Spa Cover Care Guide

Protecting the life of your hot tub cover - The warranty on your spa cover protects you from paying for original defects in the materials or manufacturing of the cover but it does not apply to any damage from everyday wear and tear, spa cover abuse, accidents or neglect to properly care for your spa cover. Be sure to always take the appropriate maintenance measures to ensure your spa cover will give you the lasting results you want and the protection your spa needs.

To protect your new spa cover from everyday damage:

Hot Tub things carries an extensive line of products to help protect your hot tub cover. As you browse through the Cleaners section under Hot Tub Chemicals you will be able to find multi-purpose spa cover cleaners as well as products that are specifically formulated to provide your spa cover with the best protection from everyday wear and tear. In our spa cover cleaners section you can even find a spa cover cleaner to protect your hot tub cover from harmful UV damage.

For proper cleaning and maintenance of your hot tub cover:

You clean your spa regularly to keep it nice, so why not clean your spa cover regularly as well. Your cover is the most important aspect of your spa to keep heat in, and foreign particles out. The dirt and mildew that can accumulate in your spa as well as on the cover can cause damage and preemptive aging to your spa cover.

Follow these easy steps to keep your spa cover in good condition.

Before applying any type of vinyl protectant to your spa cover you should always give your spa cover a good scrub down. First rinse the cover with cold water from the hose, then use a non-foaming cleanser on the cover, and wipe it clean. Try not to use abrasive soaps and cleaners on your spa cover, they can cause damage to the vinyl. For stubborn dirt use a non-abrasive sponge on your spa cover. Once you have completed this process rinse your spa cover down and let it dry.

Your spa cover is made of a backed fabric with an outer layer that is made up from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). During the spa cover manufacturing process it is sealed with a special topcoat that contains compounds called plasticizers as well as softening agents. These products help keep your hot tub cover supple and attractive.

Maintaining the vinyl hot tub cover's topcoat and protecting against UV damage are the key to keep your hot tub cover looking like new. At Hot Tub Things all our vinyl, even the special marine grade is used in our premium quality DuraTherm hot tub covers and contains a UV-sensitive material which can degrade over time if it is not properly cared for. Remember to keep your hot tub cover in good shape by cleaning it regularly and applying the proper protectants.

What do I do if I find mildew?

If you find mildew on your spa cover, first remove the foam cores from the vinyl encasement. Then mix two gallons of water, a teaspoon of mild dish-washing soap and one cup of bleach together. Taking a soft bristle brush you will need to scrub the inside encasement of the spa cover thoroughly.

After you have scrubbed the inside encasement of the spa cover you will need to take a wash cloth and wipe down each foam core of the spa cover, remember to rinse them both well after doing so. Place the encasement in the sun and the foam cores in the shade to dry, if you put the foam cores in the sun- THEY WILL MELT.

After everything has dried spray the cores and the inside encasement with a mildew inhibitor, allow for the mildew inhibitor to dry completely and reassemble your spa cover. The key to protecting your spa cover from mildew is to maintain the proper water chemistry. *If the core is waterlogged or rotted it will require a new hot tub cover completely.

About the foam core

The foam core of your hot tub cover is made out of polystyrene, which is easily breakable if you are not careful. Never let children to jump or play on the spa cover, this can cause the core to break, as well as allowing dirty feet and shoes onto the vinyl. Make sure to keep pets that can claw, chew or apply unnecessary weight onto the hot tub cover, those actions can also cause the core the break. Be careful not to place sharp objects onto your spa cover, they can puncture the cover allowing for water to get inside of the cover and cause damage to the core. If glass is placed on the spa cover it can magnify the sun's effects and cause the core to melt, this is not covered by the hot tub cover's warranty. By following these tips the foam core of your hot tub cover will be protected and will remain in good condition for a long time. 



Keeping your spa cover dry

Keeping your spa cover completely dry is impossible, a little condensation between your spa cover and the plastic around your foam core is totally normal even a few droplets of water is normal. Small drainage holes in the spa cover can drain small amounts of water inside the spa cover.

If you discover excess amounts of water inside the spa cover this is not normal and you need to take action to protect against waterlogging the foam core. Take the time to check for any punctures in the plastic, or breaks in the seal of the spa cover. You may also be able to find holes and leaks in your hot tub cover by unzipping the vinyl jacket and carefully removing and inspecting the foam core, any holes or even the tiniest of punctures can cause damage to your spa cover over time.

Repairing small rips and tears

To repair small holes and tears in your hot tub cover you can use a patch or repair kit such as Tear-Aid in our accessories section. Be sure you attentively follow the instructions on our repair kits so you can get a quick, easy, inexpensive fix for any rips or tears in your spa cover. 


Some things to remember

When it comes to caring for your hot tub cover remember to handle it with care. Be sure not to pull it on and off by its skirt, always use the straps and handles on the cover, after all that's what they're there for. You can cause serious damage to your spa cover by removing it by the skirt and that damage is not covered by your warranty. Also be sure to secure your spa cover with its latches when its not I use to help guard against wind damage.

If you live in a snowy climate keep in mind that the snow can place excessive weight on your hot tub cover and can cause the foam core to break, remove the snow as soon as possible to prevent damage because this is not covered in your warranty. Hot Tub Things carries spa covers that are more appropriate for harsh climates and provide added strength to your hot tub cover. Check out our spa cover descriptions to find the hot tub cover that is most suited towards the climate where your spa is located.

The taper on the core of your spa cover is meant to insure that water is able to run off easily. If you see that puddles are starting to form in this area due to damage from weight, you can try removing the core and flipping it to help relieve the problem.

Always Be sure to always use the correct amount of chemicals in your hot tub, a chemical imbalance can affect the vinyl of the spa cover and cause it to deteriorate. If you care for your spa cover using these easy steps you will be able to increase the longevity of your spa cover.