Can You Put a Bath Bomb in a Hot Tub?

bath bombs

Traditional bath bombs are usually made with ingredients that can clog filters, throw off your water’s pH balance and cause damage to important equipment inside of your tub. While we don’t recommend using regular bath bombs in your spa, there are products that are formulated specifically for hot tub use. 

Products to Avoid Using in a Hot Tub

Most bath bombs are made with essential oils and foaming agents which create a lovely aromatherapy like experience, but can wreak havok on the internal workings of your hot tub which aren’t designed to circulate substances like oils. Bath bombs often also include things like glitter or flower petals which are also a great way to clog up your system. Over time these substances will build up in your filtration system- at best they’ll be challenging to clean up and will likely cause costly damage. 

Adding bubble bath to your tub might also be tempting but it’ll cause a similar reaction to adding dish soap to a dishwasher: an overwhelming amount of foam and bubbles that your tub isn’t designed to handle. You’ll also want to avoid adding any kind of oils, including shampoo or body wash to the water in your tub because hot tubs aren’t designed to circulate or filter oils. 

Epsom salt is another product that might sound good to add to your tub’s water, but the main ingredient is magnesium sulfate, which can alter your tub’s water chemistry and make it highly corrosive to your spa’s components. Keeping oils and products out of your tub is why it’s recommended to shower before soaking, so unless a product is designed especially for hot tub use, it’s best to avoid it. 

What Products Can You Use in a Hot Tub?

There are many brands that make hot tub safe bath bombs, crystals and liquids with many different aromas to pick from. It’s easy to enjoy a spa-like experience without any risk of damaging your tub. These products fizz just like a regular bath bomb but won’t cloud the water or leave oily residues behind. They also don’t contain any potentially damaging components like flower petals or glitter and are easily available to purchase. 

If you have any questions about additional products or substances you’d like to add to your hot tub, including for aromatherapy purposes, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 970-879-4390 or contact us here