What should you never put in a spa pool? 7 things that ruin spa water

Every person who gets into a spa brings a little of the outside world with them. That is why the same problems keep recurring for owners who otherwise do everything right.

The 7 things you should never put in a spa pool are:

• Sunscreen and fake tan — oils and waxes that float and clog filters
• Sweat — reacts with chlorine and eats your sanitiser
• Body oils and moisturiser — the main cause of foam and greasy film
• Deodorant and antiperspirant — fragrances and salts that cloud water
• Hair products — wax, dry shampoo and hairspray rinse off as oily residue
• Makeup — pigments and oils that cloud water fast
• Dirt, sand and pet fur — debris and bacteria straight off feet and paws

All seven arrive on skin and hair, and all seven are removed by a rinse before you get in. Read on for why each one causes problems, what to do instead, and how an outdoor shower makes the pre-soak rinse automatic for everyone, including guests and kids.

What are the 7 things you should never put in a spa pool?

The seven worst contaminants in spa water are sunscreen, sweat, body oils and moisturiser, deodorant, hair products, makeup, and dirt or pet fur. Each clogs the filter cartridge, consumes sanitiser, or causes foaming. Together they account for most cases of cloudy water and scum lines.

Each one is covered below, along with what to do instead.

Makeup causes the same problem. Foundation, concealer and mascara all carry oils and colour that cloud water and add filter load.

For sun protection at the spa, a hat and sunglasses do the job without contaminating the water. Permanent shade is the better long-term answer. Spa World^® supplies louvre pergolas and outdoor umbrellas designed to sit over spas and swim spas, which removes the need for sunscreen at the spa entirely.

Why does sweat affect spa water?

Sweat affects spa water because it reacts with chlorine to form chloramines, the compounds responsible for the sharp smell and stinging eyes people associate with poorly maintained water. Chloramines consume sanitiser that should be cleaning the water, which means dosing more often for the same result.

Warm water makes this worse. Heat opens pores and raises perspiration, so a spa collects more sweat per person than a swimming pool does, in a fraction of the water volume.

That combination, high bather load and low water volume, is why spa water is far more sensitive to contamination than pool water.

Why does my spa water foam?

Spa water foams because of body oils, moisturiser, hair products and detergent residue on swimwear. Foam is caused by a build-up of surfactants, which, when combined with water and air, create bubbles. Foam is almost always a contamination problem rather than a chemical one.

The usual sources are natural skin oils, moisturiser and fake tan, hair wax, dry shampoo and hairspray, and detergent left in swimwear after washing.

Rinsing swimwear thoroughly after washing removes one of the most common causes. Rinsing yourself before you get in removes the rest. Anti-foam products treat the symptom, but the water still carries the oil load until it is filtered out or changed.

Watch the video below to learn how to treat and prevent spa foam.

Dogs also introduce bacteria well beyond a normal bather load, which raises sanitiser demand.

For water-loving dogs, set up an alternative nearby: a shallow tub of fresh water, a bowl of drinking water and a few toys. An outdoor shower with a hand-held wand doubles as a practical way to rinse a muddy dog before it comes inside.

The problem with relying on the bathroom shower is that people skip it, especially guests and children who go straight from the backyard into the spa.

An outdoor shower beside the spa removes that friction. It makes the rinse the obvious thing to do rather than an errand, and it also handles sandy feet, muddy boots and the dog. For spa owners, it is the difference between a rule nobody follows and a habit everyone does automatically.

What else should stay out of spa water?

Beyond the seven contaminants that arrive on skin, several other things should never enter spa water: essential oils, bubble bath, shampoo and household cleaning products all unbalance the chemistry and cause foaming. Food, drink and especially glass cause filter blockages, and broken glass usually means a full drain.

Jewellery should come off too, though the damage runs the other way. Spa sanitisers tarnish metal, dull finishes and discolour stones with repeated exposure.

Purpose-made spa aromatherapy products are formulated to disperse without residue, and are the safe alternative to essential oils. Spa World^® stocks an approved aromatherapy range designed specifically for spa and swim spa use.

In Summary

Cloudy water and stubborn foam usually aren't a chemical problem. Sunscreen, sweat, body oils, deodorant, hair product, makeup and dirt all come off skin the second you get in. The good news: one quick rinse takes care of all seven. Put a shower next to the spa and it stops being a rule nobody follows.