Why Do Hot Tub Jets Make Me Itch?
Hot tub jets are the nozzles you use in hot tubs and Spas that produce the bubbles you see on the water’s surface.
Unlike many other components of a hot tub, the type of jets used is not standardized. Instead, it’s up to individual manufacturers to decide what type of jets they wish to use in their designs.
This means a vast variety of different types and styles from which to choose.
When the jacuzzi jets send a forceful stream of water onto a particular muscle, blood rushes to it, and you can feel immediately itchy afterwards.
This is because of the sudden pressure from the jets that causes the tiny muscle fibers to get stroked and break. These broken particles release histamines, irritating the skin’s nerve endings, which signal your brain to make you itchy.
The intensity of itching can depend on several things, such as how forceful the jet is or how dry your skin is.
Hot tub jets are harsher than the water in a regular bathtub, and you may be over-reliant on these muscles to provide much-needed relief.
When you turn on a Spa or Pool, the first thing to do is to let your body adjust to the heat.
You can also lean on a hot tub jet with very little force, as this will not cause any damage; however, if you have sensitive skin, this may lead to redness and irritation.
If you experience itching after a relaxing soak, consider this a pampering tip you do not need. Your skin is telling you it has had enough, and the forceful water jets have damaged the muscles.
While swimming, your body will naturally move to relieve tension and stress. The soothing effect of water can similarly help muscle fatigue with a massage or stretching.
When you swim, the water pressure increases blood flow to sore muscles, which helps them recover faster.
However, ending a swim or soaking in a hot tub with an itchy rash can be incredibly uncomfortable.
The best way to treat this, is to avoid future episodes by using less forceful water jets and adding essential oils, such as lavender and chamomile, to relax your body after a soak.
This can help prevent any chemicals from the jet’s system from being expelled into the water and ease skin irritation.
How Do You Stop Itching in A Hot Tub?
| Method | Description |
| Apply Warm Compresses | Apply a warm cloth to the affected area |
| Apply Anti-Itch Cream | Apply a cool compress to reduce the appearance of redness. |
| Use A Magnifying Glass | Lay under the sun with your back toward the water pump while looking in through an eyepiece of something like a microscope or telescope |
| Use Over-The-Counter Allergy Medication | Try Zyrtec, Benadryl’s diphenhydramine or B12 |
| Use A Hot Shower | Immerse yourself in the water for five minutes |
| Use Vinegar | Add 3/4 cup white wine vinegar to the tub with lots of Epsom salt, relax and soak |
| Use A Citrus-Based Cleanser | Take a low concentration of essential oil (i.e., lavender, peppermint, or tea tree) and mix it with white vinegar and rubbing alcohol |
| Saunas Can Also Help | One study found that up to 55% of people who used saunas reported relief from itching |
What Is the Brown Stuff Coming Out of My Jacuzzi Jets?
The brown stuff from the jets indicates that you might have a bacterial or algae problem with your Jacuzzi Spa.
If that brown stuff comes out of your Jacuzzi jets, you will probably notice it frequently in the water. This is because algae and bacteria support each other.
For instance, if you have a lot of bacteria, any algae present will thrive since they provide food and oxygen for it to grow.
Check for signs of overgrowth by checking your Jacuzzi temperature every month or so with a thermometer, and make sure there isn’t excessive limescale on the bottom jets.
Often, if you have an algae problem, your water will look cloudy and have a grayish or greenish tint.
Bacteria and algae can also be present in fresh and saltwater versions of Jacuzzi spas. Bacteria and Algae can cause foaming and the growth of brown, black or green slime in your hot tub.
If you notice any of these problems, consider having your Spa cleaned professionally at least yearly, if not more often.
You can also help prevent brown stuff problems by cleaning all filters regularly. You should also ensure that you clean the inlets and outlets periodically.
About once a week, take a piece of soft cloth, wrap it around something and wipe the fittings down with it so that any trapped particles are flushed out.
If you have a filter pump, make sure to change your filter every four weeks or so to be safe.
An effective way to clear out your jets is to pour a little bleach into the water and then let the jets run for a while.
You must do this several times until the smell goes away, and then you can start running the water in your Spa again. It may get a little brown at first but give it time.
Can You Use Vinegar to Clean the Jetted Tub?
