I was surprised that folks do not realize that the "black stuff" in the Jacuzzi tub jets is black mold! There is no need to scrub. Simply fill the tub with water and then add a half gallon of household bleach. Turn on the pump and let it run for an hour. Turn off the pump and let the bleach water stand overnight.
In the morning, put on a rubber glove and pull the plug to drain the tub. You must do this at least once per month. I have been using this method for thirteen years and my tub is fresh and clean. No black mold and no tub damage.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
3 years ago I bought a home that had a jet tub. I was told the jets didn't work and the previous owners never used them. They lived here for 2 years. So including their time living here, the jets haven't been used for 5 years for sure. I recently got them working and as you can imagine... black funk everywhere! I have been cleaning it now for the last 3 days and so far have run the the following cleaners through it: vinegar, dish soap, bleach, and Natural Chemistry Spa Purge. I also removed all the jets, soaked them in bleach and water and scrubbed them clean.
The most recent and last rinse is the cleanest I've seen it yet, but still there was a very small amount of little black flakes. How to I completely get rid of them? Is it even possible? I cannot use this tub with even 1 flake and am about to have it taken out if there's no way to totally clean the system. Any help or advice?
You can use a combination of low-sudsing dishwashing detergent and bleach. Instructions are here:www.apartmenttherapy.com/
I moved into a home that has a Whirlpool bathtub. When I operate the jets, a black substance comes out. What could it be and how do I clean it? I ran the tub for an hour and still have the substance.
By Electus from Jacksonville, FL
Fill the tub with enough water to cover the jets adequately, so the water won't splash everywhere when you turn it on. Then, put 1/2 gallon of bleach into the water, turn it on, and run for 20 minutes. That should do it!
The flaking you see coming out of the jets is from the use of bleach and dishwasher detergent. Bleach kills and leaves behind the "gunk" in the pipes; cascade just delays the flaking. The pipes need to be flushed with a product that scrapes the gunk off the sides of the pipes and jets. The Ahh-Some Bio Cleaner for Jetted is one product that works great and keeps the pipes clean.
You have to clean the pipes in a jetted tub just as much as you clean the toilet otherwise algae & mold start to grow in the pipes, the cycle begins all over.
Use a product that was meant to clean and not some cheap way of killing bacteria. It's a bit more complicated than what is told on these forums. Learn to enjoy your time in the bath, not fight the gunk!
After reading this article, I decided to try Ahh-some for my jetted tub and I was amazed how well it worked. I followed the instructions and was amazed how much black soot floating in my tub. I can't believe that I was soaking in such filthy water!
I wouldn't use bleach. It can corrode the system. Also, the hot water vaporizes and inhaling bleach into your lungs can't be good! I'd recommend a cheap SPECIALTY solution. Zero Bull's jetted tub cleaner works for us.
www.truspring.com/
My wife and I purchased a home in Apple Valley, California approximately one year ago. This is located in the mountains and is called the High Desert area.
We finally decided to use the jacuzzi bathtub in the master bathroom. I had remembered that prior to using a jacuzzi tub that hasn't been used in a long, it needed to be cleaned.
The first cleaning was with hot water and bleach. We saw black mold as a ring around the tub and a lot of sand at the bottom of the tub after running the jets.
We cleaned it and then ran the jets again with bleach and hot water. We still got black mold and sand again.
I repeated the process, once with cold water and no cleaner, hot water and Pine Sol, hot water only, and then twice with hot water and Calgon.
So far, I am still getting a lot of sand at the bottom of the tub. I checked the other tubs and sinks by running the water and there is no sand.
I am at a loss now. There is no more black mold, but I still have a lot of sand coming out of the jets.
What are my other options?
You may need to call a plumber. You may have sand coming into the pipes. You may need a whole home water filter.
Does the system have a sand filtration device like some outdoor pools have? If so, it may need to be replaced. Years ago I was house-sitting in a place with an outdoor hot tub and they said if I saw sand in the water to stop using until they got back.
If that is not the case, you may need to have a plumber check the lines to the tub.
Hope it is an easy fix.
I am friends with a lady whose husband installs those kind of tubs. She told me she will not have one in her home. She says the dealers don't tell the customers that hard water and age, among other things, will damage the pipes and that they will often have to be replaced. She opted for one of those products you can buy at such stores as Bed, Bath and Beyond that have some kind of pad you put down in your regular bathtub, connect to an electrical thing and it will produce bubbles in your regular bath water.
My parents have a spa-like tub that has jets in it. We are trying to avoid cleaning those spouts all the time. Does anyone know if they have plugs available or anyone have an ingenius idea of how to cover them? It would have to be waterproof of course. Thank you for any input!
By Amanda
I have the same question? My jets don't work either but I still enjoy bathing in it and would just like to seal up the jets so I waterms don't get in them at all.
Someone on another forum bought whitemail rubber chair tips.put in on fit perfectly they said problem solved
I have a jetted tub an would like to know if there are plugs you can get to plug them up. I think they are bacteria breeders.
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I moved into a home that has a Whirlpool bathtub. When I operate the jets, a black substance comes out. What could it be and how do I clean it? I ran the tub for an hour and still have the substance.
I have just moved into a house that has a whirlpool tub. What is the best product to use to clean out the jets?
Does anyone have a formula for cleaning my tub jets using vinegar in the water? How much vinegar to a tub full of water and is there any other ingredient to add?
What is the best way to clean out jets in a jacuzzi tub?
