Hot tub Do’s and Don'ts: A COMPLETE List of Best Practices

You’re looking at a hot tub and wondering about how to take care of it. Can your dog jump in with you? Should you take off your jewelry before getting in? Can I eat in my hot tub? 

There are do’s and don’ts of hot tub ownership related to your water responsibilities that you can find here. And then there are tips like this list we have compiled so that you can know what the best practices are once you own one. 

We get asked these kinds of questions frequently at our retail outlets at Hydropool. Can I wear sunscreen in my hot tub? How old should my children be before they can use the hot tub? All of them are good questions. 

So we thought we’d put together this user guide so you’d know in advance what the best practices are while owning a hot tub. In this article we will cover:

• Eating and drinking
• Makeup and sunscreen
• Jewelry
• Sex
• Electronics
• Children
• Pets

Hopefully, by the end, you’ll have a good idea of what is the best way to make sure your hot tub keeps running tip-top all year round. 

 

 

Eating and Drinking

Chances are you’ve thought about having a nice cold drink in the warm water of your hot tub and who can blame you? You can even buy floating bars to hold your drinks and snacks. 

We are realists: We are never going to tell people not to eat or drink in a hot tub. We understand that’s part of why many people buy them and the way you decide to spend time in your tub is your call. 

We aren’t doctors and we don’t give out medical advice, but we will say keep an eye on the drinking when you’re in one. Hydration is always important when it comes to hot tubs.  

• If you can hop out, grab a snack, have a drink and then come back in, you’re better off. 
• When it comes to spills, it will be better for your hot tub’s water balance and will keep your filter lasting longer if you eat and drink outside the tub.  
• If you do eat or drink in the hot tub, keep the mess to a minimum. A bag of tortilla chips isn’t what you want clouding your water, and a spilled glass of wine will throw your balanced water out of whack. 
• We’d also recommend plastic glasses instead of using breakable glass. The last thing you want is to have to drain your hot tub in the middle of a party because pieces of glass ended up at the bottom of it. 

Makeup, Sunscreen, Jewelry

Sunscreen and makeup both contain elements that can affect your hot tub’s water. The oils in sunscreen and the materials that exist in concealer, foundation and mascara, as examples, can clog your filters and transform your water into something ickier than you’d like. 

We get that you will want to protect yourself from the sun while in the hot tub. For that, we’d suggest an umbrella or pergola over your head. Hats and sunglasses also are helpful here, and keep you looking glamorous while in the tub. If the sun hits the water it can intensify the rays and get you more of a tan than you bargained for.  

As for jewelry? You’re better off taking it off for two reasons: 1) so you don’t lose it in the hot tub filtering system and 2) because some of it can end up being tarnished from the chemicals in the tub.

Should I Shower Before I Get in? 

If you can, it will only help. A shower can help get rid of everything from soap residue to deodorants, perfumes, colognes, hair gels and anything else that can gum up your filters and affect your water. Some of these can help make your water foamy over time, and your hot tub’s jets, internal parts, filters and pumps are all better off without any of them. 

Sex in a Hot Tub?  

We know it’s been done. Let’s just say you may have to buy new filters after. In general, we say hot tub foreplay is better than actual sex in the hot tub. A hot tub is great at making for an amorous atmosphere, but we expect you’ll find it’s better to finish elsewhere.     

Can I Use My Phone in the Hot Tub? 

Some hot tubs come with apps that allow you to control your tub from your phone (Hydropool has this feature on some models). For the most part though, a phone in a hot tub is a great way to get it wet: They are best enjoyed without one! 

Of course you can. Will you be able to use it if you drop it in the hot tub? Probably not. If you’re using your phone to program your music or just want to text with someone, we understand wanting to take it with you in the hot tub. But keep in mind you’re always better off waiting to use it until you get out. Just set your playlist in advance and invite your friends over to actually use your hot tub with you, so you don’t need to text them!

Children and Hot Tubs? 

At Hydropool, we believe children should always remain within arm’s reach when they are in a hot tub. There shouldn’t be a lot of distractions if kids are in there – minimal phones and music. If anything does happen, you’ll want to be able to respond quickly. 

But can kids use hot tubs? Yes. And they will want to, for sure. 

Here’s a few helpful guidelines on how to handle children in and around the hot tub:

• Everyone using a hot tub should know the rules before they step into it. 
• Children should keep their heads above water. 
• Children should get out immediately if they feel sick, warm or have to go to the bathroom. 
• Aggressive play or rowdiness isn’t safe in a hot tub. 
• No one should be putting hands or hair in jets, filters or skimmer areas. 
• Children old enough to understand should know where the on/off buttons are for any hot tub jets.

Again, watch for dehydration!

Can My Pet Get in the Hot Tub with Me? 

Okay, we get why you’d want to do this. And of course, it’s possible that your dog or cat will want to get in with you (we usually see this with dogs more than cats). So we’re not saying Fido can’t come in, ever. 

But should your pet come in with you? Animals can scratch your acrylic which is a tough repair. They can also leave hair clogging up your filters. Animals are generally hard to convince to take a shower beforehand.

You’re far better off never letting your pet into the hot tub with you. You can always snuggle with them later. 

Hot Tub User Guide

We get asked frequently what you can and can’t do in a hot tub at our retail outlets. And we understand why. Hot tubs offer an infinite number of options for anyone who owns one. They are places to play, relax and enjoy. 

But that doesn’t mean they can do everything. Some of the tips we gave in this article include removing as much makeup, jewelry, technology, sunscreen, cologne and perfume before using your hot tub if you can. But your hot tub will continue to function if you do go in – it will just need a bit more cleaning effort.  

Letting your pets play somewhere else is a good idea but kids are great with supervision. Keeping electronics away from the hot tub? A good idea, if you can. Alcohol and food? Doable, but realize the consequences of spilling can be severe and might lead to an early night. 

We hoped these tips helped you! If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to a Hydropool dealer.