Yes! For easy cleaning, you can use vinegar. Pour full-strength vinegar into your tub and let it stand for 10-15 minutes.
After the time is up, scrub with a sponge or brush in a circular motion to remove loose material such as hair, soap scum, and other dirt that the vinegar’s acidic properties have loosened
Rinse well with lots of water and then wipe dry with a towel and rewash the tub with mild chemical-free soap and water
Pat dry with a clean towel. Pour the vinegar solution down your drain and let it run until no more bubbles form
Clear the drain of debris, then fill it with vinegar once again to completely disassemble the clog
Allow to sit for an hour, then flush out the pipe with a garden hose that is turned on as hot as possible (130 degrees F) for about 15 minutes.
For the most challenging, resilient clog, use a drain cleaner to dissolve the debris and flush it with hot water. Repeat with vinegar as necessary until no more debris is visible in the pipe
To keep your drain working most efficiently, use 1/4 cup of baking soda followed by boiling water poured into the sink in the morning and evening.
Can You Use Dishwasher Pods to Clean a Jetted Tub?
Yes! Start by dissolving a pod in 2 quarts of warm water. Then, go to the tub, attach the hose and suction head to your faucet, and carefully fill the tub with hot water.
Ensure you wrap your hand in a soft cloth to prevent burns. When the water forms a suction, insert the pods into the faucet. Working from one side of your tub at a time is always best.
Let them soak for about 20 minutes, then scrub them with a towel for about 2 minutes. Turn off the water, drain the tub thoroughly, and wipe dry.
When you’re finished, place a pod in each corner of the tub and leave it for about 20-45 minutes. Once it does its job, it will dissolve on its own.
In between cleaning cycles, spray your jets with a cleaning solution every 7 to 10 days to prevent hard water buildup.
This will only work if you have soft water. If you have hard water, a vinegar solution is recommended.
To make the vinegar solution, mix 3/4 cup of white vinegar with 1 gallon of hot water for every 300-400 gals of water. For instance, an 18″ round tub would need 2 gallons of hot water plus 1/2 a cup of vinegar.
Why Does My Jacuzzi Make Me Sneeze?
Chloramine gas is a chemical you can use as a disinfectant in municipal drinking water and to clean swimming pools.
It also reacts with ammonia, chlorides, and phosphates in the air to create chlorine dioxide, which can adversely affect your health.
Inhaling significant amounts of this gas causes throat irritation, coughing, sore throat, dry throat, and nose irritation. Swallowing this gas can cause stomach pain or nausea. This gas is colourless, odorless, and tasteless.
If you have a jacuzzi, chances are that it has a saltwater system that uses chlorinated water.
This system is widely used in houses because salt water from the ocean is not required to keep it working and the cost of maintaining it is cheap.
Saltwater pool systems are also very much of a concern for people with respiratory problems because they release chloramines into the air when in use.
People have reported getting ill after using their jacuzzi. These injuries can vary from severe sore throats to severe breathing problems that can last for weeks.
Most of these injuries are treated with medication and simply taking it easy for a few days.
If a person is injured, it’s because of some other underlying health problem that has not yet been diagnosed, and the chlorine gas is making them worse.
So it’s essential to get all of your medical records and any information about your symptoms in one place.
What Is Hot Tub Folliculitis, And What Are the Symptoms?
Hot tub folliculitis is a skin infection typically caused by a hot tub’s chlorine, which can be found in the water.
| Symptoms | Symptoms Trigger |
| – A Breakout of itchy, red bumps on the skin that are usually in a line, often mistaken for razor burn | – Swimmers’ Acne. The skin is susceptible because it’s dry, which leads to infection during bathing or swimming. |
| – Rashes that are most often found in the hairline and neck area, which can turn into a boil if not treated | – Intense shampoo use-Some people love the feeling of their hair squeaking when they shampoo it and never realize how much damage they’re doing to their scalps and hair shafts. Shampoo soaps can also cause inflammation. |
| – Acne-like breakouts that can lead to greasy hair or dry hair caused by irritation to the follicle | – Tinea Versicolor. This is caused by a fungus that grows in your body, not under the surface of your skin.
