How To Clean Your Ice Bath – Optimal Water Quality For Cold Plunge
A cold plunge is a refreshing and invigorating addition to any wellness routine, offering a myriad of health benefits such as improved circulation, reduced muscle soreness, and enhanced recovery.
However, to fully enjoy these advantages, it is crucial to keep your cold plunge clean and well-maintained. Regular maintenance not only ensures a hygienic experience but also prolongs the life of your plunge tub and ensures good chiller unit longevity. While we can’t offer advice on cleaning your DIY chest freezer, here we break down the best ways to keep your water quality clean and you cold plunge tub pristine for a daily ice bath.
Regular Water Changes
One of the fundamental aspects of cold plunge maintenance is changing the water regularly. Over time, contaminants such as body oils, sweat, sunscreen and residue from skincare products can accumulate in the water, leading to a decrease in water quality and potential health hazards.
Changing the water at least once every month helps prevent the growth of bacteria and ensures a clean and sanitary environment for your cold plunge sessions.
A water change is one of the best ways to refresh your ice bath properly, particularly if there is significant build up on the surface of your tub. With our plunge tubs, changing the water out is super easy and takes roughly 30 minutes.
Along with water changes it is also important to take advantage of cleaning the surfaces of the tub while there is no water in the ice bath to remove any scum and bacteria build up. In between water changes, it is also extremely important to pay attention to keeping the water clean of floating debris with a quality spa vacuum like the ones we discuss in our article, The 5 Best Spa Vacuums For a Clean Ice Bath.
Filter Maintenance
Filters play a crucial role in keeping your cold plunge water free from impurities. It is essential to regularly inspect and clean your plunge tub filters to ensure optimal performance.
One of the main reasons we suggest avoiding a DIY chest freezer as an ice bath, apart from them being extremely unsafe, is that they do not offer sufficient ability to filter and sanitise the water, leaving the water susceptible to bacteria growth.
Most filters for an ice bath are located in a clear canister, allowing you to check on the discolouration of the filter as the most rudimentary way to see if your filter needs changing.
Clogged filters can hinder water circulation which can damage your chiller unit over time due to the stress placed on the chiller to maintain water flow and filtration efficiency, leading to murky water and potential health risks.
We recommend assessing your ice bath filter regularly and cleaning or changing the filter every few weeks. In some cases, replacement might be necessary to maintain an effective filtration system. In a commercial environment, the change out time required for your filter may be shorter, due to increased traffic in the ice bath causing a greater amount of build up and bacteria.
Water Quality Monitoring
To guarantee a safe and enjoyable cold plunge experience, monitoring water quality is paramount. Test the water regularly using water testing kits to check for imbalances in pH levels, chlorine, and other chemical parameters.
An imbalanced water composition can not only compromise the effectiveness of your plunge but may also lead to skin irritation and other health issues. Adjust water chemistry as needed to ensure optimal levels and consult with a professional if necessary.
We offer a range of water quality maintenance products to keep your ice bath water pristine, with our 6 Month Maintenance Box including everything needed for a low chemical approach to clean ice bath water.
Maintaining water quality for an ice bath can involve a combination of using test strips, a spa shock type product, something to adjust your pH including alkalinity enhancer or pH reducer, and using small amounts of these while testing and adjusting to balance the water chemistry.
Chemical-Free Cleaning Products
When it comes to cleaning the surfaces of your cold plunge, opting for chemical-free cleaning products is essential.
Harsh chemicals can damage the tub, plumbing, and filtration system, reducing their lifespan and potentially causing harm to users.
Choose cleaning products specifically designed for cold plunge tubs, ensuring they are free from harmful chemicals that might compromise the integrity of the tub's materials. Natural cleaning agents like diluted vinegar can be effective for routine cleaning without causing any damage.
Simple diluted white vinegar spray is a great way to minimise chemical use, or another option is a something like Simple Green. You can simply spray these solutions on the surfaces and wipe down the surfaces with a standard micro fibre cleaning cloth before hosing off any residue. It is important to check the compatibility of certain cleaning products with the tub surfaces used in your cold plunge tub as well as how compatible they are with the working parts of your chiller unit.
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Routine Inspection and Maintenance
In addition to the specific tasks mentioned above, regular inspections of the entire cold plunge system are crucial. Check for any visible signs of wear, leaks, or damage to the tub, pipes, and fittings.
Water circulation issues caused by build-up of debris, hair or fluff is one the biggest causes of performance issues with cold plunge units. This can be avoided by staying on top of your hygiene protocols before taking the plunge and always showering before entering. We also recommend skimming the surface of the water after each plunge to scoop out any floating debris and hair before in enters you system.
Addressing minor issues promptly can prevent more significant problems in the future and extend the life of your cold plunge equipment.
Ice baths with built in chiller units will contain some kind of refrigerant and cooling system. While there are many different designs, it may be necessary to have a licensed refrigeration technician inspect your cold plunge and offer a tune up of your chiller unit and maybe even re-gas the refrigerant in the chiller.
A yearly check up with a qualified technician can be a great way to minimise issues and keep things cooling or heating efficiently.
Conclusion
Maintaining a clean and hygienic cold plunge is essential for maximising the benefits of this wellness tool. By following a routine that includes changing the water monthly, inspecting and cleaning filters, monitoring water quality, and using chemical-free cleaning products, you can ensure a safe and rejuvenating experience every time you take a dip.
Regular maintenance not only promotes better health but also preserves the longevity of your cold plunge, making it a wise and sustainable investment in your overall well-being.
