How to Clean a Hot Tub Filter (and When to Replace It)
The filter is the hardest working part of your hot tub. It traps hair, skin flakes, dirt and the oils that make water look dull. When it clogs, water flow drops, the water turns cloudy and your sanitizer has to work harder. Keeping it clean is one of the cheapest ways to keep the water nice.
How often to clean a hot tub filter
- Rinse: every week or two, more often with heavy use.
- Deep clean: about once a month, and whenever you drain and refill.
- Replace: when the pleats are torn, flattened or crumbly, or the cartridge won't come clean. Many owners replace it about every one to two years. Your spa maker's manual has the final word.
A spare cartridge makes this easy: swap in the clean one and let the dirty one soak and dry without taking the tub out of service.
How to rinse a filter, step by step
- Turn off the power to the hot tub at the breaker or control panel before you pull the filter.
- Remove the cartridge and knock off any loose debris.
- Rinse between every pleat with a garden hose, top to bottom. A cleaning wand makes this much faster; the 15-nozzle cartridge cleaner wand, the handheld cleaner wand, the Filter Flosser and the Aqua Comb are all built to get deep into the pleats.
- Put it back, close the lid and turn the power back on.
How to deep clean a filter
A hose rinse won't remove the oils, lotions and minerals that build up inside the fabric. For that you need a filter cleaner:
- Rinse the cartridge first to get the loose dirt off.
- Spray or soak it with a cartridge cleaner such as Leisure Time Instant Cartridge Clean, following the label for how long to leave it on.
- Rinse it again thoroughly so no cleaner goes back into the tub, where it can cause foam.
- Let it dry completely if you can. Drying helps loosen remaining debris, which you can brush off.
Mistakes that ruin filters
- Pressure washers. The force can tear or fray the pleats. Use a hose or a filter wand.
- Dish soap or laundry detergent. Residue left in the fabric makes the water foam. Use a cleaner made for spa filters.
- Skipping the rinse after cleaning. Leftover cleaner ends up in your water.
- Running without a filter. Debris can get into the pump and heater.
Extra help for oily water
If you see a scum line or greasy film, drop a few oil absorbing sponges in the filter area or skimmer to soak up oils before they reach the cartridge, and shock the tub (here's how). Shop all filter care tools and cleaners.
Related reading:
Safety first: always follow the directions on the product label and your hot tub maker's manual. Add chemicals to the water one at a time, never mix chemicals together, and store them dry, cool and out of reach of kids and pets. Questions? Send us a message.
