Maintenance on a standard bathtub is relatively simple. You scrub it down every week or so, unclog the drain when needed, and deal with a leaky faucet if it pops up. But walk-in baths are a bit different. These come with added safety and convenience features that require a little additional care. Here are some tips for properly caring for maintaining your walk-in bathtub.
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Things to Avoid
First and foremost, it’s essential to avoid certain things when using and when cleaning your tub. Here are a few things to avoid:
- Excessive use of Epsom salts (moderate use is acceptable)
- Use of bath oils directly in the water (use only a few drops of essential oil directly in the aromatherapy compartment)
- Cleaning with abrasive chemicals
- Using rough cleaning implements like steel wool and wire brushes
- Running the jets without water in the tub
While your tub can withstand most of the same treatment as your standard tub, it’s best to avoid the above items as much as you can.
Rinse After Use
You probably never worried much about rinsing out your regular tub after having a bath. But a walk-in tub has more crevices and flat surfaces where water can accumulate. Because you don’t want your body oils or skin cells sitting on the surface of your tub, you should take a minute to rinse out the tub after each bath. Use the handheld sprayer to hose off the sides, seat, and footwell of your tub. Wipe any puddles of water off the seat, and you’re done for the day.
Clean Weekly
Just as you should clean your standard tub surfaces every week, you should clean your walk-in tub weekly too. Wash all of the tub’s surfaces with an acrylic-friendly cleaner in much the same way you’d clean any other tub. You can safely use the same products you use on any other bathtub, in most cases.
Purge The Tub’s System
Once a month, you should purge the tub’s jet systems. Do this by filling your tub up so that all the jets are covered. Add a cup of bleach and a spoonful of dishwasher detergent to the water, then turn the jet system on. Let it run for 15 minutes, circulating the clean water through the system, then turn it off and drain the tub.
Refill it to the same level and run for another 15 minutes, without adding any bleach or soap. This rinses out any lingering chemicals in the plumbing. Drain the tub, rinse it off with the shower wand, and wipe it down with a clean cloth.
By caring for your walk-in bathtub properly, it will last you for many years to come.
