hot tub bubble bath

While people enjoy hot tubs for their relaxing and therapeutic benefits, there are some things that you simply cannot do. One of those things is using bubble bath solution in your hot tub.

So many people have tried to use traditional bubble bath products in their hot tubs, quickly overwhelming the internal components with excess amounts of foam. This kind of foam can put exorbitant wear on both the heater and the pump, making them work much harder.

Beyond that, there are other reasons why you should not ever put bubble bath solution in a hot tub, which we will discuss in the rest of this article.

Is Putting Bubble Bath In A Hot Tub Safe?

One of the first things that happens when you put bubble bath in a hot tub is you get tons of bubbles that overflow the tub. This can block out the controls and make an absolute mess that is hard to clean up. The reason bubbles become so overwhelming when in a hot tub is that you’re mixing them with air.

Plus, the more bubbles that you add to your hot tub, the harder it will be to get rid of them. It’s very difficult to get this solution out of your hot tub once you put it in. Even if you are able to clear the initial bubbles out of the interior, they will reappear every time you turn your jets back on, as the air will push any residue left in the pumps back out into the water.

The only way to fully remedy this problem is to drain your spa completely before you use it again.

In the worst-case scenario, the bubble excess can wear your pumps down, as they’ll have to work harder to push all of the water through. You may even have to replace your pump.

Should I Drain My Hot Tub If I Put Bubble Bath In It?

After adding salt, it is very important to check your alkalinity and pH levels, adjusting them if need be.

Remove the filter from your spa and use your hose to spray it down for a few minutes. It is crucial to get into your filter’s pleats, as there could be soap stuck in there. Luckily, there are plenty of filter cleaning tools on the market that you can use to do this.

Once all the soap is gone, add a shock product to your hot tub. Typically, this comes in the form of a chlorine shock. Once the shock has been added, let the jets run for an hour or so. After an hour has gone by, turn them off and check the pH and alkalinity levels in your water again.

If you notice bubbles starting to appear in your hot tub, then you probably still have some of the product in the spa’s internal system.

Safe Alternatives to Bubble Bath

Typically, these products do not make the water in your spa cloudy, nor do they create an oily residue that sits in your water. Be sure to purchase spa-specific products that won’t leave residue in your spa.

The beauty of adding these products to a jetted tub is that they can do wonders for the skin. If you’re looking for a new step in your anti-aging routine, we highly recommend adding a drop of spa-specific essential oils every time you get in your hot tub.

If you’re looking to get serious amounts of foam in your hot tub, then we recommend heading to the bathtub. Hot tubs are made to create bubbles on their own when the jets push out air and mix up the water.

Do note that if you are simply using these types of products to cover up the harsh chemical smell in your hot tub, you should probably deal with the source of the odor. Often this is a sign of bacteria floating around in your hot tub water. Usually, you can get rid of this smell by draining and rinsing your hot tub.

Getting Rid Of Bubble Solution In a Jetted Tub

When you turn your spa jets on, these things can mix together and form a bubble nightmare.

If you have foam on the surface of your water, it could also be an indication that your jetted tub has a chemical imbalance with pH levels that are much too high. It is important that you routinely check both the pH level and the alkalinity level in your jetted tub, adjusting either if they are too high.

If you ever end up with dish soap in your jetted tub, one of the best ways that you can get rid of it is with a small drop of table salt. Table salt is made up of chlorine and sodium, meaning it won’t have an adverse reaction to the chlorine in your jetted tub. However, just like with any chemicals, the last thing you want to do is add too much, as you could upset the balance of your spa water.

Final Thoughts – Keeping Your Hot Tub Free From Bubble Solution

One of the main takeaways that you should get from this little guide is that you should never add bubble bath to your hot tub, no matter how enticing it might look. However, if you decide to go against our advice and add this kind of solution to your hot tub, the best remedy is to drain the water completely, then fill it back up again.

When it comes to adding products, we recommend sticking with essential oils and salts that are specifically meant to be used in the hot tub. You should never add regular bath salts, as these are not meant for use in a spa and are not the same thing as spa salt. Thinking of adding epsom salts in your hot tub? Epsom salt can not be mixed with chlorine, as this could cause burns on your skin. There are so many different products out there that are jetted tub-specific, it’s best to stick with them instead.

