Does Chlorine Get Rid Of Biofilm?
Baths can be relaxing, but what about the mess left behind? If you’re tired of scrubbing or using harsh cleaners to remove stains and buildup, chlorine is your answer.
Chlorine has been available for use for over 100 years in water treatment for swimming pools and hot tubs because of its ability to disinfect water by converting organic compounds into chloramines.
While chlorine is well-considered unsafe for individuals with sensitive skin or eyes, it can safely and effectively clean bathtubs.But, Does chlorine get rid of biofilm?
No! Biofilm is resistant to antibiotics and other antimicrobial treatments because the bacteria boast protection by a slimy film that renders them impervious to the attacks of free-floating infectious agents. You can kill biofilm using hot water (as in some industrial settings), but chlorine is not hot enough to kill biofilm.
Biofilm is an adhesive matrix that bacteria can build up on surfaces. It boasts of cells, exopolysaccharides, and extracellular polymers.
You can kill it with heat or certain disinfectants, such as hydrogen peroxide, ozone, or UV light.
Chlorine will kill bacteria that are not in a biofilm. But to be effective against bacteria in a biofilm.
You must leave it on the surface for much longer than the typical contact time of 30 seconds used for community water systems.
How Do You Remove Biofilm From A Water System?
There are four ways you can use to remove biofilm from your water system. This includes using:
- Chemical additives
- Filtration
- Heat
- UV light
The first way to remove biofilm is by using chemical additives (baking soda, chlorine bleach, etc.). This is usually known as chemical shock therapy.
The second way to remove biofilm from a water system is by using heat. It’s an effective way to kill biofilm and is cost-effective.
The third way is by using a filtration system that uses filter media like micro-filtration, sand filtration, ion exchange, and other equipment that uses mechanical action to push out contaminated water.
The last way is the use of a UV light. Ultraviolet light will kill any living organism and will disinfect your water supply.
An ultraviolet system can eliminate the biofilm from your water system.
Is Sodium Hypochlorite Effective Against Biofilm?
Yes. Sodium hypochlorite boasts 70% ethanol effectiveness against biofilm. One can use it to disinfect, sanitize, and deodorize. It is very effective in the eradication of biofilm.
Sodium hypochlorite(Amazon Link) works by causing the biofilm to be brittle and then fall apart.
Biofilm is a slime that bacteria and other microorganisms get inside to protect themselves.
Bacteria that form biofilm are almost impossible to destroy with hand cleaning, but sodium hypochlorite solves this problem.
The best part is that you can use it in the dishwasher or washer. You can also use it as an all-purpose cleaner.
Does Salt Destroy Biofilm?
Yes. When Salt dissolves in water, it creates sodium ions and chloride ions which can be harmful to bacteria. Bacteria are usually considered “dormant” when they are alive but not currently active.
Salt kills biofilm bacteria by damaging their cell wall so that the pressure inside the cells buildup, and eventually, the cells burst, destroying the bacteria.
Remember that while it might kill bacteria, it will not necessarily kill the bacteria’s spores, so use Salt in moderation.
You can see this effect of Salt in action by putting a small piece of meat or vegetables into a small quantity (about 1/4 teaspoon) of water and then adding some salt.
Cover the container top with a Wrap and put it in a warm place. Keep the meat or vegetable pieces moist by adding more water if necessary.
Over the next day, you see that the Salt has killed many of the microbes on the meat or vegetable, and it will rot (but is still safe to eat).
Adding Salt to water helps remove other harmful microorganisms from food too. This process is usually known as “brining” food.
As a last note, remember that Salt by itself will not kill all bacteria, so you should not consider it a substitute for disinfectants.
But you can use it besides disinfectants to clean hard surfaces at home.
How Do I Do Away With Biofilm In My Hot Tub?
There are several ways to get rid of biofilm in your hot tub. You can use an automatic cleaner, natural bacteria cleaners, or chemical treatments.
Some things that you should avoid doing, though, are scrubbing the water too much with soap and bleach and adding chemicals to the water that you don’t know how safe they are for your hot tub.
In addition, these methods may not be practical, so it’s essential to check up on what strategies boast the previous usage before continuing this treatment plan.
One thing to remember is that biofilm is only a problem when the hot tub has been sitting unused for too long or if the water level is low.
Automatic cleaners are probably the easiest and most convenient way of getting rid of biofilm in your hot tub.
These cleaners are usually installed in the water while you are using it or at night, and they will run through your spa’s cycles on their own, cleaning out all the gunks built up over time.
These cleaners usually use chemicals that break down the biofilm in the water and keep your spa clean.
A natural way to treat a biofilm problem is by using bacteria cleaners. These naturally occurring bacteria boast cultivation as safe for hot tub use.
Some bacteria cleaners will also help remove chemical residues, pesticides, hormones, and other chemical pollutants that may build up in your hot tub.
Bacteria cleaners are gentler on your skin, and it is usually safe to use these in your hot tub.
Chemical treatments are another way to get rid of biofilm in your hot tub. These chemicals can either be inside the filter or outside.
The best chemical treatment to use depends on the type of biofilm in your spa.
