Cleaning Biofilm from Jetted Hot Tub

April 16, 2014 by Debra Lynn Dadd

Question from Leslie

Hi Debra

I was looking for something to clean our jetted bathtub. I am concerned about using the tub, because when we bought the house, it was unoccupied for a while before we got here, and I have no idea how (or if) the inner parts had been cleaned prior to that. So meanwhile I’m not using the tub while I try to find a suitable way to clean it. I’ve seen many recommendations online for using Cascade dishwasher detergent and bleach, and I’d prefer not to use those. I thought about trying vinegar, baking soda, or some other natural cleaner. But my concern is that those will probably not remove what is lurking in the plumbing. Then I saw the “Oh Yuk” biofilm remover, and it claims to remove the harmful bacteria, molds, etc, that grow in the unseen plumbing.

www.scientificbiofilmsolutions.com/oh-yuk-cleaner/

The company indicates that other options don’t actually remove the biofilm. Because we can’t actually see the plumbing lines, it’s a bit difficult to know if the nasty stuff inside has actually been removed. But people who use the Cascade/bleach method, or the Oh Yuk product, say that they see black/brown/green film, flakes, etc, come out into the water while doing the cleaning. So there does seem to be some evidence it is working.

I suppose it comes down to trusting the company that they have done testing and examined the tubing to make sure it is, in fact, free of harmful bacteria after using the product, since we can’t actually see the tubing or test it ourselves. So it appears to be effective.

But I’m wondering about the safety of the product. Their site says: “Oh Yuk is safe to work with. Unlike many jetted tub cleaners, Oh Yuk’s fumes will not harm you, your employees, or your guest when the jets are turned on. Some other brands jetted tub cleaners contain carcinogens, mutagens, and harmful VOC’s.”

I don’t have enough experience reading MSDS to feel confident in my interpretation of the info they give. The health rating is 1, but I’m wondering why it says “Not Available” for things like toxicological info, carcinogenic effects, etc. Is that common on MSDS? The “personal protection in case of a large spill” section makes me think the product is pretty potent. But again, I don’t have enough familiarity with interpreting MSDS info to know for sure. I googled “quaternary ammonium cation” – one of the ingredients on the MSDS – and the info on Wikipedia wasn’t reassuring. But I’ll admit that the chemistry lesson goes a bit over my head, and it’s possible that the product is fine.

I definitely want to use the safest product possible. On the other hand, is it possible that a less-than-perfect cleaner is a better option than bathing in water that contains harmful bacteria and molds? Meanwhile, I have a tub I’m not using but would like to be able to use for aching muscles, for detox baths, etc.

If you know of another option for addressing these issues in a jetted tub, I’d be glad to know. I suggested replacing the plumbing, but my husband said that would probably be very difficult because of the design of these tubs. Any suggestions?

Debra's Answer

OK, just off the top of my head, both of these MSDS's are incomplete as far as I am concerned.

A health hazard rating of "1" is pretty nontoxic. I think either of these are better than the standard toxic cleaner, but I can't evaluate them really because there is no information. It may say "not available" because there is none because it's not needed.

If I had to choose one, I think either would be fine. There's nothing here that indicates a big toxic exposure to me.

Good you found these safer products!