Guide: Spa Cover Cleaning & Care
Spa covers are an investment in your hot tub, and like any investment, you want to protect it. This guide offers maintenance tips that can save you money and maximize the lifespan of your hot tub cover.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Pollen, leaves, dust and other debris not only makes for an unsightly spa cover, they can be a foothold for mildew, moss & other damage. Extend the life and preserve the beauty of your cover with regular preventative care:
- Rinse with cool water using a garden hose
- Spray with a gentle,
- Clean gently with a
- Rinse again thoroughly & allow to dry
- Repeat monthly
Stubborn Dirt or Stains
Occasionally covers require more than a gentle clean. Instead of using products that can damage your cover, do this:
- For stubborn dirt, allow a gentle cleaner to soak for a few minutes before wiping
- Carefully loosen moss or mold growing on the seams or zipper with a
- Remove sticky tree sap with vegetable oil or margarine
- Open the zipper to clean mold inside the cover jacket
Protect
With the cover now clean, applying a protectant significantly enhances its longevity.
The only products we recommend for this are 303 Aerospace Protectants. 303 acts as a sunscreen and water repellant, protecting the cover from harsh UV rays and moisture.
Protecting Fabric:
- Spray protectant onto clean, dry fabric until evenly wet
- Allow 12-24 hours for protectant to cure
- Treat monthly in summer, bimonthly the rest of the year
Protecting Vinyl:
- Spray a light coating of to the underside of clean, dry cover
- Spread evenly with a damp cloth or a sponge
- Repeat on top and skirt of cover
- Treat monthly in summer, bimonthly the rest of the year
Our kits for and spa covers come with everything you need to clean and protect your spa cover.
Spa Cover Troubleshooting & Repair Basics
Mold/Mildew Inside Jacket
Chasing a hot tub odor you just can’t seem to shake? Mold or mildew inside the spa cover jacket is the usual culprit. Here’s how to get back to a healthy spa cover:
- Unzip the jacket and carefully remove the insulating cores
- Flip the jacket inside out and gently scrub with &
- Gently clean and scrub insulating cores, noting any punctures or snags for repair
- Rinse inner jacket and insulating core surfaces with cool water
- Air dry jacket in direct sunlight for 1-2 hours
- Air dry insulating cores in a shaded area (prolonged direct sunlight will damage cores)
- Carefully reinstall insulating cores into jacket
Note: Mildew inside the insulating core vapor barrier requires complete cover replacement.
Water Intrusion
Some water droplets inside the insulating core vapor barrier aren’t cause for concern. Larger water accumulations, however, are indicative of a punctured or torn vapor barrier, and require attention before the insulating core becomes waterlogged.
If your core vapor barrier has water accumulation, unzip the jacket and remove the insulating cores for inspection. Note any punctures or tears in the vapor barrier for repair.
Note: Heavy, waterlogged covers aren’t possible to save and require spa cover replacement.
Removing Accumulated Water:
- Drain as much water as possible from the entry points by tipping the core and allowing gravity to draw the water out
- If draining water from the entry point isn’t possible, carefully cut a small slit in the vapor barrier at one of the corners, then set the cover on edge & allow water to drain
Don’t worry if you can’t get all the water out, if you can get most of it out you’ll be in good shape.
Fixing Vapor Barrier Leaks
are the ideal solution for sealing insulating core vapor barriers. Make sure the plastic is clean and dry around your repair so the patch will adhere properly.
Jacket Rip/Tear Repair
Tears or punctures in the spa cover jacket don’t always justify ordering a brand new cover, but it’s important to address these problems to avoid further damage. With a , these repairs are fast and easy on both fabric and vinyl spa covers:
- Clean the area around the tear of dirt or residue
- Trim patch to desired size - about 1” beyond all edges of the tear
- Apply patch, rubbing all edges to seal, then aggressively rub entire patch to completely bond the patch to the surface
Note: For extra reinforcement, remove the insulating cores and repeat this process inside the jacket.
Strap Latch Repair/Replacement
Over time, strap latches/buckles become brittle and can break, even with normal use. Easily replace broken cover latches with .
Tips To Extend the Life of Your Spa Cover
Protecting the Insulating Core
Spa cover cores are easily damaged or broken if abused. Follow these rules to keep your cores in good shape:
- Never allow children or animals on the spa cover
- Never sit or walk on a spa cover
- Keep glass & other objects off of the cover - items on the cover (even window glare) can magnify sunlight and melt the core
- Remove & inspect a heavier than expected core immediately - it may be savable
Avoiding Jacket Damage
Keeping your spa cover duct-tape free and looking like new is a snap:
- Use a high quality Spa Cover Lifter to reduce stress on the seams & keep the cover off the ground
- Use handles only for opening and closing the cover - NEVER lift or pull the cover by the skirt
- Never drag the cover on the ground
- Maintain proper water balance & sanitizer levels
- Remove the cover completely when adding chemicals & leave it off for half an hour after
- Use a floating Spa Blanket to protect the jacket from spa chemicals in evaporating water
Weather Protection
Spa covers hold up well to wind, rain, and snow, but an extra ounce of prevention will help your cover go the distance.
Snow
Fact: a single cubic foot of snow weighs about 30 pounds. That means an 8’x8’ spa cover with just 3” accumulation is supporting an extra 500 pounds - even more with wet snow or ice!
That kind of weight can easily damage or break an insulating core, leaving you out in the cold. Save yourself (and the cover) this trouble by gently removing accumulated snow. A push broom works great!
Rain
Rain doesn’t generally cause any issues, but it’s important to understand that covers aren’t rainproof. In periods of heavy rain, water can pass through jacket seams, around the insulating core, and finally, through weep-holes in the underside of the cover.
After heavy rain storms, check the water level of your spa and adjust it if needed.
Wind
Unsecured hot tub covers can lift off of the spa or fly away, even in moderate wind. Always securely attach and lock the tie down straps after using the spa.
We've Got You Covered
If you’re dealing with a waterlogged, heavy, inefficient spa cover, cut your losses and replace it! A well crafted DuraTherm spa cover with WeatherShield NextGen outdoor fabric is the perfect solution! Beautiful, lightweight, and durable, our custom made spa covers will stand the test of time.