You may need to use some harsh chemicals, but you should use them with caution as they may damage your hot tub.
Why Are Bio-Films So Resilient To Sterilization?
Biofilms are bacteria that have grown in a matrix of slime.
They are highly resistant to disinfectants and antibiotics, making them hard to eliminate on surfaces like sinks, countertops, and bathtubs.
Here’s why: Biofilms grow so slowly that you can’t flush them away with water or kill them by traditional sterilization methods.
When the biofilm forms, it converts nonliving organic material into new living cells or polymers that act as building blocks.
And since their growth is so slow, it’s nearly impossible to kill every cell in the biofilm without damaging other parts of the surrounding area and releasing an unhealthful amount of toxic by-products.
The thing is, when you expose biofilms to the right conditions, not only do they thrive, but they change shape and become even more resistant to kill.
A study revealed that bacteria in biofilm create a molecular toolkit that allows them to resist sterilization.
You can do this by changing the structure of quorum-sensing pheromones. These signal molecules help bacteria communicate and organize their collective behavior.
In the lab, bacteria got exposed to two different pheromone signals at a time.
One pheromone instructed the bacteria to form biofilm and resist antibiotics, while another pheromone instructed the bacteria to disperse and die.
As a result, when only one type of molecule was present, the biofilm didn’t grow.
But when they got exposed to both molecules at once, they grew even more than they would with just one signal.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Break Up Biofilm?
Yes. Hydrogen peroxide is a great, inexpensive way to break up biofilm in a hot tub, pool, or home. Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer that helps sanitize and remove organic biofilm.
It’s also a powerful detergent, which means it can break up both organic and inorganic biofilm—including the hardy slime of mold and bacteria.
Biofilm formation is the hallmark of many bacterial problems in hot tubs and pools.
When bacteria (or yeast) get stuck to a surface, it forms an invisible layer that hinders the filter and pumps’ function.
Biofilm also causes chloride levels off-flavors and can be a health risk to swimmers. You can read more about biofilm formation here.
Safety Concerns About Hydrogen Peroxide
There is some concern about using this product in a hot tub or pool because of the hydrogen peroxide quantity produced in the process.
Once you expose the product to air for even one day, it becomes hydrated and no longer releases as much oxygen as it does when it’s in solution.
The result is that you are working with a much smaller quantity of H 2 O 2 than you started with.
Other chemistry occurs with the metal ions in the water, and this process produces a much more potent agent than just adding H 2 O 2.
Can Hot Tub Biofilm Make You Sick?
Yes. Having biofilm in your hot tub can make you sick. If you have a hot tub, it probably has biofilm that makes it easier for bacteria or viruses to grow on your equipment.
You might not realize these types of microorganisms lurking there until they get into your body and cause an infection, making you feel sick.
An ear infection is a common illness caused by life in a hot tub biofilm.
You might think that chlorine would cause this type of infection, and you’d be partially right.
The chlorine in the water is an irritant to the ears, and the swimmer’s ear results from irritation on and around the ear canal.
When a swimmer’s ear becomes infected, then it can become a staph infection that is very painful and requires medication to get rid of it.
Also, once you have had a staph infection in the past or are prone to develop it, this infection can become a chronic problem that doesn’t heal.
Another common illness with biofilm in hot tubs is cysts on the ovaries.
These cysts come from bacteria living inside the immune system’s acid bath, where it takes care of any infections.
These cysts drain fluid, causing a woman’s body weight to go down by several pounds while trying to heal themselves.
They could even put her into menopause because they strangle her body and make her susceptible to other infections.
You might think about how to prevent hot tub infections. The best thing you can do is limit the amount of biofilm in your hot tub.
You should invest in a good hot tub filter and keep it clean. Also, use your hot tub often so that there will be less time to give bacteria and viruses a chance to grow there.
Dry brushing before getting into the water and using bath washcloths for wiping the body can help prevent infection, too.
If you are already sick, you should change the water at least once a day and keep your filter running at all times.
Signs Of Biofilm In A Hot Tub?
Several signs indicate the presence of biofilm in a hot tub. They include.
- Cloudiness
- Darkening of the water
- Slimy residue
- Foamy, green-brown film on the walls and floor.
Bacteria in a hot tub often aggregate together into masses or colonies.
They then release a sticky substance that adheres to surfaces and creates an opaque, slimy film known as a biofilm.
The formation of biofilm is why it takes longer for the hot tub to get clean when compared to regular cleaning.
As these colonies continue to grow and multiply, the film develops into a “slime” that you can see on the walls, floor, and even water.
This slime is mostly bacteria and can provide the perfect environment for further bacterial growth.
Sometimes, biofilm may also produce gas in reaction to sunlight or other external conditions, which may cause foaming in the hot tub.
When cleaning hot tubs that have biofilm, you will need to understand how biofilm forms and then find ways to remove it.
Conclusion
Biofilm is a common problem in hot tubs and pools. It results from bacteria and other aquatic life forms growing on surfaces.
It reduces the filter function and water circulation, leading to maintenance problems as it grows.
You also might have issues with chemical buildup inside your tub as biofilm contains many chemical toxins that are unhealthy for you or your family.
