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Gina Galvin's Posts

Deep Cleaning your Spa or Hot Tub

May 10th, 2013 by

Deep Cleaning your Spa or Hot TubYour Spa or Hot Tub is wonderful for restful relaxation or romantic evenings – but there is a dark side. Maintenance and Care.

Just like owning a car, there are specific and regular treatments needed to keep it running and looking good. Unlike my car however, my spa is easy to clean, maintain and service.

Here’s the what I do to really deep clean my hot tub, which I do every 3 months – or sooner, if I’m planning a big hot tub party, or we’ve had a “high-use weekend”.

 

Clean the Pipes

If your spa is like mine, it has dozens of jets and hundreds of feet of hidden pipes and hoses. Scientists discovered that BioFilm bacteria can find harbor inside the plumbing and equipment of hot water tubs. Just like carbon build-up in your car, it’s best to remove these deposits regularly to keep the spa sanitary. I use a product called Jet Clean the night before I plan to drain the hot tub. As it circulates, it breaks down scale and biofilm, so that I can flush it out with my next day draining.

Clean the Filter

After I have circulated the Jet Clean, I remove the filter cartridges and spray in between the pleats with my garden hose. Then, I drop it in a bucket of Spa Filter Clean solution and let is soak overnight. In the morning, as I’m draining the spa, the spa filter gets another cleaning with the garden hose (until it stops foaming), and I set it in the sun to dry. Drying your spa cartridges, before re-installing, helps kill any remaining bacteria, and lets the fibers open up and “breathe” just slightly.

Drain the Spa

First, shut off the power to the spa, in preparation for draining. Most spas have a water valve underneath, where a garden hose is connected. If not, a small submersible pump can be used. As it’s draining, I move the garden hose around my yard to recycle the water. When it’s half empty, I use another garden hose with a spray nozzle to spray into the jets and skimmer. If you notice any algae or slimy discoloration, remove the jet eyeballs and drain covers, and soak them in a chlorine solution. Use a bottle brush to scrub inside the pipes, and hose out again with fresh water.

Clean the Shell

My spa is an acrylic shell, with a beautiful shiny silver finish. To clean the inside of the shell, I spray on CitraBright and wipe it down with a soft cloth. Even though the spa shell looks clean, I’m always amazed at the amount of dirt on the cloth. It’s important to not use any household cleaners or other products that could contain harmful chemicals or phosphates. You don’t want that stuff in your spa water. Citrabright cleans fast with no residue, and has a nice Orange County scent.

Protect the Shell

Fast Gloss seals and protects the shell of the spa from sunlight and spa chemicals. What I really like about it, and why I use it, is that it makes my spa shine like it’s brand new! It also removes any streaking left over from the cleaning process. Just wipe it on, and buff a bit – real easy. It also lasts a long time, I think I’ve had my bottle for over 2 years now. After this treatment, I begin to fill the spa. Mine takes about 3-4 hours to fill, so I might have to delay filling, or adjust my schedule so I don’t overflow the spa (again)!

Clean the Spa Cover

I can’t work for a Hot Tub cover company and have a ratty looking spa top! My spa cover is 4 years old, but it still looks great. I use our hot tub Cover Care and Conditioner every 3 months. This is a combination cleaner and conditioner, in one step – just wipe it on, and wipe it off. I also use it on the spa pillows.

Clean Underneath

My spa equipment sits underneath the spa. It’s a nice warm place for small critters to hide, and maybe damage something, so keep this area of your spa clean too. I normally use my long extension on my vacuum cleaner, and suck up any cobwebs or debris. Occasionally, I spray it with a hose, but I’m careful about the electronics. If you find any evidence of rodents, you can use poison bait, or try Mouse-Away, which repels them with a cute mint sachet.

And that’s it! That’s how I do it anyway. Every 3 months, just like changing the oil in your car – give your spa a deep clean, and it can look like new – nearly forever!

