10+ Must-Have Chemicals for Inflatable Hot Tub Worth Trying in 2023

After buying a new inflatable hot tub, you will inevitably face the need to keep it clean. This is achieved with a variety of chemicals for inflatable hot tubs. However, you may don’t need all of them. Nobody wants to waste money. Moreover, after diving into the technical aspects, you will learn what the levels of chemicals are and how they affect each other, which can puzzle you even more.

So don’t think of the word “chemicals” as a bad thing in this context. They are here to help you, not hurt you. And we’ll tell you about all the right chemicals for your inflatable hot tub in our article, simply and understandably.

Must-Have Chemicals for Inflatable Hot Tub

There are too many chemicals — we agree with you. But some of them will be unnecessary for you. You’ll find the ones you absolutely must have in the table below, and the ones you need in specific cases we’ve described in another section.

Water testers
Water test strips are needed to check pH, chlorine, bromine, and alkalinity levels to understand what chemicals to add.
JNW Pool and Spa Test Strips 7 in 1	Show price
Sanitizer
The sanitizer is used to clean the water in the inflatable hot tub and maintain hygiene. Chlorine sanitizer is best for fast and affordable sanitizing. Bromine sanitizer is best for odor haters with sensitive skin.
Chlorine granules Jump to the detailed review	Show price
Bromine tabs Jump to the detailed review	Show price
Shock
If the water is still muddy at some point after the sanitizer, you need to use a shock. This product is super strong and kills microparticles of dirt, which the sanitizer can't handle.
Chlorine Shock Jump to the detailed review	Show price
Non-chlorine Shock Jump to the detailed review	Show price
If pH is higher than 7.8, water can itch/burn your skin or cause other troubles with your hot tub.
pH Decreaser Clorox Pool&Spa pH Down Jump to the detailed review	Show price
pH stands for potential hydrogenPotential hydrogen is a scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. and its normal level is between 7.2 and 7.8. If pH is lower, your water becomes too acidic and can cause surface corrosion and other troubles.
pH Increaser Clorox Pool&Spa pH Up Jump to the detailed review	Show price

Why an Inflatable Hot Tub Needs Chemicals

The answer to this question is quite simple. Since you don’t replace the water in your inflatable hot tub after every bath, the water needs to be cleaned. Chemicals are used just to purify and balance the chemical elements in the water. (A little further on, we talk about all the important water indicators). 

It doesn’t matter how often you use your hot tub — it can be year-round, only in winter, or only in summer. But before each use, you need to make sure the water is clean and safe for your body. That’s why some chemicals are needed.

Sanitizers Review: Chlorine VS Bromine

As we mentioned earlier, sanitizer is important to keep your hot tub clean and hygienically safe. The two most popular types of these substances are chlorine and bromine sanitizers. Both are effective, but they work differently. We’ve created a little comparison chart to make it clear.

As you can see, both chlorine and bromine sanitizers have their nuances and positive aspects. Depending on the individual characteristics of your body and your hot tub, one or the other may be right for you. 

That’s why we’ve researched the sanitizer market and found two models that we think are the highest quality and worth your attention.

Spa Choice Granules Chlorine — the Best for Fast and Affordable Sanitizing

Pros

• The fastest effect as it sanitizes in five minutes to 12 hours, up to 240 times faster than bromine 
• The best deal for money
• Does decent sanitizing work
• Small granules perfectly dissolve in the hot tub

Cons

• The package is not easy to open
• If you have sensitive skin, it can irritate it a bit
• Instructions are not very clear

If you are looking for a quick and easy to use sanitizer, and your skin is not very sensitive (as well as your sense of smell), then Spa Choice Granules Chlorine is your best choice. Chlorine granules quickly dissolve in water and effectively clean it, protecting it from bacteria and algae. And it’s the most affordable sanitizer option for today. Also, if your hot tub doesn’t have a cover, chlorine is the only option for you as it is sun-resistant (unlike bromine).

The only tangible disadvantage of this model (apart from the above-mentioned smell and possible irritation) is the confusing lid. At first glance, it’s pretty hard to open, but don’t worry. First of all, even Amazon shoppers have explained in detail and simply (even with a video) how to open the package. Second, the intricate clasp is a guarantee that children won’t open the sanitizer accidentally or intentionally. After all, chlorine is quite poisonous, and you can easily burn yourself with it.

