Spa Cover Care | Maintaining and Protecting your Hot Tub Cover
Spa covers are expensive investments; like any worthwhile investment, it pays to maintain and protect them. This guide will provide maintenance tips to help make your hot tub cover last longer.
Hot Tub Cover Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning your spa cover will make it last and save you money by reducing premature failure. Dirt is abrasive to the outer skin, causes the seams and stitching to wear, and is hard on the fold. Mildew grows on damp, dirty surfaces and accelerates fabric or vinyl failure.
Cleaning of Fabric and Vinyl Covers
- Rinse the hot tub and cover with cool water using a garden hose.
- It is best to rinse your hot tub cover in an area that allows the water to run off safely for the environment.
- Spray with a gentle cleaner such as Cover Cleaner. Clean and wipe.
- For stubborn dirt, you can use a non-abrasive sponge.
- Rinse the cover again with water and allow it to dry.
- Repeat if required, and it is recommended to do this monthly.
Mildew Inside the Hot Tub Skin
If you notice an odor coming from your hot tub cover, the inner skin should also be cleaned. You first must unzip the skin and carefully remove the foam cores. Clean the inside with a Cover Cleaner, using a sponge or Spa Pad. Gently clean the inner core poly vapor barrier. Rinse off and allow to dry in the sunlight. After the cores are dry, re-insert them into the skin. Be careful not to rip the poly barrier. If you tear the barrier, it can be taped with duct tape or guerilla tape.
Note: If the foam core is waterlogged, has excessive mold, or is broken, it is time to replace your cover.
Using a Protectant for the Vinyl
You can use various hot tub cover protectants to keep the outer skin looking new. Never use a vinyl treatment containing silicone oil or petroleum distillates as they give your cover an initial good look but will accelerate the deterioration of the spa cover. The most common protectant is 303 Aerospace Protectant. After cleaning the surface, spray a light coating on the top and skirt. Rub in with a damp cloth. You can repeat the procedure on the underside as it helps prevent mildew from forming. We recommend doing this 3-4 times per year.
Spa Cover Longevity
Patching Holes in Poly Liner
It is straightforward to repair if you have a puncture or a small hole in the poly barrier. Once again, slide the insert out of the skin. Drain as much of the accumulated water in the clear plastic liner. This will stop the foam cores from absorbing the water, and the number one reason inserts get heavy. If you can't get all the water out, you can cut a small slit in the poly, drain it, and tape it back up.
Although small amounts of water inside the poly are not a significant concern, significant accumulation requires fixing. Liner holes are simple to fix and can save you the expense of purchasing a replacement hot tub cover.
Straps & Lock Down Clips
Straps and lock-down clips are building code on hot tub covers and are required in most areas. The single reason is to secure the cover to the hot tub. Never carry the hot tub cover by the straps, and always unclip them before opening the cover, as unlatching them will stop you from ripping them off the cover and cabinet. If you have broken the clips, you can buy replacement clips of, if required, Hurricane Straps for heavy-duty locking.
Snow Load
We always get a question: how much can a hot tub cover hold? Depending on wet or fluffy snow, fresh snowfall can add extreme weight, up to 300 lbs. We suggest brushing the snow off the cover with a soft brush and never using a shovel! If you are in an area with excessive snow load, we recommend upgrading your hot tub cover to 2 lbs walk-on foam that can handle this weight.
Does and Do Nots!
- Maintain proper water balance and Ph levels.
- Allow the hot tub to vent after adding in all chemicals. It is recommended to leave the hot tub cover off for 20 minutes after adding in chemicals.
- Use handles only for gently opening and closing of the cover.
- Secure all straps and latches when the hot tub is not in use.
- Excessive Bromine or Chlorine can deteriorate the cover and void your warranty.
- Never drag your hot tub cover over the ground.
- Keep all sharp objects away from the hot tub and the spa cover.
- Only use approved cleaners to maintain your hot tub cover.
- Recommend using a floating Spa Blanket under the cover to help protect the cover and save on heating costs.
- Purchase a Spa Cap to protect your hot tub cover from tree spa, Snow load, and excessive UV sunlight.
So, if your old cover is waterlogged, it must be replaced. Taking care of the cover will make it last longer for you if you follow the above points. If you must replace your hot tub cover, then see our Spa Cover Replacement Guide for different options.