XOXO;

Gina Galvin
Hot Tub Works

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10 Fabulous Celebrity Hot Tubs

April 12th, 2013 by

luxe-hot-tub

If you’re like me, you enjoy the occasional voyeuristic and vicarious view into celebrity lifestyle. Here in Southern California, music, film and technology celebs are quite common, and also here in the O.C., everyone has a pool and spa.

What’s also common about celebrities is that they buy and sell houses in L.A. – all the time! My pics below were easily found by looking through the MLS realty listings for the area. I hope that doesn’t qualify me as a stalker! :-)

 

So, here’s a list of my top ten Celebrity Hot Tubs in Southern California. Which one is your favorite?

 

Top Ten Coolest Celebrity Hot Tubs

Britney Spears    

britney-spears

Matthew Perry   

matthew-perry

America Ferrera   

america-ferrera

Jim Carrey   

jim-carrey

Nick Lachey    

nick-lachey

Pink    

pinks-pool

Hulk Hogan    

hulk-hogan

Jennifer Love Hewitt    

jennifer-love-hewitt

Joey Fatone    

joey-fatone

Ashton Kutcher    

ashton-kutcher

What’s the one thing that is missing in all of these celebrity spa photos? That’s right Hot Tub Covers! I’m sure they just took it off for the picture, right? Most of these would be custom size and shape spa covers – but that’s our specialty! I was hoping I’d find more portable, aboveground spas and hot tub photos, but only Jim Carrey!

Enjoy your Hot Tubs, Celebrities and you regular folks, too!

 

XOXO;

Gina Galvin
Hot Tub Works

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5 Minute Hot Tub Massage Techniques

March 30th, 2013 by

spa-massageThe Hot Tub or Spa is the perfect place for a soothing massage, after all, hydrotherapy is a form of massage. In the warm waters of your hot tub, tired muscles relax and yield to the softest touch.

It’s a great way for couples to help each other enjoy their time in the hot tub more, and become closer to each other in the process.

Since long soaks of 30 minutes or more may not be recommended, here’s some ways to provide quick relief – in just 5 minutes!

Spa Massage Tips

There are some areas of the body that are not conveniently positioned for the spa jet massage, such as the thighs, lower back and pelvis areas. Other parts of the body can be comfortably reached by your spa massage partner, without climbing into some impossible position.

Spa Massage starts with a deal, an accord or pact between two aching bodies. “I’ll do you – if you do me?” is the usual agreement. Although foot massage can both be given at the same time, it’s best to trade off, to allow your helping hands to be most appreciated. Here’s some tips on bringing loving relief in the form of massage – while soaking in your hot tub!

Foot Massage:

This is a good place to start the massage. Seated across from your partner, raise their ankle up onto your knee, and begin by slowly rotating the ankle in both directions. Then twist the entire foot, side to side – slowly. After this overall foot greeting, we can get specific. Extend the toes back and forward, and then stretch each toe, one by one, by gently twisting and then pulling or extending each little piggy.

Moving from the toes, massage the ball of the foot with circular motions, before running your thumb the length of the foot, from toe to heel. Finish the foot by massaging the heel area, squeezing it like a large lemon, as you move your hand around the heel. Switch to the other foot.

Hand Massage:

A hand massage is so appreciated, with the amount of dexterous tasks we are all doing each day on our computer and portable devices. A hand massage doesn’t differ very much from the foot massage, except that it’s best to be seated next to the person, on the side opposite the hand you are working on.

Begin with wrist rotation, a few times in each direction. Then fold the wrist to as far forward as is comfortable, pointing the fingers at the elbows. Reverse direction so the palm is open and facing up. Now, “squeeze the lemon” by squeezing the hand, as you slide it through yours, from wrist to finger tips. Now, work on each individual finger, with a stroking squeeze of each digit from base to tip. Twist each finger from side to side, and then extend each finger through it’s full range. Finish with some thumb strokes on an open palm, while squeezing the hand edge, opposite the thumb. Switch to the other hand.