How to use it?

If you are using your hot tub for the first time, it is recommended that you add 6 teaspoons of Spa Choice Granules Chlorine per 500 gallons of water. After that, you should check the FACFree Available Chlorine with test strips. If it is below 4-5 ppm, add more. You will be able to use your hot tub when the FAC is down to 3-5 ppm.

When maintaining your hot tub clean, the rules are almost the same but use 3 teaspoons per 500 gallons of water.

Spa Choice Tabs Bromine — the Best for Odor Haters with Sensitive Skin

Pros

• Best fit for sensitive skin
• Doesn’t have any fragrance
• Perfectly clears the water
• Don’t mess up with pH levels

Cons

• Some customers complain about loose packaging
• It’s pricey
• Breaks down under the sun

If you’re willing to pay a little more for comfort and total absence of odors, Spa Choice Tabs Bromine is there for you. The more expensive cost of bromine is offset by the fact that the same amount of bromine lasts longer, so you don’t have to worry about it. It’s easier to use because it’s more stable in hot water and retains its residual content longer. When the bromine completes the disinfection cycle, it remains dormant in the water. Just add a little shock and the bromine will continue its disinfecting work. It is also more gentle on the skin than chlorine, but just as effective at cleaning. 

Bromine also has its disadvantages. It works a little slower than chlorine and is not resistant to the sun. That is, you should cover your hot tub when using it. Also, a few customers have complained about a weak lid, but these are quite rare cases. 

How to use it?

Bromine is different from chlorine in use. It comes in Spa Choice as tablets, and you have to put the tablets in the feeder or automatic brominator installed in the hot tub (if you have it). It is advised to put 3 tabs in your feeder or brominator per 300 gallons of water. You can enter a hot tub when the bromine level falls to 2-5 ppm. 

For maintaining your hot tub add 3 tablets per 300 gallons when they’re over, and that’s it. The owners say it lasts about a month, so keeping it clean becomes a walk in the park.

Oxidizers AKA Shock — What and Why?

Shocking or oxidizing is a helpful procedure for an inflatable hot tub and is recommended once every 1-2 weeks (depending on the frequency of use). Shock is a very strong chemical that destroys any contaminants that make the water muddy or dirty. That is, it is often used when chlorine or bromine fails, but it’s not an everyday thing. 

As we have already mentioned, the shock reactivates dormant bromine or chlorine and makes them work again. 

❗Be careful: be sure to read the instructions before using the shock so as not to go overboard the amount. 

Shocks are usually chlorine and non-chlorine. Chlorine shocks are combined with chlorine sanitizer and non-chlorine shocks are suitable for bromine sanitizers. They are equally effective when combined with appropriate sanitizers.

❗One more note: If you mix chlorine shock with bromine sanitizer or bromine shock with chlorine sanitizer, in general nothing bad will happen. But these substances will in both cases react chemically, which will not lead to the desired results. In the first case, the chlorine will intensify the effect of the bromine, and in the second case, the bromine will simply accumulate in the hot tub.

Water Tester — All Indicators that Need to Be Tested

Water testing is the first thing you should do before adding any chemicals to your water. This is necessary to understand what basically should be used because if your pH is normal, you don’t need to deliver a pH Increaser or Decreaser.

The process is as simple as possible: take the test strip, dip it in the water for a few seconds, take it out and see what colors the fields are colored in. Then you simply compare them to the ones drawn on the box to understand the levels of bromine, chlorine, etc. 

It is best to test the water 3 times a week to monitor the condition and, if necessary, adjust the levels with the necessary products.

You can save this table to make it clear what levels are best for the water in the hot tub.

pH Levels

The pH is the indicator that determines the acidity or alkalinity of water. The pH can range from 1 to 14, where 1 is totally acidic and 14 is freaking alkaline. As you have already realized, extremes are not what we need. 7 is neutral, but it’s best for water to be slightly alkaline, so the ideal pH is between 7.2 and 7.6.

What are the risks of deviations? If the pH is low (acidic), you will be uncomfortable in the hot tub in the first place. Acidic water will sting your eyes, and it is bad for the tub itself in that it can start corroding metals. 

High pH will actually sting your eyes and cause itching, too. But it can also make the water cloudier and murkier, and scale can spread on the filters, jets, and other elements of the hot tub. 
The pH level in your hot tub will not necessarily always be higher or lower than normal. But if it is, we suggest using pH Increaser or pH Decreaser depending on the situation.

