Cleaning and maintaining your Ella walk-in tub month by month is easier than most people expect. The jetted systems are fully plumbed, so you do not need to flush them after every bath. Your routine comes down to three habits: a one-time vinegar flush before your very first bath, a simple monthly flush with 2 cups of white vinegar and 2 cups of water, and regular wipe-downs with a gentle, non-abrasive cleaner. Your tub also helps clean itself, since ozone sanitation runs automatically with the hydro massage and the Auto-Purge feature clears the air lines after each use.

Watch: Cleaning and Maintenance Overview

As the video explains, your tub has several ways of keeping itself clean. Ozone sterilization activates whenever the hydrotherapy jets run, and the three-speed air massage clears its own lines with Auto-Purge after your bath. The video also shows the owner's side: wiping the surface about twice a month with a non-abrasive cleaner, keeping the intake screen clear, skipping bath bombs, and flushing the lines with white vinegar monthly. The rest is a simple routine, covered step by step below.

Before Your First Bath: The Initial Flush

The pump circulation system needs to be flushed and drained once before you use the tub for the first time. The video shows the cleanout after installation: fill to about an inch over the highest jets, add white vinegar, run the jets, then drain fully. Here is the flush from our published cleaning instructions:

1. Fill the tub with water to about 1 inch above the highest jets.
2. Add a mixture of 2 cups of white vinegar and 2 cups of water.
3. Run the jetted systems for 10 minutes. The video above shows the same flush with all jets running on high for 20 minutes, and either duration works well, since the goal is simply to circulate the vinegar solution through every line.
4. Drain the tub completely. You are ready for your first bath.

Our first bath checklist adds the door seal, GFCI and drain checks to do at the same time.

Your Monthly Routine

What the Tub Does on Its Own

• Ozone sterilization runs automatically whenever the hydro massage jets are on. Ozone is a natural disinfectant that helps keep the water system fresh. It supports your monthly cleaning, it does not replace it. Read more in the ozone sanitation article.
• Auto-Purge activates on tubs with the three-speed air massage about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off and blows air through the lines for 120 seconds, clearing out standing water so mold and mildew cannot form. It cannot be interrupted and is normal even if it starts while you are still in the tub.

A Few Habits That Protect Your Tub

• Keep the door slightly open when the tub is not in use. This protects the door seal from unnecessary compression.
• Never run the pumps unless water covers all of the jets. Running a pump dry causes permanent damage that is not covered by the warranty.
• Avoid bath bombs, and use oils and salts sparingly. See our bath additives article for the full rules.
• Test your GFCI outlet periodically, keep bath water at or below 100.4 F, and keep electrical appliances at least 3 feet away from the tub.
• If your home has hard water and your faucet has a thermostatic valve, keep an inline filter in the supply lines and clean it periodically, as explained in the hard water and TCV article.

Going Away for a Month or More?

Ella's Bubbles does not publish a formal winterizing procedure. The habits owners commonly follow before an extended absence are to turn off the power to the tub, shut off its water supply, rinse the tub and dry it thoroughly, and leave the door open. When you return, a quick rinse and a normal vinegar flush will have it ready to enjoy again; a tub that has sat idle can take a second flush to run clear, which is normal. If the home will go unheated, open a ticket with your model and the situation and the team will advise.

Common Questions

Still need help? Open a support ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and the team will be happy to walk you through it.