Back Massage:

If you have a large enough bench seat, your partner can sit in front of you, or, you can bring in a clean 5 gallon bucket as a seat in the center of the spa. For portable spas, standing outside of the spa can be most comfortable for the one giving the massage, and also allows you more leverage to bear down into tired trapezoids.

Start at the base of the neck, and work your way along the top of the shoulders. Dig your thumbs deep into the shoulder grooves (as deep as is comfortable for your partner). Then, follow down the spinal cord, as far as you can comfortably reach. Repeat the stroke, widening your stroke on each pass, until your  hands end up on your partner’s sides. Finish by pulling, hand over hand, strokes from the outside – in, or from the side of the body, toward the spine, repeating the stroke on the opposite side.

Neck and Scalp Massage:

This one can be performed with the person seated on the floor in front of you, if your spa is not too deep, or you can stand outside the spa, just behind your partner. Hair can be wet or dry, but wet hair is easier to get your hands through.

Again, start at the base of the neck, but this time work your thumbs upward, and as you reach the scalp, run your thumbs along the base of the scalp, towards the ears. Run your fingers up the neck, and into the hairline, continuing the stroke all the way to the front (remove any rings and necklaces first). Spend time behind each ear, and massage the entire perimeter of each ear, pulling, twisting and folding your partner’s ear.spa-massage-2

Keep the massage oils inside the house – your spa filter will do better without having to filter excess oil, and besides the water is a good lubricant anyway.

If you have any of your own spa or hot tub massage techniques to share, post a comment below – if not, give this 5 minute spa massage a try on your hot tub partner!

 

XOXO;

Gina Galvin
Hot Tub Works

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Hot Tub Party Tips

March 11th, 2013 by

hot tub party tips

Hot Tub Parties -  just like any other party, except your guests are wet! Whether you like your hot tub party small, for just a few select couples, or if you throw whole house parties, with the spa available to the adventurous – this post is for you!

Having hosted my share of hot tub parties, for nearly any occasion, I’ve assembled some “best practices” for keeping spa party guests comfortable and safe.

Looking back over the years, I have become something of an expert hot tub hostess. Mistakes from early spa parties have not been repeated (although I will repeat them here), and my set-up and clean-up routines are faster every time.

Here’s my top tips for hosting a hot tub party, where all of your guests are comfortable.

CLEAN SPA!

The day before your spa party (not hours before), check and balance your spa chemistry. Make sure the pH is 7.4-7.6, to keep your sanitizer effective in the presence of possibly too-many spa users. Remove your spa filter and give it a heavy duty cleaning, so it can keep up with the bather load. Wipe down your spa, inside and out, and give it a quick vacuum to remove any grit or dirt. And to make sure it’s fresh, I like to use spa shock the night before, so that I know my spa is sanitary.

I also clean up the ground, or floor around the spa. It will become very wet, and if the floor is dirty, it tracks a lot of muck and yuck into the spa. There is one spot near my spa that is a real dirt magnet; I lay down an outdoor carpet in this area just before the party begins.

I almost forgot ~ Aromatherapy! Spa scents are a must for a spa party. I really love Spazazz Mood Crystals – Tropical Rain or Lavender being my favorites lately. For the uninitiated, they are just astounded that my spa smells so good!

FOOD AND DRINK!

For Food, if you can avoid it, keep the food out of the spa. Nothing is nastier than floating cheese snacks, and the oils that party snacks have will consume much of your sanitizer and clog up your spa filter. no-food-allowed-in-spa

At first, I had the food right next to the spa, then I moved it around 10 feet away (but still outside). After too many food messes, I now have the food inside of the house, and a cute sign made up to help people get the idea. Food and Spas don’t mix, so try to discourage food (and glass) from being near the spa.

