FAQs

Typically, if you have never purged your hot tub with our cleaner it may be necessary to do a few consecutive purges to get the lines and jets clean.  Some people have had success in doing the following.  They purge with the required amount of gel.  Wipe all the sticky gooey grime you see on the waterline with a wet towel.  Add another teaspoon or two of the Ahh-some gel and run the pump(s) again to do a second purge using the same water again.  This may help you from draining and refilling to do a second or third purge. If you really have an older tub that was never flushed you may resort to an overnight soak with the Ahh-some in it.  If you do this you MUST be sure that the system is shut off and will NOT run while sleeping.  Why?  Because we don’t want any new bio-gunk to be released and dry on on the acrylic or roto-molded shell.  Much of the  gunk can be comprised of polysaccharides that are sugar molecules and can be extremely difficult to remove.  In the morning or after an elongated soak, turn the pumps on, wipe the new gunk off and drain, rinse and wipe the tub down.  Refill and get the water chemistry up to snuff.  That’s it!

You would just see excess foaming. The foam will rise over the top of the hot tub or jetted bath and you’ll have to wipe it up. No harm is done except you are making extra work for yourself. Conversely, if you use too little of the product you’ll not get a superior cleaning and drastically less foam.

Generally there is no harm. However, if the skin has open cuts or sores it is not advisable as you will usually get some slight burning sensation. Ideally, you handle the gel with latex or rubber gloves if your skin is extremely sensitive.

Typically no! However, as with any cleaning product is is recommended that you always try to avoid close contact with fumes or ambient air during any cleaning experience. If you are cleaning a jetted bathtub, open a window if possible to let outside air in. Don’t stand over the bathtub and watch it work. It is ok to leave the room and come back every few minutes to check on things. Just don’t stick your face in the work area for long periods of time, especially if you have a compromised immune system. People with comorbidity issues should always stay clear of cleaning areas. In many cases the Ahh-some is exposing what could be bacterial biofilm spores. Anyone with health issues should let someone else do the cleaning, rinsing and wiping.

We recommend doing this for jetted bathtubs but not so much for hot tubs unless you notice a lot of detritus gunk on the tub floor or sides. If water and time is not an issue, sure, go ahead and refill, rinse, wipe and drain again.

Typically, hot tub plumbing and jets should be purged with Ahh-some every 4-6 months. You can tell that the tub needs a purge when the water clarity starts to look turbid even after you have added the appropriate amount of chemicals. The water will feel different too. The water can actually smell bad. Foaming will become an issue after you turn the jets on. The important thing about foam is that it remains on the water surface for a length of time after the jets and pump(s) are turned off. However, the one factor that will be the biggest tipoff is the fact that your hot tub or swim spa is always in need of more sanitizer. What used to work is now dissipating rapidly. This is known as the decay rate. High decay rates usually mean that you need a purge and dump.

We certainly recommend dumping hot tub water, not pool water, periodically since a smaller amount of water frequented by bathers and soakers will deposit many millions of contaminants over a few months because of the high water temperature and elimination of bodily fluids during sweating. Your sanitizer, chlorine or bromine, will oxidize much of the organics but a build-up of a smaller amount over time can become nutrients for a biofilm that may be colonizing inside the plumbing. So, you need to purge these bad guys out of the system. This is why we recommend using our Ahh-some Hot Tub/Jetted bath Plumbing & Jet Cleaner every 6 months or so for the typical hot tub. If the water still looks good and the sanitizer decay rate is quite small you can usually wait longer before you do the plumbing colonoscopy. Starting fresh with new water is a huge benefit once you get it balanced and ready to enjoy.

The product is both a bio-cleaner and a clarifier. Ahh-some will seek out any bio-fouling contaminants such as oils, dirt, grime and a plethora of other particles clinging to the pool surface and interior plumbing. By releasing these byproducts, sanitizer is used up more quickly as it is doing it’s intended job to remove organics. People have no idea of just how much gunk is hiding in and on the pool components. You may have to increase your chlorine introduction of shock treatment for a few days to a week after first using our product. The chlorine level will stabilize. Not to worry. The Ahh-some will uncover the bio-load and expose it to the sanitizer. This is a good thing.

Ideally, you mix the required amount of Ahh-some gel into a bucket with pool water in it. Scoop it out and let it dissolve. Stir occasionally to quicken the dissolution. Just pour it into the pool. it is ok to add it directly into the skimmer(s) as well. You can scoop it out and just place it in the pool itself. It will dissolve in a little bit. It really doesn’t matter how you add it to the pool. Be sure to add the correct amount and add it every 30 days while the pool remains open for swimming. In colder months, if you still use the pool, you will only need half the regular dose to do the same job. When the swimming season is in full swing, go back to the regular dose we recommend.

Yes! You may see small amounts of foam for a few days after the gel is introduced to the pool. This will be especially noticeable if the pool has an attached spa where the water spills over into the pool. It is going to foam a little as the product has surfactant qualities in it. Very normal to see!

Ahh-some will bind algae particles together allowing your filter to entrap them. It is theoretically not an algaecide but will aid in algae removal. Be sure to clean the filter(s) or backwash the filter when the pressure gauge reading goes 8-10 psi over the clean filter pressure reading. The best way to determine if the filter needs cleaning is by watching the velocity of the water returning from an inlet jet. When the flow is fast and strong the filter is fine. When is is slow and weak it means the opposite. Adding Ahh-some at first may cause the filter to build up pressure faster than normal since it is coagulating and clumping particulates together allowing the filter to grab them.

