Excessive foam in hot tubs is a common problem for spa owners. Foam is caused by many different things that you may not realize. This article will address some of the common causes of foam and suggest ways to minimize hot tub foaming in the future.

Common causes of hot tub foam:

• Hair Products - Residue from shampoo, gel, hair spray and mouse will all cause foaming. If you use a lot of these products, you may want to consider showering before you use your spa. If you have long hair, consider wearing your hair in a pony tail or hiding it in a baseball cap while using your spa to minimize the amount of contact your hair has with the water.
• Deodorant & Lotions - Products you put on your skin also cause foaming. Showering before you use your hot tub will wash these products off your body. If you do not want to shower before hottubbing, try using a little less deodorant and do not apply lotion to your skin if you know you will be using your hot tub. It is a better idea to use lotion and skin creams after you use your spa.
• Laundry Soap Residue - If you use soap when you wash your bathing suits, the residue will cause foaming. The washing machine rinse cycle will never completely get all of the soap out so consider washing your bathing suit more often, but with no soap in the machine.
• Cheap Chemicals or Excessive Chemical Use - Chemicals bought at a discount type store often have fillers in them. These fillers dilute the chemical effectiveness and often cause foaming. Try to buy your chemicals from a trusted hot tub store because most hot tub stores carry higher quality chemicals than what you find at a hardware store. Also, read the instructions on the chemical bottles and try to follow them as close as you can. Adding too much of some products can cause foaming.
• Spilling Drinks In Your Hot Tub - Be careful not to spill anything you are drinking in your spa, as some drinks can also cause foaming. (While we are on the subject, use plastic glasses instead of glass. Broken glass can be dangerous in a hot tub and will leave you with a big mess to clean up!)
• High Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) - A high amount of dissolved solids in the water will cause foaming. The level of dissolved solids increases every time you add chemicals. The TDS also increases from all of the soap products mentioned in this article and from particles flaking off your skin. The only way to reduce the TDS is to replace your spa water with fresh water every 3 months. It is also important to clean your filter every month by soaking it in a good filter cartridge cleaning solution and replacing the filter every year.

If any of the above suggestions seem unreasonable to you, there is no need to worry because foam will not harm you or your spa. It is just a little annoying and there is a solution. Just add a tiny squirt of foam out to the surface of the water and the foam will disappear in a couple of seconds! Do not add more than 1/2 teaspoon of foam out at a time. If you add too much, you may actually cause more foam.