For Drinks, I’m much less concerned about them in the spa, as they’re important to keep your guests from becoming hydrated. I keep a plastic water pitcher filled up, with plastic cups available. For those people that are using the spa – it’s crucial that they drink enough of water, especially if they are also drinking alcohol.

COMFORT!

Crowd Control – Rotate your guests. Limit them to 30 mins, and keep tabs on how long people are in the spa. For some people, you have to “cut30mins them off”, especially if you have a large crowd of other people that may want to use the hot tub. But mainly for safety – so after 30 mins, I’ll find a way to suggest a “spa break”. Also, I like to encourage all ages and both sexes to use the spa, and if I notice that the spa seems “unbalanced”, I’ll suggest an open seat to others.

Not everyone is comfortable about their body, and at my hot tub parties, typically half of the people (women and men) opt to keep their street clothes on.Make them comfortable by not being pushy about using the spa. If most of your group is in the spa, take some time to entertain those that stay dry. Seating around the spa, benches or stools, are great for these land-lubbers, especially if the party is centered around your hot tub.

Have other activities nearby, to offer additional entertainment, other than the hot tub. Lawn Bowling anyone? Horseshoes? Even a deck of cards can be useful. An outdoor fire pit with lots of seating is always a crowd pleaser.

Towels! Lots of towels, hanging nearby are useful for not just drying off, but for covering up while taking a break from the spa (encourage short-term use, 15-20 minutes at a time).

no skinny dipping

Nudity? There have been times, when tops have come off, but to ensure everyone’s comfort, I post another sign near the spa. It gets a lot of giggles, but I let them know (in most cases) that the sign is real. Once clothes come off, I have found that things can quickly become tacky and embarrassing for many guests.

MUSIC!

What’s a party without music? Most spa owners have already crossed this hurdle, and have set up some system to play some relaxing music to soak by. Party music should be a bit more upbeat, and mixed of many different genres. I typically play Pandora internet radio, set to shuffle among my pre-set stations. If I get a request, it’s easy to add another station.

LIGHTING!

Lighting in the spa can really set a mood. If your spa doesn’t have advanced color changing LED bulbs, you can float a few glow sticks in the spa to create a colorful glow, or hand out glow stick bracelets to your guests. Outside the spa, you can light some candles, use tiki torches, or turn on some exterior lights that aren’t too bright, but bright enough to light the way.

SAFETY!

Safety is important for many reasons, and most importantly to prevent accidents around your spa or hot tub. Here’s a list of spa safety tips.

  • Check that your spa drain covers are securely attached, to prevent entrapment.
  • Limit your guests to 30 minutes max in the tub. After a break of 15 minutes, a guest can return.
  • Alcohol is intensified in a hot tub. Try to limit your guests to one drink per hour, if possible.
  • Help your guests in and out of the tub. Coming out of a spa makes one lightheaded.
  • No glass allowed near the hot tub (and no food!).
  • Use outdoor carpets for wet spots on the floor.

So, that’s it – my tried and true secrets of spa party success! Follow these simple tips and you’ll enjoy being the hot tub host (or hostess)!

XOXO;

Gina Galvin
Hot Tub Works

 

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Your Hot Tub Water Smells Bad!

March 4th, 2013 by

Clothes Pins - the solution to smelly spas and hot tubs?

Does your spa smell? When you open up the spa cover, do you reach for the clothes pins? Does your skin smell bad, hours after you get out of the hot tub?

A foul smelling spa or hot tub is a sure sign that bacteria is hiding somewhere in your spa, spa equipment, or spa cover. I’m not talking about the smell of spa bromine or ozone – but a rotten egg, dirty socks, wet dog kind of smell! Your spa water can be crystal clear, and you can still have smelly spa water.