Similarly, you will want to avoid products that are meant for pools, as these work best in cool water. The products we have outlined are available for purchase through a number of different spa retailers, making them very easy to find.

We hope that you have all of the information that you need to make the most out of your jetted tub!

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The thing that attracts most people to owning a hot tub is the ability to relax and feel those bubbles working on your muscles, easing the aches and pains. And, it’s natural to wonder what happens if you put bubble bath in a hot tub.

Here’s what I found out (the hard way):

Bubble bath will quickly overwhelm a hot tub with excess foam and it can also put extra wear and tear on the pump and heater, causing them to work harder to move the water through. But some detergents can also have a chemical reaction with chlorine, leaving a rough film on the acrylic shell.

So, as tempting as it might be, especially if you have kids and they want a bubble party with their friends, let me tell you this – don’t do it! That doesn’t mean to say they can’t have fun, though. There are plenty of other things you can add to enhance your enjoyment.

To find out what you can and can’t do and what to do if someone puts bubble bath in your hot tub, read on.

@hoppotom put bubble bath in hot tub #bigmistake pic.twitter.com/WyrmbyijYc

— LUFC 🏆 (@PestellAdam) June 19, 2014

Is it safe to put bubble bath in a hot tub?

Putting bubble bath in a hot tub will not harm people, but it may harm the equipment in a hot tub. The excess of bubbles is likely to become so overwhelming that it makes the hot tub difficult to use and enjoy.

So, the first thing that will happen is you’ll get an immense amount of bubbles – so much that you probably won’t find the controls let alone your kids!

This is why. If you put dish soap in a bowl and slowly add water, you hardly get any suds at all but turn on the faucet full blast, and the suds soon build up. This is because you are adding air into the mix. The hot tub jets work the same way. Agitating the water intensifies the process, and soon things get out of control.

This mountain of bubbles will do nothing to increase your enjoyment. In fact, it will make it virtually impossible to sit in your hot tub for any length of time, even if you turn off the jets.

And the bubbles won’t really go away on their own.

Every time you get in and turn the jets on, they will come foaming back! So, unfortunately, the only way to deal with it effectively is to drain, rinse, and refill the hot tub.

It may seem like great fun for the kids, but you could end up having to replace the pump because it has to work harder to move the water around.

We filled the hot tub with bubble bath… oops pic.twitter.com/SnIdH6cpKv

— alexa (@MARSJRA) September 22, 2018

If I put bubble bath in my hot tub, do I need to drain it after?

Small amounts of bubbles from bubble bath can be removed with a skimming net. Large amounts of bubble bath will require draining, rinsing, and refilling a hot tub. In either case, also remove and rinse off the filters,

But let’s look at that in greater detail:

First, you need to turn off the jets, and then you should skim off all of the soap suds from the top.

There will be some residue, but to disperse this, try sprinkling salt over the surface. Check your pH and alkalinity levels after adding anything like this, and adjust accordingly.

Take out your filter and hose it down for a good 5 minutes or more, making sure you get into the pleats. A handy tool to have around for this is the Filter Flosser from Amazon, which simply connects to your hose pipe.

You can find it on Amazon by clicking on the link.

Then you should shock your tub. Add a large dose of chlorine and run the jets for around an hour before turning them off and leave for a couple of minutes before turning them on again.

If more bubbles appear, and you still have some of the product in the system, and you have no alternative but to drain the tub, thoroughly clean it before refilling.

For more information on changing the water and cleaning the tub, check out this recent article. I not only get into how often you should be changing your water, but how I can drain mine in under 15 minutes!

You can read it here on my website by clicking on the link.

My mother and step dad are out in the Maldives, my mother decided to put bubble bath in the hot tub 😂 pic.twitter.com/qsb0S4EC3d

— Bennett 💎 (@lewisbennnnn) March 22, 2018

Will bubble bath hurt the equipment of a Jacuzzi hot tub?

Do not use bubble bath in a Jacuzzi hot tub. Jacuzzi is just a brand name and not different with regards to bubble bath than any other hot tub manufacturer.

Hot tubs aren’t like bathtubs where they get drained after every use – never add bubble bath, detergents, or soapy products to create an effect.

Some aromatherapy products contain other oils that can be damaging to your hot tub as well.

