Question from a visitor.

Question:

"i am a long time spa owner, so i thought i knew alot, wrong....after a period of not using the spa i noticed a hard "salty" type layer covering the entire tub below the water line. looks like salt crystals, feels like sand paper, what do i do, and how do i get rid of it???"

Answer:

I would think this is scale caused by minerals in your water. If you haven't been using a scale inhibitor on a weekly basis, scale can build up and cause a ring much like you describe. These often become so dense they need to be scrubbed off.

First, I would suggest using a product like an acrylic brightener and a Mytee Mitt that will not scratch the surface of the shell - you can find them on the web. If this doesn't work you can try vinegar - that has worked for me. Drain the tub, clean the shell and wax it as needed, then re-fill it with clean water. From there, make sure you keep up with the chemical maintenance. Just because you don't use the hot tub doesn't mean that you don't need to add chemicals. Water evaporates over time increasing the mineral concentrations, and chemicals lose their effectiveness, which can cause problems like the one you describe.

Good luck!