Alkalinity

Total alkalinity is closely related to pH. We won’t go into the maze of science so as not to confuse you, and we’ll explain in simplified terms. The higher the alkalinity, the higher the pH — you remember the consequences. Plus, it works the same way in reverse. So adjusting your alkalinity is something you need to do before you move on to pH levels.

If the testers show low levels of alkalinity, we recommend using SpaGuard Spa Total Alkalinity Increaser — it does its job perfectly. And if you need to reduce the overall alkalinity in your hot tub, pH Decreaser or hydrochloric acid can help. Unfortunately, the pH Decreaser trick only works one way. You still need an Alkalinity Increaser because, in a situation where pH is normal and alkalinity is down, you need an Alkalinity Increaser as it doesn’t affect pH.

Calcium Hardness

The last indicator worth paying attention to is calcium. Usually, its level is normal or below normal. If it is lower, you should use SpaGuard Spa Calcium Hardness Increaser. Low calcium levels contribute to the fact that the water begins to corrode different parts of the hot tub — heater, massage system, etc. Therefore, if you see a result below 120 ppm on the test strip, we recommend using a calcium increaser.

Extra chemicals you may need

If for some reason your water becomes muddy and dirty, and you can not or do not want to use a shock, there is a special product for clearing the water, which is the so-called clarifier. We think the Leisure Time Cleanser is one of the best models for the job.

Another thing you might need is a foam remover. Yes, the foam in your hot tub can be annoying. It can come from substances you use (shampoos, shower gels) or sometimes from sanitizers. It can also be mixed with disgusting particles of dirt from your skin, or particles of oils, deodorants, or whatever. The bottom line is that the water will be contaminated, which is not what we’re going for. If you’re facing a foam problem, we suggest using Leisure Time Foam Down Cleanser — it’s already proven to be effective and has received hundreds of positive reviews on Amazon.

Chemicals cost and how to save up

The question of money is, as always, one of the most important. Many people worry that maintaining a hot tub will cost too much and it’s not worth buying one because of that. Let us try to dissuade you: this is not true, because you will not use most of the chemicals regularly. The most important ones are, in fact, sanitizers and test strips, because they are really in use almost daily. 

For example, if you have an inflatable hot tub with 500 gallons of water, you should expect $40-$45 in chemical costs, assuming your chemical levels are in order, and you just need to keep the water clean.

It’s hard to save money on chemicals because if you don’t use them, it can cost you more in the long run. But we do have some tips:

• It’s better to buy large packages of chemicals, especially if you’re sure of the brand — it’s usually more cost-effective. 
• You can consider buying chemical kits as they include all the necessary chemicals for the hot tub’s maintenance. Moreover, you can save up to 20% of the cost compared to buying each chemical separately. Below, we’ve listed the three possible options from reliable brands:

• If you don’t use the hot tub for some months, it’s better to drain the water — that way you’ll save on both chemicals and electricity.

SpaGuard Chemical Balancer Maintenance Kit	How much do you save? 15% = $10 Kit Scum absorber pH increaser pH decreaser Total alkalinity increaser Calcium hardness increaser 50pcs test strips (5-way)
Show price
Waters Choice Hot Tub Chemicals Starter Kit	How much do you save? 14% = $13 Kit Pure enzymes for spas pH increaser pH decreaser Sanitizer 50pcs test strips (4-way) Instructions for using Waters Choice enzymes
Show price
Leisure Spa Essentials Bundle Package Kit	How much do you save? 19% = $40 Kit Defense pH increaser pH reducer Foam reducer Re-energizer Bromine sanitizer Bromine booster Metal-free Calcium increaser 10pcs test strips Floating dispenser Spa care guide
Show price

Summary

Keeping water and equipment clean is not as difficult as it seems. All you have to do is understand all the chemicals for inflatable hot tubs once, and you already feel like a pro, right? 

Test the water, then use sanitizer and (less often) shock, and add other chemicals like pH Increaser/Decreaser, and Alkalinity Increaser to get well-balanced levels. Foam Remover and Clarifier are not that necessary. You should apply it only if you face corresponding problems. As simple as ABC, right? Just choose the proper products and enjoy your hot tub all year round. 

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