Nothing is as important for hot tub water quality as your filtering system. A soiled and clogged or simply worn-out filter will fail in its task of trapping contaminants. This results in cloudy water, higher chemical usage and can even put a strain on your spa’s pumps. You should clean your filters every couple of weeks and soak clean them in Filter Cartridge Cleaner every 8 weeks. DON’T assume that your filters will last 12 months – read our article The truth about spa filters and try our estimated filter life test.

Rotate Your Spa Filters.

Use this filter rotation method: while cleaning your dirty filter, swap it with a previously cleaned and dried spare. This system will ensure that you will never have to wait to use your spa, and if your spa turns cloudy you can rectify the problem straightaway. Allowing filters to dry completely after soak-cleaning will increase filter effectiveness and extend the life of the filter.

Pleated filter cartridges should be thoroughly rinsed every two weeks (sooner when the spa use is heavy). Use a garden hose (not a pressure washer), and apply the water stream at an angle of about 45-degree, making sure to dislodge all foreign matter by spraying between each pleat. Or try our new Filter Cleaning Wand.

At least every 8 weeks, and ALWAYS with a water change, your cartridge should first be pre-rinsed, then soaked overnight (or in accordance with package directions) in Filter Cartridge Cleaner. Rinse again and allow to air-dry.

Hot Tips and Advice

• Never assume that your filters will last 12 months (they may do, but only under perfect circumstances). Be sure, take our Estimated filter life test so you can be accurate.

• If you are in a hard water area it is essential to use NO SCALE solution in your tub.

• Invest in a Pre Filter for your hose pipe. This removes many harmful elements before they ever get in to your tub.

• Only use a product like our Filter Cartridge Cleaner which is designed for cleaning pleated filter cartridges.

• When cleaning, always rotate out your filters with a clean, dry spare.

• Never use a pressure-washer or put filters through the dishwasher to clean them. The high water pressure will damage the REEMAY filter media.

You may not know a few things about your hot tub and spa that are important to tackle up front. Just like jetted tubs used in the bathroom since the 1960’s, hot tubs and spas have jet piping wrapped around the outside of the frame casing. Even though there is constant water flowing through the hot tub piping, grease, oils, skin, hair from the human body get adhered to inner walls of the piping. Whether cold or hot water, mold, bacteria, and algae take refuge in the piping when the water is idle, which is most of the time. Filters actually keep most of the loosened gunk from entering in the hot tub but there are places post filters that have gunk growth, ie near the jets.

First things first, we need to clean the pipes of this gunk, and start to clean the filters that are protecting you from this harmful stew. This is where the Ahh-Some Hot Tub Bio Cleaner first comes into play. We will see later that this same Bio Cleaner is used to maintain the hot tub’s water pH, help maintain clean safe (bacteria free) water, remove odors, condition and clarify the water, and reduce the harmful chemicals and your maintenance expenses. Now that’s Ahh-Some!

Step 1:
Remove (drain/pump out) some of the water in the hot tub to about 2 inches above the highest jet(s). This is done to give some room for the foaming that will occur with the bio cleaner.

Step 2:
Remove all the filters from the hot tub and place them in the hot tub water. It may be a good idea to place them near jets so that they can me subject to the fast moving water. This helps clean the filters, which in turn, increases their use before replacements are needed.

Step 3:
Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the Ahh-Some Hot Tub Bio Cleaner to the water and run the jets, all of them for about 1 hour. Use 2 tablespoons with larger 500 gallon hot tubs. It is important to get a lot of foaming action where the hot tub looks like bubble bath with the jets on. Add more Ahh-Some Bio Cleaner in ½ teaspoon increments if needed. This process is used to clean out the piping, motor, jets, and all water areas that are not seen.
Most of the gunk, oils, grease, skin, hair, and other dirt will be deposited on the side of the hot tub shell above the water line. You will be able to easily wipe this off with a soft rag or bar keepers rag.

NOTE: The Ahh-Some Bio Cleaner water is safe and not harmful to humans.

Step 4:
Scoop a pail of the water, containing the Ahh-Some Bio Cleaner before emptying hot tub.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions for draining the hot tub of water.

Step 5:
If you have the Ahh-Some Filter Bio Cleaner, follow the directions on the jar, which is add 2 tablespoons to a gallon of water, mix to a liquid, place the hot tub filters in the mixture and let sit. If you do not have the Ahh-Some Filter Bio Cleaner, then add the filters to the pail of bio cleaner you scooped out in Step 4. The Ahh-Some Filter Bio Cleaner has additional properties that does not require the foaming action to clean the filters but eats away at the filter gunk over time in the solution.

Step 6:
Clean hot tub shell whichever way you choose. The last segment of the hot tub cleaning routine is to take a clean rag, dip it into the pail of Ahh-Some Bio Cleaner you kept from Step 4 and wipe the shell with it. The Ahh-Some Bio Cleaner has clarification properties and helps the shell shine from the beginning of adding new water.

NOTE: NEVER use household cleaners to clean your hot tub. They can damage the shell and cause foaming. Use hot tub/spa manufacturer or industry recommended cleaners.