It commonly affects the neck and upper back area and spreads to the arms, legs, and groin area. The fungus thrives in hot water (the most common place for it to infect is the groin area). |
| – Changes in body odor due to hot liquids being locked under the skin’s surface -Redness around hair follicles due to an overgrowth of bacteria. – Blisters that can occur if not treated -Irritation to the hair shaft and extreme itching | – Hot Tub folliculitis. The chemicals and water in the hot tub can cause your hair to break off and make your body more susceptible to infections. |
Chemical Imbalances with Your Hot Tub and The Effect on The Skin?
Hot Tubs are found in many homes and hotels around the country, and they usually have chlorine or other chemical disinfectants added to the water to keep it safe for people with sensitive skin.
While this helps keep you from getting sick, it also means that your sensitive skin may become irritated by these chemicals.
Using a hot tub can cause chemical imbalances in your body.
The chemicals used for sterilizing and cleaning the water and preventing algae growth in the hot tub may leave your skin feeling dry and itchy from the chlorine or bromine in the water.
Adding chemicals to keep bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens away will affect your skin profoundly.
While they can help keep you and your family safe from certain illnesses, they can also cause irritation and injury to your skin.
Soaking in a hot tub with chemicals can worsen your condition if you suffer from a dry or itchy skin condition.
Hot water will open the pores in your skin even further, allowing more chemicals to penetrate the top layer of your skin. This can lead to redness, swelling, blisters, and other issues with your skin.
The other problem many people have with the chemicals in hot tubs is that they can’t breathe properly. The chemicals used are designed to help kill bacteria and other infectious organisms.
While this may make you feel safer, it also means that your skin will be exposed to increased chemicals.
As a result, you may suffer from shortness of breath and even nausea as a side effect of these chemicals in your hot tub water.
How Do You Clean Tub Jets with Dishwasher Detergent?
Step 1: Remove the rubber stopper and fill the tub with dishwasher detergent.
Step 2: Fill a bucket or saucepan halfway with water.
Step 3: Place the jet in the sink and fill it up with water.
Step 4: Add some dishwasher detergent to your bucket.
Step 5: Place the rubber stopper back in.
Step 6: Set the timer to 30 minutes and let it run.
Step 7: Use a scrubbing brush or paper towel to wipe down the jets.
Step 8: Test out your new clean tub!
This is how I do it, and it’s been working for me. I hope you give it a try!
How Do You Get Yellow Stains Out of Plastic Tub Jets?
Step 1: Apply Vinegar. You can use a simple mixture of vinegar and water (50/50) to eliminate stains on your plastic tub jets. You can use this Can for other items, such as plastic handles on shower doors.
Step 2: Spray with Windex or Lysol. Spray the stain with a can of either Windex or Lysol. Use a clean cloth to rub gently, and then rinse thoroughly.
Step 3: Apply Lemon Juice. Apply fresh lemon juice to the stained area with a clean cloth and let it sit for 24 hours. If the stain still won’t budge, leave it on for another 12 hours and then retreat.
Step 4: Spray with Rubbing Alcohol. Once again, use a clean cloth and spray rubbing alcohol on the stained area.
Allow it to sit for at least 6 hours. If the stain still won’t come out, repeat steps 1-4 with vinegar and apply lemon juice, if necessary.
Step 5: Rinse with soap and water. Once again, use a clean cloth to gently rub any remaining soap or residue off your plastic tub jets with water.
Rinse well to remove any excess soap that might have settled on them.
Step 6: Apply a Degreaser to Blot Out the Stains. If you notice that the yellow stains have turned into bright orange or brown marks, it’s time to get out your bottle of degreaser!
We recommend using a product designed specifically for tub jets and plastic fixtures, such as Goof-Off.
Pour a small amount into a clean cloth to blot out the stains on your plastic tub jets with careful wipes.
Step 7: Rinse Well with Water and allow to air dry overnight.
If your plastic tub jets still have yellow stains after following the steps above, then you can try soaking the jets for a short time in a bucket of lukewarm water with salt added (1 cup table salt to 1 gallon of water).
Then, allow the tub jets to air dry overnight.
Conclusion
Hot tub jets can be a source of incredible frustration, but they don’t have to be! Various ways to clean hot tub jets can make water jets safe and sanitary.
With a little effort, you can come up with cleaning recipes that work for you and your family.
