systems are fully plumbed, so nothing needs flushing after every bath. One session a month is all it takes.

TaskHow often
Vinegar flush and inlet coverOnce a month
Door seal and frame wipeMonthly, and whenever you see grit
TCV inline filter or meshPeriodically, on the monthly rhythm or as your plumber advises
GFCI testPeriodically; monthly is an easy habit
Surface, glass and chrome wipeAbout twice a month, and after salt soaks

The Vinegar Flush

  • u2610 Mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
  • u2610 Fill the tub to 1 inch above the highest jets. Never run a pump with water below the jets.
  • u2610 Add the mixture and run the tub for 10 minutes.
  • u2610 Drain completely and rinse the shell.

It is the same recipe as the first bath flush.

Pump Inlet Cover

  • u2610 Clear hair and debris from the inlet cover inside the tub.
  • u2610 Wipe it with a non-abrasive towel and an approved cleaner such as Dawn dish detergent.

Door Seal and Frame

  • u2610 Wipe the silicone seal with a common household cleaner or rubbing alcohol.
  • u2610 Wipe the door frame, and on inward doors the gasket and inner frame.
  • u2610 If a section looks deformed, squeeze it gently with your fingertips and pull it away from the frame.
  • u2610 Leave the door open when the tub is not in use.

Our door seal care article has the full routine.

TCV Filter or Mesh, Where Fitted

If your faucet includes an Ella Thermostatic Control Valve, it must be protected with an inline filter or mesh in the supply lines, cleaned periodically. Mineral fouling is not covered under the TCV's 1-year limited warranty; the hard water and TCV article explains why.

  • u2610 Confirm the filter or mesh is in place and clean it.

GFCI Test

  • u2610 Press Test, then Reset. The GFCI may be at the breaker, a wall outlet, or under the tub behind the access panel.
  • u2610 If it will not reset or trips when a pump starts, turn the power off and call a licensed electrician.

Surfaces, Glass and Chrome

  • u2610 Wipe the acrylic with a soft cloth and a product from the approved cleaner list.
  • u2610 Clean glass screens with soap and water; keep alcohol, petroleum products and strong chemicals off enclosures. See cleaning glass, doors and chrome.
  • u2610 After salt soaks, wipe the faucet, jets and trim dry so the chrome does not spot.

What Never Goes in the Tub

  • u2610 No abrasive cleaners, scouring powders or gritty pads.
  • u2610 No bleach; it is not on the approved list.
  • u2610 No bath bombs; they can clog the jets.
  • u2610 Oils, fragrances and salts are allowed but not suggested, since they call for more frequent cleaning.

If anything here turns up a problem you cannot clear, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model and a photo, or call (800) 480-6850.

Common Questions

Do I really need to flush the jets every month?
Yes, you do need to flush the jets every month. The published routine for your Ella walk-in tub includes one vinegar flush before the first bath and one monthly flush thereafter, always using the same recipe of 2 cups of white vinegar and 2 cups of water. Flushing after every bath is not necessary because the air and hydro systems are fully plumbed, so one session a month is all it takes.
Which cleaner should I use on the acrylic?
You should use any product from the approved cleaner list with a soft cloth to clean the acrylic surfaces of your Ella walk-in tub. This list includes Dawn dish detergent, specific tub and tile cleaners, Simple Green, Tilex, Pine-Sol, and Clorox Fraganzia products. You can also use the vinegar and water mix from the monthly maintenance routine for cleaning.
Why should the door stay open between baths?
The door of your Ella walk-in tub should stay open between baths to prevent the silicone door seal from being compressed for long periods. This practice helps extend the seal's flexibility and overall life. If the seal is left compressed, it can take a set, which may allow water to pass and compromise the watertight seal.
Do I still need the filter step if my faucet has no thermostatic valve?
No. The filter or mesh requirement applies only to tubs with an Ella Thermostatic Control Valve, so you can skip that section. If you are not sure which faucet you have, ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.

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

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