Epsom Salt In
Hot Tub
People use both hot tubs and Epsom salts to relax. However, one question that we often get it,
Are you able to put Epsom salts in your hot tub for the ultimate relaxation experience?
Of course, the last thing that you want to do is damage the hot tub that you spent thousands of dollars on. However, you do want to make the most out of your hot tubbing experience.
Before you head out and add Epsom salts to your hot tub, come dive in with us as we explore whether or not it is a good idea.
What Is Epsom Salt?
Epsom Salt is magnesium sulfate. This unique alkaline compound has been used for hundreds of years to soothe the body and ease pain.
Many years ago, the University of Birmingham conducted a study, noting the easy absorption of Epsom salt through the skin, which is one of the reasons that it is so good for the body.
Hot tub bath salts have the ability to provide users with muscle relief and joint pain relief.
It also helps flush out toxins from the body. Epsom is the name of an English town, where the salt was first discovered.
Can I Use Epsom Salt With Chlorine?
Absolutely not. You should never mix magnesium sulfate and chlorine. If you mix the two, you run the risk of getting burns on your skin because of the adverse reaction these two compounds have with one another. If you have a chlorinated hot tub, you should never add Epsom salt.
if you decide that you want to use Epsom salt in your hot tub, you need to drain out all of the water first and make sure that you rinse and clean the tub thoroughly, including the pumps and the internal equipment. Once the water has been drained, you can fill it with pure water instead.
Using Epsom Salt With Plain Water
If you have a plain water hot tub, then yes, it is safe to add Epsom salts and enjoy its many benefits.
Of course, you want to make sure that you add the correct amount of Epsom salt into your hot tub to avoid corroding the internal equipment.
Typically, manufacturers will provide a recommended amount, which we recommend you follow.
If you want to maximize the benefits of adding Epsom salts to your hot tub, then we
recommend soaking your sore muscles in the water with the jets running for at least thirty minutes.
Be Cautious When Using Epsom Salts
Remember, Epsom Salts can be extremely corrosive.
The metal parts of your spa are at risk if you allow the chemical compound to build up in the equipment of your hot tub.
The best way to prevent buildup and corrosion is by flushing your hot tub with fresh plain water each time that you decide to add Epsom salts to your spa.
It is also very important that you never add any other chemicals to your spa when you have magnesium sulfate in there, especially if you aren't aware of the chemical reactions that could potentially take place.
Prior to adding magnesium sulfate into your spa, make sure to consult with your hot tub manufacturer.
Alternatives to Epsom Salts
If you don't like the idea of having to flush and clean your hot tub every time you want to put Epsom salts in it, then there are other alternatives that are much safer for your equipment.
In fact, there are plenty of hot tub aromatherapy products on the market today, many of which offer all of the same benefits of Epsom salts without the dangers.
While the majority of these aromatherapy products make use of magnesium sulfate, manufacturers have formulated them especially for hot tubs and spas.
The properties within these aromatherapy products are much gentler thanks to the fact that they use smaller quantities of magnesium sulfate. You won't have to worry about negatively impacting the water chemistry or mucking up your spa equipment.
It is also worth noting that the majority of hot tub crystals are made with minerals, vitamins, natural herbs, botanicals, and moisturizing nutrients, meaning there are plenty of incredible benefits you can take advantage of.
Beyond that, you get a wonderful aromatherapy experience, perfect to free your body from stress. If you're looking to rejuvenate, detoxify, de-strees, reduce pain in the joints, and reduce inflammation, then these unique products are great.
You can also get the same therapeutic benefits that you get with these alternatives without having the crystals. There are many spa elixirs out there that are made to moisturize your skin and soften the water in your hot tub. We also highly recommend looking at spa bombs. Spa bombs are very similar to bath bombs in many ways, offering many of the same benefits.
Plus, unlike Epsom salts, spa bombs will never damage the equipment in your hot tub, clog up your filters, or mess with your water chemistry.
People also often ask if they can add essential oils to their hot tub water. The same thing goes for essential oils and salts. Remember, oils are very thick substances. These substances can build up and seriously harm the equipment as time goes on.
Plus, some oils will create what we call a "photosensitive reaction."
If they are on your skin and you are exposed to UV lights or sunlight, you could end up dealing with blisters, rashes, or darkened skin.
Benefits of Adding Epsom Salts To Your Hot Tub
When you soak your body in Epsom Salts, you can increase the levels of magnesium present in your body.
According to the National Academy of Sciences, increased levels of magnesium in the body provide tons of unique benefits, including flushing cellular toxins from the body, increasing and improving insulin use, and helping with overall heart health.
Adding Epsom Salts To My Jacuzzi Tub
If you have a Jacuzzi bathtub, then it is okay to use Epsom Salts with it. A Jacuzzi bath model will not use chlorinated water, meaning you don't have to worry about the chemical reaction that might take place.
Of course, it is always a good idea to consult with the manufacturer or the manual before doing so.
Do Epsom Salts Corrode Pipes?
Unfortunately, Epsom Salts can corrode the pipes in a hot tub, which is why you need to be careful regardless of if you're dealing with a plain water hot tub or a chlorinated hot tub. To get the most out of using these salts, experts recommend that you add 20,000 ppm. However, when you reach 1,500 ppm, the salt becomes very corrosive to your machinery and pipes.
Essentially, most people end up using 13 times greater amounts of salt in their hot tubs than they should.
If you really want to add salt to the water in your hot tub, you need to make sure that it has absolutely no chlorine in it whatsoever. Once you are finished with your salt bath, you need to make sure that completely drain your spa so that the salt does not sit in the pipes and corrode the equipment.
You might be wondering,
My inflatable hot tub doesn't have a system of PVC piping inside. Can I add my salts to that?
The answer remains the same. Just because your inflatable spa does not have a complex system of PVC piping on the inside, it still has a heater and a variety of plumbing components.
The good thing is, draining an inflatable spa so that you can add salts to it is much easier thanks to the nature of these models.
Final Thoughts
The majority of the time, it is not a good idea to put Epsom salt in a hot tub. However, this is assuming that most people have chlorine hot tub models as opposed to salt water hot tub models. The same thing also goes if you are using bromine chemicals in your hot tub. The last thing that you want to deal with is flash burns on your skin. These can be extremely painful and can damage your skin in the long run.
If you have a hot tub that uses chlorine and you want to use Epsom salts, all you need to do is drain and clean your hot tub thoroughly before adding them. In doing so, you can avoid all of the long-term damages that Epsom salts can do to the metal and plastic pieces of your hot tub.
Remember, you can also achieve the same effects using aromatherapy products instead. These products have been uniquely formulated for spa use. They won't upset the chemical balance of the water in your hot tub, which can be quite fragile. You'll never have to worry about scale buildup in your water either.
If you'd like to see which are the Best Hot Tub Chemicals For Sensitive Skin, we've got a great article on that as well!