Step 7:
Replace clean, refreshed PleatCo filters in the Hot Tub.
Step 8:
Refill cleaned hot tub with water according to manufacturer’s instructions. Heat hot tub water to normal operating temperature.

Step 9:
Get the water pH levels to 7.4 – 8.2, total alkalinity (TA) between 80-120ppm, and calcium hardness to 200+. Here we are setting up the water to use the Ahh-Some Hot Tub Bio Cleaner that will maintain the pH and TA levels. An initial sanitizing shock to the fresh water may be needed. We suggest using Di-Chlor or a non-chlorine solution, such as potassium monopersulfate. More than likely you may need to use baking soda (Arm & Hammer) to increase the pH.

NOTE: While the Ahh-Some Hot Tub Bio Cleaner eases the oxidation demand on your choice of sanitizer, it is not a registered sanitizer. Maintain the minimum recommended amount of sanitizer in your spa. This may range between .05ppm and 1ppm.

Step 10:
When the hot tub water pH is at the desired range, add about 1 teaspoon of the Ahh-Some Hot Tub Bio Cleaner (500 gals) to the water. At this point there may be a trial and error period to get the correct amount of the bio cleaner to not foam. It is best to start with less of the bio cleaner and add 1/3 teaspoon until there is a hint of foaming occurring.

If you recall, in Step 3, we used 1-2 tablespoons so that the foaming action was created to clean the internal pipes, this time we need to just keep enough bio cleaner in the water to interact with the sanitizer. The bio cleaner interacts with the sanitizer taking all of the free available chlorine (FAC), leaving the free chorine (FC) to do its job more efficiently, this eliminates odors that the sanitizers are known for. The Ahh-Some Bio Cleaner uses its water clarification properties in the bio cleaner which attaches to particulate matter in the water, which attaches to other particulates making a “clump” large enough for the hot tub filters entrap them easily.

This same Ahh-Some Bio Cleaner conditions the water using water softening agents that make the water feel soft and silky. This is an added benefit for those folks with sensitive skin. As stated above, the bio cleaner works with sanitizers, becoming a water cleaner that absorbs dirt, grime, grease, oils, carbonates and other solids that cling to hot tub surfaces. It lifts stains off the spa and hot tub surfaces as well.

This is the only bio cleaner on the market today that incorporates these many properties into one effective product that not only lasts a long time but also is priced for the consumer. How many bio cleaners do what the Ahh-Some methodology is? “Keeping it simple and increasing customer savings”

Step 11:
Add both your choice of sanitizer and the Ahh-Some Bio Cleaner once a week, reducing the amount of sanitizer as time goes on. If the hot tub is not being utilized as much, just adding the Ahh-Some Hot Tub Bio Cleaner will be sufficient.

Step 12:
Since your filters will be getting larger particles in them, it will be necessary to clean them about once a month. When cleaning filters in free standing water in a pail, we recommend using the Ahh-Some Filter Bio Cleaner, which has different, 100 percent effective, properties that do not need the fast moving water to activate it’s cleaners.

Step 13:
Enjoy your odor free, safe for sensitive skin, soft, silky, crystal clear and clean water, hot tub and spa.

$17.95

Hot Tub & Spa filter maintenance is the most important part of your maintenance routine. Normal weekly filter cleaning is required as directed by the spa & hot tub manufacturers when using Ahh-Some Hot Tub & Spa Bio Cleaner as a water clarifier and conditioner.

Filter cartridge life and its effectiveness depends on proper maintenance. A dirty spa filter has the potential to increase the load on the water pump motor and reduces the effectiveness of the water heater. During use, filter media begins to lose its filtration ability because it becomes clogged with particles and other contaminants. This causes the water pump to work harder in order to push the water through the spa filter and can result in damage to the pump and motor and/or rupture the filter. A ruptured hot tub filter allows particles and contaminants to freely circulate throughout the water and deposit on anything with which they come into contact.

1. Rinsing the filter weekly. The filter cartridge should be cleansed of coarse dirt and debris by
   washing inside and out with a garden hose or your sink sprayer. Apply the water stream at a 45
   degree angle and spray between each filter pleats to make sure all foreign matter is dislodged.
2. Filter cartridges should be cleaned with the Ahh-Some Filter Bio Cleaning product at least once every month or more often if necessary. The cleaners will remove the organic materials and dirt from the pores of the filter.
3. We recommend having 2 (sets) filters. Use the second filter while cleaning the first. Use a
   bucket or large pitcher to soak the filter overnight in the Ahh-Some Filter Bio Cleaner. Rinse the filter thoroughly and let
   dry before reinstalling. The drying allows the pores to tighten and give better filtering results.
4. Manufacturers recommend that spa filters be replaced yearly. If rotating the spa filters, then
   every other year. The life of your filter will depend upon your usage and maintenance.

Caution: Never use a power washer to clean spa filter cartridges, the high pressure water will
damage the filter media. Never use household bleach to clean filters. Although bleach may seem
to do an adequate job of cleaning, it degrades and weakens the fibers in most filter media, thereby
decreasing the useful life of the hot tub filter.