Can You Clean a Hot Tub Filter in the Dishwasher?

The other day, I was chatting with a friend of mine who has a hot tub and he happened to mention that he cleaned his hot tub filter in his dishwasher. I was surprised and, I admit, a little shocked since I didn’t think that was something that he should do! Nevertheless, after he went home I started to think about whether it would be possible, since it sounded like a much simpler and quicker way to get the filter clean. I decided to look into it and find out more.

So, can you clean a hot tub filter in the dishwasher? It’s never a good idea to clean hot tub filters in a dishwasher since the dishwasher is too harsh for the material that the filter is made from and it will almost certainly cause damage. Not only that, but the dishwasher cannot even clean a spa filter correctly as it is unable to get between the pleats to thoroughly remove all the debris and grime.

Hot tub filters should only be washed by hand as this is the only way to be certain of removing all the built-up dirt that collects in its pleats. They can be effectively cleaned by rinsing them thoroughly with a garden hose. It’s important to clean hot tub filters on a regular basis, although they will need to be replaced eventually with new ones.

Why is it a Bad Idea to Clean Hot tub Filters in a Dishwasher?

It’s very tempting to throw spa filters into a dishwasher since it represents a quick and easy cleaning solution that is very hands-off. Nobody wants to spend a lot of time getting up close and personal with the grime and debris in their spa filter! However, although it may seem like a clever hack to use your dishwasher to cleanse your hot tub filter, in fact it’s a bad idea, and doing so could end up in you having to pay out for a brand new filter.

Hot tub filters should not be put into the dishwasher for a number of reasons, including:

• A dishwasher will blast very hot water on your filter at a high speed. While this may sound ideal for getting the filter clean, it can damage the folds (or pleats) of the filter leaving them irreparable. Once the folds have been torn, there’s no solution to fix them back together. Also, the dishwasher can rip the bands apart holding the pleats together, and this too is irreversible damage.
• Dishwashers haven’t been designed for deep-cleaning spa filters. They are manufactured for cleaning dinnerware such as bowls, plates and cups. When you put a hot tub filter in a dishwasher, you may think it looks clean when you take it out (assuming that it hasn’t been irreparably damaged in the process) however between the folds, the spaces will still have dirt and grime clogged up inside.
• Food or chemical residue can be left behind if you use the dishwasher to clean a filter. This is a particularly convincing reason to avoid putting your filter into your dishwasher since the additives, cleaning products and chemicals that you use to sanitise your spa and that you put on your body before bathing can get clumped up in the filter when it is washed in a dishwasher, and this can result it in being left on the kitchen items that are being washed at the same time.

With all of this in mind, it isn’t too surprising that it isn’t recommended to put hot tub filters into a dishwasher.

What Should I Know About Hot Tub Filters?

Your hot tub’s filter has a vital role to play when it comes to keeping your spa clean and hygienic for use. The hot tub’s pump will pump the water through the spa filter so contaminants like debris and dirt can be removed from it.

The volume of water that will be pumped through the tub’s filtration system varies depending on the model and make of your hot tub. Working together with sanitisers and chemicals, your spa filter will keep your tub clean and healthy.

Designed with a plastic moulded core, a high-quality hot tub filter will also feature pleats made from polyester material to catch the dirt that is in the water. The filter’s pleats increase the surface area of the filter so that even more dirt is able to be effectively contained. The polyester material is stable and strong even when in humid and wet conditions.

It is also chemical and acid-resistant and this means that it can last for a long time – even as long as 18 months – before needing to be replaced, although really it should be replaced once per year. Hot tub filters ensure that the water can circulate reliably and so the tub can be more easily maintained and cleaned.

It’s particularly important to keep the spa filter clean as if it isn’t regularly cleaned, the dirt particles will stay trapped in its folds and eventually, they will begin building up. This will make the filter less effective and so, over time, the water will be less clean.

A dirty or clogged filter will disrupt the cleanliness and clarity of the water and result in inefficient sanitisation where excess bromine or chlorine has to be used to keep the water chemical levels at the correct balance. If the filter is regularly cleaned, its lifespan will be prolonged and, more importantly, your spa water will stay hygienic and clean for longer, ensuring that you can enjoy a relaxing soak in the bubbles without having to worry about potential health hazards due to dirty water.

Without cleaning your spa filter, you could even end up causing damage to the workings of your hot tub. If the filter gets so dirty that it becomes completely clogged up with debris, a low flow error message may be displayed.

This occurs if the sensors fail to sense sufficient water flow through the spa heater and switch off the heater for safety reasons. Low flow causes additional strain on the spa pump which slows down the heating process and results in less power from the jets.

A very dirty filter could also result in debris making its way into the pumps, sensors, heat and other vital working components of the tub. This will cause strain on the parts and, eventually, they could develop faults and stop working completely. This would necessitate potentially costly repairs or replacement parts. All of this could be avoided by regularly cleaning the filters correctly.

Since your hot tub filter is so vital to the health and longevity of your hot tub, it’s essential to know how to clean one properly and thoroughly.

Which Other Methods Should Not Be Used For Cleaning Hot Tub Filters?

Not only should you avoid using your dishwasher to clean your hot tub filters, you should also avoid putting them into your household washing machine. This is because undergoing a cycle in your washing machine could damage the filter irreparably.

If the filter bangs repeatedly against the washing machine’s metal drum, the plastic of the filter could crack and this would necessitate a replacement being purchased. Also, the detergents which have been manufactured for washing clothing aren’t designed for use on filters and haven’t been tested for that purpose. This means that they could potentially have a negative effect on the filter.