If the pool has a pump and filter, Yes! If not, No! Be sure to add the appropriate amount.

All washing machines and dishwasher components that come in contact with water used in their use can leave small amounts of mold, bacteria, fungi, yeasts, protozoa and viruses in it’s wake. Where water touches parts of the appliance there can be issues as it colonizes. Numerous studies have been performed regarding these appliances and it has been observed that most people have no idea that these nasty little rascals are present. Your typical soap and detergents can certainly help to eliminate many of these guys but periodic use of a more concentrated cleaner made to penetrate the bio lipid layer and expose the innards of the bio-layer are helpful. The Ahh-some cleaner and deodorizer is added to an empty appliance and allowed to be run through a normal cleaning cycle will do the job in most cases.

Great question!  Yes they are.  Most people only notice results they can see after the cleaning.  It’s what they can’t see that is actually as important.  Cleaning bio-contaminants that harbor a multitude of bacteria that cause malodors is what the product will do.  This also means that the drain or discharge lines of the closed-loop appliances, typically washing machines and dishwashers, can have huge amounts of nasty gunk that has been removed from surfaces of the items being washed and cleaned.  This gunk has to be eliminated after the cleaning cycle.  It goes out the discharge line(s).  These lines can also be complicit in harboring leftover remnants of what was washed and cleaned.  The Ahh-some will penetrate this sludge and gunk and with the aid of moving water will eliminate it from the line.  Many odors are the result of having this leftover bacteria, dirt, sludge, fecal matter, fungus and yeasts getting lodged in the lines.  This can contribute to many offensive odors when opening the appliance door.  So, what you can’t see the product doing is also a very important function of the cleaner.

When biofilms are exposed and their outer protective layer is breached, as our product does, the smell can be intense. They are trying to cling to whatever they are attached to. They are fighting back. If you don’t get all the fungi, yeast and virus initially they may have a little layer that you need to attack for a second cleaning. After you perform a washing machine or dishwasher cleaning we want you to run a typical cleaning cycle with garments or dishes while using your regular pod or detergent cleaner. This typically gets rid of the foul aroma.

Experts say that some laundry may actually be dirtier after you wash it. Undergarments are the biggest culprits because of the presence of fecal matter and the many bacteria that can find safe harbor in it. Just one load of underwear will have about 1 million E. coli in the wash water. These can be transmitted to the very next load of wash that you do. Fecal matter can carry many germs including hepatitis A virus, norovirus, rotavirus and salmonella. Towels especially, can be loaded with staphylococcus. This may be why your towels smell. The Ahh-some Cleaner works quickly and efficiently to rid the appliance of these bacteria.

Generally yes! However, washers and dishwashers are exposed to lots of bacteria and the rubber seals on the doors can harbor what re called “opportunistic pathogens”. Typically, there is nothing to worry about for most healthy people but the ones we are concerned with are the elderly, the infirm and those people with compromised immune systems. Why take a chance? Use the Ahh-some and know that the appliance is clean and not making anyone sick.

What we put into the product is expensive to get. Plus, we add other proprietary ingredients that make it work so well. Everything is Made in the USA. Please understand this. The 2 oz container will afford you 24 cleanings for a washing machine or a dishwasher. When you figure you get so many cleanings per container, the cost is generally less than other competitive products that don’t do as good a job.

No! The best way to use the washing machine product is to get a small cup half filled with water. Microwave it for 15 or 20 seconds. Add the gel to the warm/hot water. Let it sit for a few minutes and stir it up. Pour that liquid into the DETERGENT hopper. If you don’t have a separate detergent hopper it is fine to just add the liquid to the inside water drum itself. Just pour it in. Do NOT add the gel to the soap or detergent hopper in a dishwasher front door. Just add the gel or the diluted gel and water to the dishwasher cabinet body where the spinner is located.

Dishwashers may have a removable clean-out filter located on the cabinet bottom. Look at your instructions to see if yours has this filter. If so, clean and rinse this before using our cleaner.

No! The Ahh-some is a non-acidic bio-cleaner that will not harm rubber seals, o’rings, plastic or metal components.

Yes! During winter shut-down, especially swimming pools with open mesh coverings or safety covers. The Ahh-some Winter Clarifier will help to eliminate sediment and non-public health slime forming microorganisms that can grow quickly in darker environments. When you uncover your pool after Ahh-some has been used the Spring Clean-up will be easier, quicker and less expensive chemically. The Winter Ahh-some has an extra EDTA additive in it that the Ahh-some Pool Summer product doesn’t have.

Typical Jetted bathtubs need about 1/2 of a level teaspoon (tsp) for each cleaning.  Whirlpool Tubs placed in hospital or locker room settings need slightly more since their gallonage is higher.  Never add more than 1 level teaspoon (tsp) to any whirlpool tub.  Our gel is highly concentrated.  More does not do a better or faster purge.

Swim Spa/Spool gallonage is usually between 1500-2500 gallons.  We recommend using just one (1) two (2) ounce container of our Hot Tub cleaner for all size Swim Spas/Spools.  You will not need more to do the job.

Great question. There may be a few answers to this question. First, there possibly was gunk and discoloration that was being hidden inside the foam. Some of the gunk could also be sticking to the foam itself. Another reason could be that the hot tub was close to filled at the top and the foam ran over the upper ledge and down to the deck or ground where the gunk was not noticed. We see this very often and is how I clean my hot tub. Less work and very little wiping may be needed if you do it that way. It could also be that your hot tub plumbing was very clean and without much or any build-up. If this is the case hats off to you for your maintenance protocol skills.