Cleaning of spa baths

Page content: Introduction | The need to clean spa baths | Installation of your spa

Introduction

Information for managers of hotels, motels, cottages, B&Bs, health and residential care facilities, therapeutic services, adult services and householders.

The need to clean spa baths

The problem:

• Spa baths circulate water through pipes with the assistance of a pump and a booster heater.

• Spa baths, unlike swimming pools or spa pools do not have a filter so any dirt that is not drained out remains within the piping system.
  
  
• Body fats, together with soap residue and other products such as aromatherapy oils become deposited on the insides of the piping system which block off the supply of water to the outlets and are also a hygiene problem.
  
  
• Apart from the grease from previous users, this debris is also a harbourage for the survival of bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Staphlycoccus, which can be associated with ear, eye, hair follicle and wound infections.
  
  
• Circulating the water by itself does not usually remove this material. A degreasing solution must be used to remove these fats and oils.

The solution:

• There are commercially formulated degreasing solutions specifically manufactured for use in spas.
  
  
• When circulated according to manufacturer’s directions, these should remove all fats and debris that are adhered to the piping and deposit the debris in the bath to be drained away.
  
  
• This debris is normally brown in colour, and you may be surprised when you use a spa cleaner for the first time at the amount of debris which can accumulate within the piping system.
  
  
• Choose a degreaser that also has a sanitising action so that the pipes remain hygienically clean until the bath is used again.
  
  
• Degrease your spa regularly so that your clients can be assured that their use of the spa is an enjoyable and hygienic experience. Between each client or after each room stay are suggested intervals between degreasing.

Installation of your spa

Spa Baths should be installed according to Australian Standard AS 3861 so that the water drains from the pump when released from the bath. This will minimise the amount of stagnant water left in the system that may support microbial growth. A degreaser is still required even if the spa is self draining.

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