A spa with an odor problem is not uncommon, so don’t feel bad when it happens to you – feel motivated, and do something about it! Here’s some steps to take to remove odors from your spa, so you can get back to enjoying your relaxing soaks.

pH Levels

Your spa pH level, can affect the way that your spa water smells. When pH is very low, an sharp and pungent smell can result and when pH is very high, a musty and stale odor can result. Check and balance your pH level often, and maintain it in the 7.4-7.6 range.

Sanitizer Levels

Bromine, Chlorine or Biguanide, check that your level of sanitizer in the water is at a level high enough to kill bacteria and other smelly substances. This level of sanitizer needs to be kept at a consistent level to keep your water clean.

After heavy use of your spa or hot tub, or every few weeks regardless of use, shocking the spa will quickly kill bacteria in the water. To successfully shock the pool you should know the number of gallons in your spa, to be sure that you don’t under-dose it with spa shock. After shocking a smelly spa, leave your spa cover open for a few hours to allow gasses to escape.

Draining your Spa

If you haven’t done so in some time, you may want to skip the balancing and shocking of your spa water and proceed directly to draining. I like to drain my spa every 90 days, or sooner if I have been a little slack in my spa care routine, or if one of my spa parties becomes a little crowded or… boisterous! For smelly spas, draining the water may not do the trick of removing the smell. If not, read on for more causes of hot tub odor.

Your Hot Tub Cover

Hot tub covers are designed to drain properly and not hold water. If you’ve owned your hot tub for any length of time however, you know that spa covers don’t last forever. Eventually, nearly all spa covers will begin to trap water. When unsanitized water is trapped in a warm environment – that’s right, you get bacteria!

If your spa cover has gained a few pounds, it may be the source of your spa smells. Remove it to an area away from the spa to determine if the funky spa smell is from the spa, or the spa cover. If you can find the source of the water logged spa cover, you can attempt to seal up the void, dry out the spa cover guts, and reassemble. In most cases however, a water logged hot tub cover or a spa top with broken foam inserts will have you soon looking to buy a new spa cover!

Your Hot Tub Filter

Bacteria and other contaminants that are brought into your spa are meant to be killed by the sanitizer and their smelly-selves removed by the filter. Your filter cartridge needs to be properly inserted to prevent water from bypassing around it. Most spa filter cartridges should be replaced every year, to keep filtering at an optimum. When the cartridge ages, oils and minerals can clog up the fabric, and the fibers of the fabric separate, allowing mold and bacteria to pass right through. Replace your spa filters annually to avoid.

Your Hot Tub Pipes

Bacteria can build a nice home for themselves inside of your plumbing pipes. This is almost a certainty if you neglected the spa for some time, or left it almost empty, but with some water left inside the pipes and equipment underneath. This topic kind of grosses me out to be honest, so I’ll be quick.

Bio-film in your spa definitely smells bad, but you may never know that it’s there. In extreme cases, chunks will break off and you may find brown or green remnants in your spa filter, but usually you will never see biofilm, as it likes to stay hidden in your pipes and equipment.

It’s a good idea to use a cleansing product twice per year to remove bio-film in your spa or hot tub. I use Rendezvous Tub Rinse to remove any hidden bacteria in the pipes and equipment. I add it to the spa the night before I plan to drain it, just in case.

Aromatherapy for your Spa

I haven’t mentioned these products as a solution to a smelly spa, because they’ll just mask the odor – and not do a thing to correct the situation. Nonetheless, when speaking of smelly spas, how can you not mention the numerous products to help make your spa smell nicer? cense-spa-shock

We have spa beads, spa crystals and spa elixirs, in such delicious packaging that looks good enough to eat! Blends of minerals, crystalline salts and moisturizers, spa fragrances are used to create aromas that help you relax and enjoy your time more in the spa.

There is one product that is more than perfume for your spa – Cense spa shocks are scented, non-chlorine spa shock that kills bacteria fast, and leaves a clean scent to the water.

If you have any stories of smelly hot tubs and what you did about it – leave a comment below!

XOXO;

Gina Galvin
Hot Tub Works

 

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