I talked about using bath salts in your hot tub in a recent article. Unfortunately, most bath salts and essential oils will seriously damage hot tubs. But there is 1 product that works really well that accomplishes the same thing.

Just click on the link to read it here on my site.

Bubble bath, in particular, can damage your pump if it draws in foam. Because it lacks the friction of water, the pump will start to run too fast and overheat. If it repeatedly draws in foam then liquid, the vibration can cause the bearings and seals to work loose, resulting in failure.

Jets can also become clogged with foam as it mixes with air and expands. This will be very difficult to remedy if all the nozzles become blocked.

I’m going to have a bubble bath in the hot tub. Why can’t my phone be here today instead of Monday! I guess I’ll just have to do this again when it arrives 😉 pic.twitter.com/fYm9WOHWeD

— Annie-May (@AnnieMayCosplay) March 5, 2021

Is there a safe alternative to bubble bath for my hot tub?

There is not a safe product on the market to produce bubbles in a hot tub. However, there are some approved aromatherapy products designed to improve the smell and feel of the water.

So, if it’s the foam you’re looking for, the hot tub is not for you. Hot tubs do create bubbles, that’s one reason why we love them, but this is a natural reaction as air mixes with water at the jet nozzle.

One product I like in particular is InSPAration aromatherapy on Amazon. It works well with chlorine, bromine, and all saltwater spas.

For less than 60 bucks, you get an assortment of 24 different scents in 50 individual sample pillow packets, so you can choose which ones you like the best and only order those in the future. You just twist off the tip and squeeze the liquid directly into the water.

One packet will easily serve a 6-seat 300-gallon hot tub, and it will not create foam, cause cloudy water or leave an oily residue.

The skin moisturizing emollients will also help reduce wrinkly skin from staying in too long.

InSPAration has been serving the spa community since 1974, so you know you’re going to get a tried and tested product from them. These small samples are a good introduction to their aromatherapy and wellness ranges.

CLICK HERE to see InSPAration on Amazon.

Just one word of warning.

It seems some users bought these to hide a chemical smell and then complained that the water was cloudy after using them for a while. Although they will mask some hot tub odor, if you are getting a bad smell from the water, you need to deal with that first.

See this recent article here on my website by clicking on the link.

Hot tub bubble bath anyone?😏 pic.twitter.com/yQXS2rVN8m

— Cole Pendery (@ColePendery) April 22, 2015

How to get rid of bubbles in a hot tub

Eliminate bubbles in a hot tub by ensuring pH levels are correct, scooping out excess foam on the surface, and hyper-chlorinating the water. For large amounts of bubbles, a full drain and refill of the hot tub may be necessary.

Bubbles or foam in a hot tub can indicate high pH, high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDSs), or bubble bath or detergent was added to the water.

Things such as makeup, deodorant, body lotions, oils, and shampoo all add to the TDS content of your hot tub, and over time these build up to a level where, when the jets are turned on, foam is created.

Foam on the water’s surface could also indicate that there is a chemical imbalance and the pH is too high. Check your pH and alkalinity levels regularly and adjust accordingly to prevent the water from foaming.

If you get dish soap in your hot tub, the best way to disperse it is by sprinkling table salt over the surface.

Table salt is a combination of sodium and chlorine, so it won’t react adversely with the chlorine in your water but don’t overdo it because adding ordinary household products such as this could affect the chemical balance of the water.

In a recent article, I looked at how to get detergent out of your hot tub. After all, it’s not uncommon for people to reach for that to clean their hot tubs. But there’s only 1 surefire way to get rid of its aftereffects.

Read it here on my website by clicking on the link.

Did I cover everything you wanted to know about what happens if you put bubble bath in a hot tub?

The main thing you should take away from this article is never to add bubble bath to your hot tub. But if you do, your best option is to drain it and start again.

You should only add salts and essential oils that are created for use in hot tubs and avoid cheap products that claim to be for spas and pools – the two are entirely different and work in different ways.

If there is anything I missed or you have any questions on this subject, just drop me a line, and I will do my best to answer it. And don’t forget to check out the other related articles here on my site. Just click on the links.

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Photo which requires attribution:

Bubble bath anyone? Purging the hot tub by Jeff Sandquist is licensed under CC2.0 and was edited, cropped, color-adjusted, and had a text overlay added.