Home Cleaning Bathroom Cleaning How to Clean the Jets in a Tub so You Can Relax Germ-Free Jetted bathtubs and hot tubs can harbor residue and grow mold and bacteria—so follow these steps to get them clean. By Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette has over four decades of experience and has been writing and consulting for more than 20 years sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, stain removal methods, and textile conservation. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on February 27, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article How to Clean Jets After Every Use Routine Cleaning Deep Cleaning More Tips Close Photo: Evrymmnt/Getty Images Enjoying a soak in a jetted bath tub or hot tub is a luxury experience. It becomes much less relaxing, however, when you start to think about all the grime that could be building up in the jets. After every soak, body soil and bath products lurk in the jets and become food for mold and bacteria growth. Luckily, you can take care of the problem in both jetted tubs and hot tubs with some household cleaning products you probably already have on hand. Read on for more details on how to clean jets in a tub so you can soak in peace. How to Clean a Tub Without Hurting Your Back What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Bottlebrush Microfiber cloth Materials All-purpose cleaner Dishwasher tablet Distilled white vinegar Baking soda Chlorine bleach Instructions How to Clean Tub Jets After Every Use A little maintenance of the bathtub jets after every use helps prevent buildup and reduces the frequency of deeper cleaning. This is especially important if you use bath oils or bombs while you relax. After every bath, drain and refill the tub with enough cold water to reach at least two to three inches above the jets. Turn on the jets and let them run for five to 10 minutes to flush out impurities trapped inside. Turn them off and drain the tub. Routine Cleaning of Jets in a Tub If you use your jetted tub daily, then you should do a routine cleaning once a week. For less frequent use, clean the jets twice a month. The process is much the same as daily maintenance, with the addition of one household cleaning product. Add a Cleaning Solution Fill the tub with clean, hot water that is at least two to three inches above the top jets.Add two teaspoons of a low-sudsing, all-purpose cleaner or a dishwasher tablet dissolved in one cup of hot water. Do not use dishwashing liquid or you'll end up with too many suds. Clean and Flush the Jets Turn on the jets and let them run for at least 10 minutes to allow the cleaning solution to strip away the trapped build-up.Empty the tub and refill it with cold water above the top line of jets. Turn on the jets and allow them to run for another 10 minutes to flush everything out of the jets and interior plumbing lines. Drain your freshly cleaned jetted tub. How to Deep Clean Bathtub and Hot Tub Jets If you do regular cleanings, hot tub jets and bathtub jets should only need a deep cleaning twice a year. Choose only one of these methods for deep cleaning. Never mix chemicals like ammonia, vinegar, or chlorine bleach, as toxic fumes can form. 8 Cleaning Products You Should Never Mix Use Chlorine Bleach Follow the same steps recommended for regular cleaning—but in addition to the two teaspoons of ammonia-free all-purpose cleaner, add two and one-half cups of liquid chlorine bleach to the hot water. Run the jets for at least 10 minutes, drain the tub, and refill with cold water and run the jets for an additional 10 minutes to flush out the gunk before draining the tub. Use Distilled White Vinegar If you don't like to use chlorine bleach, you can opt for distilled white vinegar instead. Follow the regular cleaning steps as above but add four cups of distilled white vinegar (in place of the bleach) to the cleaning solution. Run the jets for 10 minutes and drain the tub. Then, refill the tub with cold water, run the jets for an additional 10 minutes, and drain the tub. Before using chlorine bleach or distilled white vinegar to deep clean the jets, take a look at the user guide or the manufacturer's website for the jetted tub or hot tub. Using these cleaners can void the warranty of some brands that recommend only using cleaning products from their line. Use Baking Soda and a Scrub Brush Dampen a microfiber cloth and sprinkle it with a small amount of baking soda. Wipe around the exterior of the jets. Dip a damp bottle brush in baking soda and insert it into each jet to scrub away debris.Fill the tub with hot water several inches above the jets and allow them to run for at least 10 minutes. Drain the tub.Fill the tub with cold water, run the jets for 10 minutes to flush away debris, and drain the tub. Tips to Keep Tub Jets Clean Longer After every use, fill the tub with fresh, cold water above the line of jets and let them run for five to 10 minutes to flush away debris.Skip bath oils, bombs, and bubble bath products that will leave a sticky residue in the jets that becomes food for mold and mildew. If can't give them up, be sure to do a "rinse cycle" after every use and maintain a regular cleaning schedule.Locate and clean the filter in jetted tubs and hot tubs monthly.