There isn't anything more appealing than seeing a ‘spa bath’ on an accommodation reservation site, however, when spa baths are not cleaned and maintained properly it can turn into a disaster! There is nothing worse than filling up the bath only to see bits of hair, mould, bacteria even just dirty water in the bath, this can become a terrifying experience for guests even resulting in bad feedback.
Why should we clean and sanitise spa baths?
Spa baths are a common hiding place for nasty bacteria and other harmful organisms that can cause serious illnesses if not properly maintained. Legionella bacteria, E. coli (Escherichia coli) and Staphylococcus aureus infection (aka staph or golden staph) that have been left to multiply in the jets, pipes and pumps where biofilm (slimy growths of bacteria, algae and fungi) is allowed to form. Spas also generate aerosols (tiny airborne water droplets) that can be inhaled. It is really important to clean and sanitise your system properly.
‘Who was last in this spa and did they have any illness or open wounds? When was the last time this spa was properly cleaned, sanitised and treated ?'
If you are providing accommodation services, you don’t want your guests thinking about this, which they are. XO2® SpaKling was designed for these very reasons; to clean and sanitise spa baths… and other stuff so that you can impress your guests with amazing accommodation experiences.
Less saying 'Ew', and more saying 'Ahhhhhh'
How do you clean and sanitise a spa bath?
The Health Department highly recommends treating your spas after every single guest checkout. This is your duty of care. XO2® wants to help you with this so we have put together steps to ensure every spa bath is left SpaKling!
Spa bath - Regular flush treatment
Step 1. Fill the spa bath with cold or hot water to 3cm above the jet line. Hot water is
preferred but not essential.
Step 2. Add 50mL of XO2® SpaKling to the water. For larger spas keep in mind you will need approx 50mL per 200 litres of water.
Step 3. Turn jets (pump) on and run jets for 5-10 minutes. Foaming will occur which is what you want.
Step 4. Turn the jets off and drain the bath. Rinse the bath surfaces with water after it is drained.
Step 5. Check and clean the spa intake filter for hair and debris.
Step 6. Apply diluted XO2® SpaKling onto the bath and surrounding surfaces via spray or squirt bottle. Wipe off with a clean cloth.
Step 7. Polish the bath with a clean, dry cloth for a sparkling shine. Apply XO2® SpaKling Water Resistant Hygiene Seal.
If your spa bath hasn’t had a clean for a while, XO2® recommends the initial first-time flush treatment. For the initial clean and treatment, follow steps 1-4 above and then repeat the process again all the way from 1-7. Increase the chemical amount to 100mL and the treatment time to 15-20 minutes.
Handy hint: Applying the XO2® SpaKling Water Resistant Hygiene Seal ensures your guests know the spa has been cleaned since it has last been used and can confidently relax and enjoy the spa.
General Cleaning
Apply diluted XO2® SpaKling onto the bath and surrounding surfaces via spray or squirt bottle. Wipe off with a clean cloth.
XO2® SpaKling’s super simple 2-in-1 action effectively cleans and treats the entire system including surfaces, pumps, pipes, jets and drains. It breaks down and dislodges body fat, hair, soap, slime, mould, mildew, algae, organic matter and biological waste.
XO2® SpaKling isn't limited to just spa baths but can actually treat dishwashers and laundry machines. Instructions for these treatments can be found on the SpaKling product page on this website along with some of our Handy hints.
Why did we choose a quaternary ammonium compound as our formula base?
Simply put, it works the best in this application. There has been a lot of research and field testing done on the effectiveness of quat and its performance against the likes of sodium hypochlorite (bleach/chlorine) based formulations. The quat effectively reduces pathogenic bacteria in the application of spas as opposed to disappointing results from sodium hypochlorite. There are also the 'in use' safety concerns of using chlorine-based products in the application of cleaning. But it is worth mentioning that not all quats are created equal. And it is a case of you getting what you pay for. At XO2®, we buy the best raws on the market with the cost being associated with the molecular weight. High-grade quat has a lower molecular weight and is more costly to produce but is more effective at soil removal as well as being far more effective as an antimicrobial agent.
XO2® SpaKling has been cleverly formulated to provide wide spectrum antimicrobial and anti-bacterial performance. It is designed to effectively and hygienically clean spa baths, hydrotherapy spa baths, automatic dishwasher machines, laundry machines and more!
XO2® SpaKling protects the health of your guests, ensuring your duty of care requirements are met and protects your reputation. The cool part is that it is so safe and easy to use because the product works by simply ‘flushing out the system.’ XO2® SpaKling is working whilst you are servicing the other parts of the room.
Want to learn more about what's lurking in your spa bath?
Here are three of the most common nasties that are making people sick after relaxing in an untreated spa. We have pulled this helpful data out of the Queensland Health Swimming & Spa Pool Water Quality and Operational Guidelines that you can visit this page on the Queensland Health website.
1. Staphylococcus aureus - Staphylococcus is often found in water when bathers are present and is associated with flaking skin, dandruff and nasal secretions.
2. Pseudomonas aeruginosa - The predominant source of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in pools and spas is from infected humans, the surrounding environment can be a source of contamination. When present in large numbers it can cause ear, eye and skin infections, particularly folliculitis.
3. Thermotolerant (faecal) coliforms or Escherichia coli (E. coli) - Thermotolerant coliforms and particularly E. coli are normal inhabitants of the intestinal tract of humans, mammals and birds where they are present in great numbers.
So there you have it, everything you need to know about how to properly clean and maintain hygienic spa baths. If you need a hand get in touch with our team today, we’re always happy to chat about spa baths and all things cleaning!