It could also result in excessive unwanted foam inside the hot tub when the filter is replaced after being washed. Tumbling in the washing machine could also rip and tear the hot tub filter which would be unable to be repaired and would, therefore, need to be replaced before you could use your spa again.

Washing machines tumble and roll clothing which is ideal for fabric since it allows it to air out, cleaning all the fibres thoroughly. However, this tumbling and rolling process could result not only in damage to the filter itself but also to your washing machine should it bump too hard inside its inner workings.

This could end up costing you a lot of money in repairs or even, in a worst case scenario, result in your having to purchase a new model.

As well as avoiding using a dishwasher or washing machine to clean your hot tub filter, you should also avoid using any common household cleaning products. These products may be ideal for cleaning your bathroom or kitchen surfaces, but they haven’t been designed specifically for use on a spa filter and, again, haven’t been tested for this purpose.

This means that the filter’s lifespan could be reduced if the products damage the fibres. It could also result in hot tub damage if the cleaning product residue isn’t completely removed before replacing the filter in the spa.

Although bleach may seem like the perfect sanitising solution to clean your hot tub filter when it is dirty, this should also be avoided. Although bleach can effectively clean surfaces and clothing, it’s important to never use it on your spa filter. This is because bleach contains about 5-6% chlorine.

Chlorine is very strong and it may damage the bands and pleats around the filter rapidly as well as the filter assembly if it isn’t completely washed off. Also, bleach dries rapidly which can also damage the hot tub filter. Even if bleach was used for cleaning your spa filter, it wouldn’t be able to clean it effectively anyway since it dissolves too rapidly to do anything more than dry out and crack the filter.

The only way bleach should ever be used for cleaning filters is if it is extremely diluted – direct contact between neat bleach and the filter would be extremely damaging – and this is still something that experts and hot tub manufacturers would never recommend. Only solutions and products that have been manufactured specifically for use on hot tub filters should be used when cleaning away debris and grime in order to ensure the best and safest results every time.

How Should I Clean My Hot Tub Filter?

Since we’ve already looked at how NOT to clean your hot tub filter, we should also cover the best ways to clean it so you can be sure of doing it properly and safely every time.

The good news is that the process of cleaning your spa filter isn’t as bad as you might expect. While throwing them into a washing machine or dishwasher may sound like a time-saving option, in fact you can do it by hand much more rapidly and safely, and it needn’t be an onerous and time-consuming task.

All you need is a garden hose with an attachment fixed onto it that evenly spreads the water and a cleaning solution that has been specifically designed for cleaning hot tub filters. Once you have these items ready, you just follow these steps to thoroughly cleanse the filter and its fibres:

• Remove the hot tub filter from its assembly and put it down on a hard, stable surface so that it won’t wobble or fall over during the cleaning process.
• Fix the attachment to the garden hose so that the water will be able to disperse evenly through the pleats of the filter without missing any spots.
• Turn on the hose and evenly spray water over the outer side of the filter, gently opening each pleat and cleaning it carefully. Make sure the water pressure isn’t turned up too high since this could damage the filter. Slowly spray from the top of the filter pleat to the bottom so all the dirt can be removed efficiently.
• Spray the filter cleaning solution evenly through the pleats, following the instructions on the solution’s container or bottle. This will ensure that the product has a chance to reach all of the dirt, grime and debris that is clogging the filter, and to break it down so that it can be easily rinsed away once the product has done its job.
• Wait for the length of time dictated by the instructions. This could be between 5 and 30 minutes depending on the product that you have chosen, so take care to check the instructions for your selected brand.
• Use the hose to spray the solution off the filter, making sure to remove all the cleaning product thoroughly. If you fail to ensure that all of the cleaning product has been removed from the filter’s pleats, you could end up with excessive foaming in your spa.
• Place the filter back into its assembly, make sure it is sealed back up and you’re good to go. You don’t need to let the filter dry since it will get wet inside the assembly anyway but it’s a good idea to allow it to dry a little since this will reset the fibres, making the filter considerably more effective. Be aware, though, that drying out the filters too much could cause damage due to flaking and cracking, so take care to avoid excessive drying before replacing them into the assembly.

Related Questions

Can I run a hot tub with no filter in it? As we’ve already pointed out, your hot tub filter is an especially important component of a spa. It is vital for removing debris and dirt and ensuring that the water remains clean for bathing at all times.

Further to this, it is also important for stopping debris from getting sucked up into the spa pump which could result in damage. Your tub’s pump is an especially costly hot tub component and therefore, you won’t want to risk it being damaged and requiring a repair or replacement. For this reason, running the hot tub with no filter in it is a very bad idea and should be avoided.

Will it make a difference to my filter if I live in a soft or hard water area? Something that may affect your spa filter is the type of water that is in the area in which you live. If you live in an area that has extremely hard water, you’ll have a higher concentration of specific minerals like calcium in the water.

When heated up, deposits of calcium may be left in several areas of the tub including its filter. This could result in scaling which will have a negative impact on the function of the filter and, in turn, the tub itself. If you clean your filter on a regular basis, you can prevent scale from forming and building up on the filter.

This will prolong its lifespan and ensure that it continues to work efficiently and effectively in the long-term. If you live in a hard water area, you should also take extra care when adding chemicals to sanitise your tub to make sure that you’re using the most appropriate products to keep scale and deposit build up to a minimum in your tub and its inner workings.