Cleaning hot tubs may sound so simple, but you’ll be surprised by how many hot tub owners do not know how to properly clean their hot tubs. Inasmuch as hot tubs can alleviate people’s illnesses such as muscle pain, diabetes and high blood pressure, they’re also venues for contracting diseases like hot tub bacterium, rashes and folliculitis.

Parties nowadays feature inviting hot tubs for some chill-out moments. Beware, though, because not everybody who uses the hot tub practices hygienic measures. You’ll be awestruck by the microorganisms found in unsanitary hot tubs: different species of bacteria, such as those that come from feces, fungi and staphylococcus bacteria, which is highly lethal. Do you even have any idea what the hot tub filter filters? Disgusting items, such as fake nails, toe nails, rats and tampons! Would you even be able to relax in a hot tub with a tampon floating nearby? The thought is downright repulsive.

What’s worse than sharing hot tubs with filthy things is actually ingesting the germs that they contain. You get infected with diseases when you swallow hot tub water or when your open cuts get in contact with the contaminated water. Body openings, such as eyes, ears and nose, also act as passageways for infection from filthy hot tub water.

The most common illness acquired from unsanitary hot tubs is hot tub bacterium. Hot tub bacterium thrives in damp areas and is not immediately detected. Hot tub bacterium can manifest in as little as a few minutes from immersion to a few days. This illness gotten from unclean hot tubs is discernible through coughing, breathing difficulty, fatigue and chest tightness. What’s sad about it is that it is often the children who are struck with hot tub bacterium as they tend to submerge in hot tubs longer and have weaker immune systems.

What can you do to prevent getting diseases from public hot tubs? Preventative measures are the best. Steer clear from public hot tubs, no matter how appealing they appear. It is no problem if you are a hundred percent certain that the water in the hot tub is new or freshly sanitized. Unfortunately, you can never be really sure. Once you see murky water, it is the water’s way of telling you to stay away.

Check for cuts, scrapes and open wounds before dipping into the water, even if it were your own hot tub.

For personal hot tubs, implement all measures you can to keep the sanitation of the water. Chlorine does a good job of killing algae and bacterial growth that may have grown over time. Bromine may also do the trick, but chlorine smells better than bromine. Make it a habit to treat the water with chlorine every two days, even if you do not use it as frequently. In fact, water stagnation is a catalyst of bacterial growth. Replace the water every two months if used often and every four months if otherwise. Filters must also be replaced every so often to avoid dirt from coming back into the water. When inviting people over for a dip in your hot spa, have them take a shower first. Most importantly, avoid inviting persons with questionable hygiene practices.

Author Bio: Carla Johns is an expert on hot tubs and wood burning fireplaces. She doesn’t let strangers dip in her hot tub and she never will.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: hot tub, hot tubs