Can Vinegar Clean A Hot Tub? The Benefits You Should Know

Whether you've bought a new jacuzzi or have a DIY wood-fired hot tub, there's nothing quite like sinking into the bubbling water after an exhausting day. And while they may not always add direct value to your home, they can be an appealing feature for buyers, especially if you've taken care of it. Properly maintaining your hot tub is also important for your health due to the harmful bacteria that can linger, like cryptosporidium, pseudomonas, and legionella (all waterborne pathogens). While these may not always put you in the hospital, they can cause pneumonia, diarrhea, a rash, swimmer's ear, and more. The good news is that you can use a household product to clean and maintain your hot tub: white vinegar. 

There are plenty of hot tub cleaning products on the market, those that have harsh chemicals and those that don't. But for a safe and inexpensive solution that you most likely already have at home, turn to white vinegar. Now, you may wonder if it can clean a hot tub just as well as chemical products. The short answer is yes. White vinegar can be a versatile cleaning tool for your hot tub, with its high acidic properties cutting through dirt, grime, and some germs. It's not a substitute for hot tub sanitizers, though, because it does not operate as a disinfectant, which kills 99.9% of germs. So, keep this in mind if you're looking to thoroughly clean the water. For this hot tub cleaning hack, you'll need standard white vinegar, warm water, a spray bottle, some protective gear, and a scrubber. For added cleaning power, grab some baking soda as well.

To understand why white vinegar works so well to clean a hot tub, we have to look at the chemistry. The standard household white vinegar typically contains between 4% and 7% acetic acid, making it effective at breaking down buildup in your hot tub without damaging its surface or components. It's especially successful at breaking down stubborn limescale that may have built up, too. Just remember that if you're looking to remove the majority of waterborne pathogens that may be lingering in your hot tub, you'll need a disinfecting product.

Before you start the process, make sure you have protective gear like gloves and glasses to protect your skin and eyes from any possible irritation. To use white vinegar to clean your hot tub, first up you'll need to drain the water and remove any debris that may be lying on the bottom or sides. For the DIY cleaning agent, put equal parts warm water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and apply it to the hot tub. Let the solution sit for about 15 to 20 minutes, and then use a scrubber to remove any dirt and grime. During this process, make sure you monitor your hot tub surface to ensure you are not damaging it. For limescale or harsher stains, add two tablespoons of baking soda to your spray bottle, or simply mix it with white vinegar to create a paste. For either option, let it sit on the stains to remove the mineral buildup. Lastly, rinse off your hot tub until all the homemade solution dissolves.