hot tub foam

Here are the common causes of hot tub foam:

  • Hair care products such as shampoo, gel, mousse, hair spray, etc.
  • Body lotions and deodorant
  • Makeup
  • Laundry detergent or soap
  • Cheap hot tub chemicals, too many chemicals, or total dissolved solids (TDS)
  • Drinks

The only thing that should go in hot tub water are humans and trusted hot tub chemicals. Anything else can cause foaming and other problems.

How to Prevent Hot Tub Foam

  1. Prevent foam by showering before soaking in the hot tub. That will wash off all the soap residue, makeup, and other body chemicals.
  2. Make sure bathing suits are cleaned and rinsed with fresh water before getting in the hot tub.
  3. Don’t go underwater. Long-haired soakers should wear a baseball cap to keep their hair up.
  4. Don’t buy cheap chemicals. Get the right chemicals from a trusted source.
  5. Don’t drink in the hot tub to avoid the risk of spilling it in the water.
  6. Drain and clean a hot tub regularly. Do this every 3 to 4 months.

How to Get Rid of Hot Tub Foam

First, get the water tested. Make sure the pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels are good. This is also a good time to check for (Total Dissolved Solids) TDS. High levels of TDS can cause foaming. TDS is caused by an overload of chemicals and other solids into the water that builds up over time. The only way to reduce TDS is to drain and refill.

1. Drain and Refill

This is the most direct way to get rid of foam – start from scratch.

We recommend to drain and refill the hot tub every 3 to 4 months and more often if it’s used frequently.

NOTE: When draining and refilling a hot tub, make sure to clean the filters too.

2. Anti-Foam Chemical

Another option is to purchase an anti-foam chemical that will quickly get rid of the foam. We like to think of this as Chloraseptic® spray while experiencing a sore throat – it quickly relieves the problem, but it doesn’t solve it.

Let’s say you’re having a hot tub party, or just want to take a soak after a long day of work – in these cases, you probably don’t want to take the time to drain and refill, you just want to use your tub.

We would recommend that if the foam continues, work on draining and refilling.