Chlorine has long been one of the go-to methods for sanitizing hot tubs, helping spa owners maintain their haven of relaxation by simply letting chemicals do the work. But even though chlorine has been a mainstay of hot tub maintenance, new techniques have emerged that allow you to clean your hot tub without the potent side effects of chlorine, which typically include skin and eye irritation that can make you think twice about hopping in. Here are four of the best alternatives that can clean your hot tub without developing a chemical dependency.
Enzymes:
If you’re looking for a natural way to stay on top of hot tub maintenance, enzymes are a terrific alternative that can quickly neutralize oils and organic materials that you don’t want floating around. Although they were formerly not able to be paired with other cleansers, modern day enzymes can actually work to enhance the effects of bromine and ozone-based sanitizers to help you create a clean hot tub environment with limited effort. If you’re still determined to stick with at least some usage of chlorine, enzymes can also dramatically decrease the amount of chlorine needed, leaving you with the same clean hot tub while minimizing the negative effects associated with more traditional approaches.
Ozonators:
For those hoping to find a potent long-term solution, spa ozonators are a great way to ditch chlorine and still maintain the level of expected hygiene. Utilizing the same gas that protects the Earth, ozonators inject small doses of ozone into your water to breakdown bacteria and keep your hot tub as clean as possible. Using an ozonator will also keep your hot tub water clearer than traditional methods and let you change your hot tub water less frequently, helping to dramatically lower overall maintenance requirements. More than just an alternative to chemicals, however, ozonators are estimated to be as much as 3,000 times more potent than basic chlorine treatments, making them well worth the relatively small initial investment.
Spa mineral sticks:
Similar to using enzymes, spa mineral sticks can significantly lessen your dependency on chlorine with a few easy steps. In addition to breaking down bacteria and viruses, spa mineral sticks also attack the small amounts of copper and silver to help create a clean and nearly mineral-free environment to relax in. Although required maintenance is more than a product like an Ultra Pure Spa Ozonator, which essentially only needs a periodic bulb change after installation, spa mineral sticks still can give you a terrific alternative to using chlorine as your main sanitization source. When used with small amounts of chlorine or chlorine substitutes, spa mineral sticks can have you on your way to a healthy and fairly easy to maintain hot tub.
Bromine:
Right along with chlorine, bromine is a standard cleaning agent used in many hot tubs and pools around the world, making for a great option for those looking to keep it simple. Less harsh on your skin and eyes than chlorine, bromine offers the benefits of chlorine while minimizing the adverse effects, which is why it remains such a popular choice today. Bromine can also be more effective in smaller volumes of water than chlorine and doesn’t produce the same strong odors its counterpart is known for, making bromine particularly ideal for hot tubs. Since many of today’s hot tub sanitizers still require some amounts of chlorine or chlorine substitute, bromine can be a great supplement for an option like enzyme treatments and spa mineral sticks to limit your reliance on harsher chemicals.
Conclusion:
One of the worst things you can do with your hot tub is not stay on top of the water treatment process, although it’s also easier than ever to keep it clean thanks to a spread of different modern day options. While spa mineral sticks and enzymes can help you avoid chlorine while maintaining your hot tub, superior alternatives like ozonators can provide a cleaner environment than chlorine while also leaving you with very minimal upkeep after installation.