Cleaning the tub at the villa?

[rutgers1]

This is our first stay as DVC members, and I recall a thread where people talked about how they cleaned the whirlpool tubs at the villas. What did you use? Are you able to take whatever you used on a plane?

 

[allflgirl]

Yes, I always clean out the jacuzzi tub before I use it. I use a cup of bleach and fill the tub up to the jets and let it run for a few minutes. I then refill with water and then run through to get all the bleach out of the system. I drive to Orlando, so it's not an issue to bring a little bleach with me. I wouldn't think you'd be able to take something like that on a plane or even want to, due to possible spillage.

Maybe someone has another idea for you.

Have a good trip.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I always bring some disinfecting wipes in a zip lock sandwich bag!

 

[jennyl772003]

I think I know the thread you were talking about! They said to use dishwasher soap and some also added bleach to that. If you were to use the powdered soap you should be able to take that in your carryon I would think. Otherwise you could just check it. Bleach you could probably check, but I don't know if I would trust having that in my luggage.

 

[ITGirl50]

You can use Dishwasher soap like the previous poster said (like Cascade, NOT Dawn). My plumber told me this is how you should clean a spa tub. He suggested an entire small box of Cascade to clean out the pipes and let the jets run run for 10 minutes (or more) and then fill it again with clean water to get all the soap out. Cascade won't create a lot bubbles, etc. It actually worked very well on my home whirlpool spa. It's a lot of filling of the tub, but it will be very clean when you are done. No one else's germs should be left in those pipes.

 

[kmann728]

Oh thank goodness I'm not the only one out there with an obsession over a clean tub!
Thanks for the info, I will definitely be using this on my next trip!!

 

[allshookup]

I believe I gave my 2 cents on that thread, but I'll gladly give it again. I use an entire small bottle of bleach. I don't think soap is really going to disinfect all the germs & in my germophobe mind, it makes me feel better to think I've killed anything that could possibly be lurking. I run the tub a couple of times afterwards & it is amazing how much black gunk comes out of those pipes.

 

[Best Aunt]

From what I've read, the problem is not germs (which could be taken care of by wiping the tub with disinfecting wipes before getting in). The problem is that black stuff comes out of the jacuzzi pipes. I saved this from an earlier thread (sorry I can't give credit to the person who posted it):

The "black stuff" is the dried mold that forms in the pipes when they are not used all the time. That's why they need to be routinely cleaned. That's also why the bleach in the auto dishwasher detergent works. It kills the mold.

 

[MBELSANTI]

If you are placing a grocery order through Garden Grocer, you can order a bottle of bleach. I did so the last time and store it with bottle of detergent and softener in my Owners locker. I have also seen guest leave leftover laundry products in laundry room for other guests to use.

 

[DenLo]

I remember a plumber telling me to never pour bleach down pipes to clean them. That bleach deteriorates the pipes. Therefore since the resorts are our homes shouldn't we use the less corrosive dishwasher detergent (Cascade)?

I found this info on several websites when I googled cleaning a whirlpool tub:

Cleaning the Jets

The best way for jetted whirlpool bathtub cleaning is with a bucket of hot water, dishwasher cleaning tablets and twenty minutes of time. You run hot water into the bucket and dissolve the tablets. (Or one cup of powdered detergent). Once the tablets are dissolved, plug the drain in the bathtub and add the hot water with the tablets. Then run the water in the tub until the water is just above the jets. Turn the jets on and run twenty minutes. Turn off the jets and drain. Use a damp cloth to pick up any loose dirt in the tub, then plug the drain again and run hot water to just above the jets. Turn on the jets and run for ten minutes.



Are any members out there plumbers? And what would you recommend?

 

[allshookup]

I don't know, but I don't pour bleach directly down the drain. I use the small 24oz bottle to entire tub of hot water so it's quite diluted & I've heard others here say they use even less. I also use bleach in my wash a lot too, as I imagine many people do & I've never heard warnings about ruining the pipes. Plus doesn't Cascade also have bleach in it? I know my dishwasher tabs do, but I'm not sure about Cascade.

 

[CNMooner]

From what I've read, the problem is not germs (which could be taken care of by wiping the tub with disinfecting wipes before getting in). The problem is that black stuff comes out of the jacuzzi pipes. I saved this from an earlier thread (sorry I can't give credit to the person who posted it):

The "black stuff" is the dried mold that forms in the pipes when they are not used all the time. That's why they need to be routinely cleaned. That's also why the bleach in the auto dishwasher detergent works. It kills the mold.

I remember turning on the jets a few trips back at the BWV and being DISGUSTED! I had thought that the black stuff was biofilm, but mold is probably more likely being that it was black. BLECH.

So cascade with bleach? Thanks for the tip-- I wouldn't let my 2 year old turn the jets on during our last trip at all!

 

[DisneyWalker44]

Bleach is pretty toxic stuff. Public pools - full of people and children and worse - use a concentration of chlorine (i.e. bleach) that is roughly a capful or two per full DVC tub. Sometimes they go a bit stronger. But going much beyond that is overkill.

I'm not saying don't put a full cup (or full bottle !!!), but you don't have to. You aren't killing any more germs with the extra bleach. And if you do use a really high concentration, make sure you thoroughly get it out (including out of the pipes) before anyone uses it.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I keep some dishwasher tablets that contain bleach in my owner's locker. That works for me. (They could also be taken on a plane.)