I got suckered into buying Armor-All a few months ago and found out that it actually works extremely well. My kitchen surfaces have honestly never looked better. I’m now starting to think about what else Armor-All can be used on. I’ve got an old hot tub that’s been sitting in the garden for a while now and the cover on it is frankly pretty disgusting, it would be great if Armor-All could be used to clean that up! I set about researching whether I could use Armor-All on a hot tub cover or not, and the answer was quite surprising.
So, Can You Use Armor All On A Hot Tub Cover? It is highly recommended that you do not use Armor-All on a hot tub cover. Apparently, Armor-All actually damages the vinyl material on a hot tub cover. A damaged hot tub cover can lead to your hot tub cover taking on large amounts of water (I.e. from rainfall) over time. Water can also cause your hot tub cover to sag as it soaks up water, which can eventually render your cover completely useless.
The reason behind this is that Armor-All contains either petroleum or alcohol. These chemical compounds are known to greatly affect the vinyl material used by the vast majority of hot tub covers. On the other hand, if you have a hot tub cover that is not made of vinyl such as an aluminium cover then you can absolutely use Armor-All to clean it occasionally.
It should be noted that Armor-All does not clearly advertise that their product contains alcohol or petroleum, which has apparently caused a lot of hot tub owners to damage their covers. If you want your hot tub cover to remain healthy and effective, then stay clear of Armor-All and use a different protectant instead.
What Protectants Can You Use on Your Hot Tub?
While you may not be able to use Armor-All to clean your vinyl hot tub cover, there are quite a few other popular protectants out there that are sure to do the job. These protectants are designed to coat your vinyl cover with an extra layer of protection against any water damage or general wear and tear that might occur after several weeks or months of use out in the open.
Using these protectants can actually save you a great deal of time, effort, and money in the long run as your cover should be in perfect working condition for a very long time.
Ideally, you want to use a protectant like the incredibly popular 303 Aerospace Protectant. This product, and its peers on the market, is specifically designed to work on a whole range of surfaces including fibreglass, rubber, plastic, and most importantly, vinyl. All you need to do is spray a small amount of this spray onto the outside of your hot tub cover and gently rub in the liquid with a clean cloth.
The now-added layer of protectant will help to protect your hot tub cover from a vast array of varying potential damages. This particular protectant also has UV protection, which is especially helpful for a hot tub cover that spends the majority of its life outdoors.
This UV protection keeps the cover looking clean and working effectively at all times, despite how intense the sun may be. No cracking or fading should occur due to UV rays once this protectant has been used. A protectant will generally repel any dirt, stop stains from occurring, and stop mildew or mold from building up amongst other things.
There are some other factors that need to be considered when looking for an effective protectant for your hot tub cover.
Avoid silicone – For example, you should not purchase a protectant that contains silicone. Protectants that contain silicone can often make the surface of your vinyl hot tub feel greasy. This also then attracts a great deal of dirt to build up in the cover’s various cracks and crevices.
Avoid Bromine – You should also stay clear of protectants that use Bromine as the gas produced when using this product is very strong and can be caught underneath the cover, subsequently ending up on the inside of your hot tub. This gas can cause your hot tub cover to become brittle over time as well as cause the pH levels of the water in the hot tub to fluctuate. To remedy this, just run your hot tub on a half-hour cleaning cycle with the cover off.
The Benefits Of Maintaining A Hot Tub Cover
Although it may take a little bit of extra effort and money, the benefits of using a protectant and maintaining your hot tub cover vastly out way the negatives. Keeping your hot tub cover clean and maintained is essential if you want to keep your hot tub in perfect working condition for longer.
Simply put, a hot tub cover has one express purpose; to keep everything outside the hot tub, outside. A hot tub cover stops miscellaneous debris like leaves, stones, branches etc. from falling into the tub. A cover will also prevent any wildlife or animals getting into your hot tub. The last thing you want to do before having your luxurious evening soak is to scoop up a load of insects from your tub.
A cover also stops the rain from getting into the hot tub which could otherwise cause water level issues or chemical imbalances in the hot tub. Using a protectant and maintaining your hot tub cover is the best way to ensure that your hot tub cover keeps doing what it is meant to be doing.
Additionally, a maintained hot tub cover can help to save you money on your electric bills. As one of the main functions of a hot tub cover is to keep the water inside your tub heated, having a well-maintained hot tub cover can reduce the amount you pay for electricity as less energy will be required by your hot tub to keep the water at optimum temperature. A well-maintained hot tub cover will keep the water in your tub at the optimum temperature much more effectively than a hot tub cover that worn and slightly deteriorated.
What You Should Do If Your Hot Tub Cover Begins To Sag
If your hot tub cover has not been maintained properly then it may become punctured after some time. If a puncture occurs, then a build-up of rainwater can occur in the cover. This is because the water will begin to pool in the central foam layer of the hot tub cover. This build-up of water can cause your hot tub cover to sag and bend under the weight, potentially leading to the cover eventually breaking altogether.
To prevent your hot tub cover from sagging and breaking, you should maintain it, regularly cleaning it while also using a protectant. However, if your cover has already started to sag then you needn’t worry too much as you can fix it. You just need to take the inner foam core out of the cover, replace it, and flip the cover over. This should remedy the issue.
Sagging is unfortunately a common side effect of having a hot tub cover for too long. Sagging generally occurs after a few years of owning the cover, despite even the use of protectants. Sometimes, the only way to fix a sagging hot tub cover is to just buy a new one, which isn’t ideal at all as new hot tub covers can be quite expensive. However, if you keep your cover maintained as best you can then it will likely last you for years to come.
Related Questions
How Often Should I Clean My Hot Tub Cover?
It is generally recommended that you clean your hot tub cover once every month or so. If you are using protectant then you may only have to clean you hot tub cover once every few months. The final decision is up to you however, you can feel free to clean your hot tub cover whenever you want to.
Should I Cover My Hot Tub Even When It’s Turned Off?
A hot tub cover is intended to be used whenever you are not in the tub. However, if your hot tub is turned off, and you are no longer using it, then you should also remove the hot tub cover as if you don’t, it will never have an opportunity to dry out which can cause it to structurally break down over time.
Andrew Hind
This post was created by Andrew. Enjoyer of hot tub soaking, fine cheese, music and photography.