Weird stuff in Bathtub Jets? HELP!

[Maggimus]

DH and I have a jacuzzi bathtub with jets. We never turn it on (its one of those perks that you have, but rarely ever use). I was bathing one night and noticed this black stuff (it literally looked like eel skin or something) floating in the water (only a little bit). So I got out and told DH. He starts thinking its coming from the jets. So he turns the jets on and it is coming out EVERYWHERE filling the tub!

So we ran the jets for a while, but noticed it was just recirculating so we stopped. We then cleaned the tub.

Im guessing this is build-up from where we hadnt ran the jets regularly?

So a few weeks passes and we notice it again!

What do we do?

We dont want to run the jets after we clean it out regularly because we are kinda weirded out by it now.

Any suggestions as to what to do? What to put in there to clean it all out? Has anyone else ever had this problem before??

 

[Mr. Malaprop]

We have a jacuzzi tub. Every few months I fill it with enough water to cover the jets. Then pour in some bleach and run the jets for several minutes to clean out any gunk that's built up. Drain, refill with clean water and run the jets again. Never had a problem with anything nasty coming out.

 

[Oh Kay!]

If I remember correctly--we had a jaccuzzi installed in the last place--you are supposed to run the jet with some cleaning solutions at least once a month to keep the pipes clean. I think a little bit of dish washer detergent and bleach? If you know the brand, check out the manufacturer's website and see if they have the cleaning instruction.

 

[Maggimus]

If I remember correctly--we had a jaccuzzi installed in the last place--you are supposed to run the jet with some cleaning solutions at least once a month to keep the pipes clean. I think a little bit of dish washer detergent and bleach? If you know the brand, check out the manufacturer's website and see if they have the cleaning instruction.

its a "Jacuzzi" brand.... can you mix soap and bleach?

 

[Green Tea]

I run the soap first, then drain, then run the bleach. About 15 minutes each. The dish liquid foams way too much. I tried 409 last week and that seem to do a good cleaning job and still foamed but not a mountains worth.

 

[Mr. Malaprop]

Be careful with soap -- it will foam like crazy. A little bit (a VERY little bit) goes a long way. Also don't mix soap and bleach. Soap first, then drain. I'd also refill and run the jets some to be sure all the soap is out. Drain again and then bleach them.

 

[Mickey527]

I get the same stuff, it is mold buildup.
I thought a Jacuzzi tub would be so great but I don't seem to have the time to sit in a tub since my grandson moved in with me. Every time I get in the shower he wakes up and screams for me, I can't imagine taking a bath.
I tried to clean the tub at least once a month but even then I get pink mold on the jet covers, that is viewable , I can't tell what is going on inside the jets.
I hate to put my grandson in the tub to soak in that crud. What I have been doing lately is giving him a bath, then filling the tub more with hot water and running some bleach through the jets for a few minutes. I add the bleach to the baby wash and haven't had problems. I would be careful about dish soap and bleach though.
the one problem I have with any type of mold cleaner is that it bubbles and we all know what happens when you add the air from the jets. It was better when I had the glass doors and could leave the room. Now with a shower curtain I come back into the room after 10 minutes and there are bubbles flowing over the top of the tub.
I wish I could afford to do the bathroom over again, I would get rid of this jacuzzi.

 

[Frantasmic]

The black stuff is probably mildew in the pipes, so bleach is good for that.

You can also develop a pinkish covering around the spouts, which is probably water/soap deposits.

I've never read, but I don't think it would hurt to run vinegar water through the jets to clean it out. It's recommended on coffee pots, dishwashers, and clothes washers.

 

[Maggimus]

You guys have been a world of help. What about dishwashing detergent-- like cascade? anyone used that for less foam?

 

[Maggimus]

Yes!! I do have that pink stuff too!! Its even on the top of the tub near the pressure settings. Do i get that off the same way as well?

 

[Oh Kay!]

its a "Jacuzzi" brand.... can you mix soap and bleach?

I think I put them together. I used powder soap--a few tablespoon, I think and about 1/2 cup of bleach. I don't remember it foaming too much.

 

[Maggimus]

DH and I are a little paranoid about mixing anything with bleach-- thats why I asked!! Thanks for responding!!

 

[Tybug]

The book that came with ours says bleach only. Have had it for 12 years and just use the bleach once a month. I run 2 cycles... the first one with the bleach and the second one with just plain water. It does a great job at keeping the jets clean.

 

[Maggimus]

im definately going to try the bleach only first-- then later I might cycle it one day with detergent/soap and then do the bleach the next day-- i doubt ill do them back to back-- im just too paranoid that way!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We do the same thing at home as we do when staying at the DVCs that have a JetTub . Small amount of Bleach and some vineger will do the trick.

Yes it soapscum and mildew because of it even if you don't use it it still goes into the pipes.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I am pretty sure the pink stuff is mold too. I get it around my tub sometimes. I had never seen pink mold! I use bleach for it.

 

[decaff38]

On the show "How Clean is your House" they showed a filty tub. They run warm water in the tub and put in a dishwashing tablet. They let it run for about 15 minutes and then cleaned it with a regular tub cleaner. I have used it and it works great!!

 

[Maggimus]

Thanks-- my house isnt 'filthy'--- and we clean our tub-- we just didnt know how to clean the jets-- and dont run them regularly so ofcourse the soap will build up. Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[Green Tea]

On the show "How Clean is your House" they showed a filty tub. They run warm water in the tub and put in a dishwashing tablet. They let it run for about 15 minutes and then cleaned it with a regular tub cleaner. I have used it and it works great!!

Dishwashing tablet...like a small one for your automatic dishwasher? Does it keep the finish nice and shiny? I guess it wouldn't foam which would be a great thing!

 

[almacdonald]

Dishwashing tablet...like a small one for your automatic dishwasher? Does it keep the finish nice and shiny? I guess it wouldn't foam which would be a great thing!

I saw the same episode! They disolved about 5 of the dishwashing tablets in a bucket of boiling water, yup the ones you put in instead of of dishwasher powder. Then they dumped the dishwasher mixture into a tub full of water and turned on the jets. You have to skim the junk off the top so it doesn't go back into the jet system but it seemed to work pretty well. No jet-dry required!