When used on its own, there are few places more relaxing and stress-relieving than a soak in your very own personal hot tub. And even when shared with others, the naturally soothing sensations and feelings that hot tubs promote make them a sought-after wellness product for many.

However, even though the hydrotherapy benefits that come with regular hot tub use are numerous and far-reaching, this hasn’t stopped more than a few wellness enthusiasts from looking for additional ways to spice up their hot bathing experience.

For example, when unwinding in a traditional bath setting, many athletes and spa-goers love to indulge by adding a splash of Epsom salt to their water – but can you put Epsom salt in a hot tub without damaging it?

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the problems posed by using Epsom salt in your hot tub.

What is Epsom salt?

Although the name might suggest that this type of salt is simply a particular or popular therapeutic brand favoured by the wellness industry, Epsom salts (named after the town of Epsom in the UK) are actually a distinctive type of magnesium-based mineral that holds a unique set of properties.

Unlike traditional table salt, Epsom salts are not used for preserving food. Instead, their high magnesium content makes them ideal for promoting physical recovery and reducing muscle soreness – hence why they’re a common go-to for many people in the wellness space.

How do Epsom salts work?

Like bath bombs or bubble bath, Epsom salt works by being dissolved in warm water, which causes the salts to separate into smaller particles that can be absorbed directly into the body through the skin, going straight to the muscles where the magnesium can be used by your cells for energy production.

What are the benefits of bathing in Epsom salt?

As we’ve already noted, the primary benefits associated with Epsom salt usage are promoting increased muscle recovery, minimising swelling, and reducing muscle soreness after a workout or injury, all of which are tied to the way magnesium interacts with your cells.

Essentially, magnesium plays a key role in cell energy production, which is typically focused on recovery after a workout. By introducing a more potent level of magnesium to your body through exposure to Epsom salt and allowing it to be absorbed directly into your muscles, your body can make use of it that much quicker for a faster recovery.

Can you put Epsom salt in a hot tub without damaging it?

So, now onto the main question of this piece – can you put Epsom salt in a hot tub to take advantage of its benefits? And, unfortunately, the answer to this is a distinct and non-negotiable no.

Simply put, the addition of any salt to your hot tub’s eco-system is liable to cause damage to its bowl and internal components. This is because, in order for you to enjoy the benefits associated with Epsom salt, you need to add a substantial amount to your water to avoid over-dilution and promote absorption by your body.

However, at such high quantities, Epsom salt (even when dissolved in water) will put massive levels of strain on your tub’s systems, eventually causing them to lose their effectiveness or even break down completely.

How do Epsom salts damage your hot tub?

While it’s all well and good stating that using Epsom salt in your hot tub will damage it over time, there are several distinctive issues that can arise very quickly after adding Epsom salt to your tub, such as:

  1. Internal erosion – even though Epsom salt is not visible when dissolved in water, such salts still retain their coarse properties on a microscopic level. As a result, high levels of Epsom salt use will steadily erode the valves, pipes, seals, jets, and components of your tub, forcing you to replace them that much sooner.
  2. Bowl scratching – following on from the above point, the natural coarseness of Epsom salt also means that the circulation of large quantities of it through your at-home spa system can lead to scratching and visual abrasions of your hot tub’s bowl.
  3. Filter damage – another often-forgotten quality of Epsom salts is the fact that they’re naturally more oily than other bath products, which can pose an unforeseen challenge to your hot tub filters. Such oils are hard to break down and catch, and can quickly cause your filters to clog, making them less effective at removing other more serious contaminants from your tub’s water.
  4. pH disruption – due to their chemical makeup, Epsom salts are a slightly alkaline substance, and as you can imagine, this can prove a problem for maintaining your hot tub’s pH chemistry. Essentially, adding a large volume of an alkaline substance to your tub will rapidly shift the pH levels of your at-home spa system, reducing the effectiveness of your sanitiser and possibly even causing skin irritation.
  5. Scale build-up – Last, but not least, as you’re constantly circulating the water of your hot tub rather than emptying it after each use, there is a chance that continual Epsom salt use will result in scale deposits being left in your tub’s piping network. Naturally, this can pose a problem for the functionality of your hot tub, lowering water pressure and impacting the hardness levels of your water over time.

Can any bath products be used in a hot tub?

As a general rule of thumb, it’s not advised that you use any standard bathroom products with your hot tub, such as a hot tub bubble bath, in order to avoid the problems mentioned above. However, that’s not to say you can’t add any extra relaxation chemicals to your at-home sap system.

Many hot tub providers actually offer alternative hot-tub-friendly aromatherapy products for use in your tub, meaning you can still indulge and maintain your hot tub chemical chemistry when taking a soak even if you’re after that spa-like experience.

Find the right hot tub in our range

And there you have it – you should now know exactly why you can’t use Epsom salts in your hot tub, and the problems that come with doing so. Although the benefits such salts can offer your body are certainly useful, at the end of the day, it’s a much better idea to protect your hot tub’s components for improved tub longevity.

Of course, you may already be finding that your old hot tub is coming to the end of its lifespan, or perhaps you feel like splashing out on a larger model for use with friends. Either way, you should definitely head over to the Platinum Spa hot tub and swim spa range to see our entire collection.

From small 3-person tubs to larger 7-person spa systems, we’ve something to suit everyone’s spa-system preferences. You can also book a visit to your nearest hot tub showroom to see our products in person. And don’t forget to visit our hot tub blog as well for more insightful pieces like this one.

Jamie Smith
Latest posts by Jamie Smith (see all)

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