Owner Tips to Clean and Prevent Stains:
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Clean Rust Stains Effectively:
- Use a magic eraser for quick removal of surface stains (Gerald Dingeldein, Erinne Wasalski, Ashraf Al-Jabari).
- Apply a baking soda and water paste with a toothbrush for gentle scrubbing (Caren Louise).
- Use vinegar to dissolve mineral deposits and stains (Michelle Nofziger).
- Try a soft brush on a drill for stubborn stains without scratching (Cindi Swimmer).
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Prevent Rust with Proper Maintenance
- Maintain water chemistry: Keep pH at 7.2-7.8, alkalinity at 80-120 ppm, and chlorine at 1-3 ppm or bromine at 2-4 ppm (Chris Q, Julie Bernier, Travis Gilinsky).
- Avoid over-chlorination to prevent corrosion (Chelle Johnson, Cindi Swimmer).
- Leave the cover open for 15-30 minutes after adding chemicals to vent offgassing chlorine (Danielle Gauthier Shaw, Sue Abbott, Joy Hill).
- Use a water filter and metal sequestrants (e.g., Metal Out) when filling to trap iron and prevent staining (Alana Simon).
- Check water hardness and add calcium if needed for soft water (John William Holden).
- Avoid Frog@ease systems if keeping covers on, as intermittent chlorine release can worsen offgassing (Sue Abbott).
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Address Persistent Issues:
- Check warranties for free replacements of rusted parts (Louise Bates, Chandra Rice).
- Consider upgrading to high-quality stainless steel parts to prevent future issues (Dave McIntosh, Wayne Broad).
- Inspect plumbing, pumps, and motors if rust persists, as low-grade materials may be the cause (Terry Johnson).
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Cosmetic Consideration:
- Ignore minor cosmetic stains if they don’t affect functionality, focusing on workouts instead (Mark Van Wormer).
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Selling Your Swim Spa:
- If upgrading due to maintenance issues, sell your swim spa for cash with hassle-free pickup through Trade My Stuff at https://trademystuffmarketplace.com/sell-item/sell-your-swim-spa-today/.
Why Do Swim Spa Parts Get Rusty? Community Insights
Rust stains on swim spa stainless steel parts are a common frustration, as Mark Fredrickson asked in the Swim Spa Owners Facebook group: “Hard water?” The community pinpointed causes like low pH, high chlorine, or iron in the water. Ashraf Al-Jabari clarified, “It’s not rusting just the iron in the water is rusting from the oxidizer and it looks for metals to stick onto.” Greg Reed added, “I don’t actually think it’s rust by definition. Rust eats holes in the metal and spread. I had something similar to this. It was just a coating on the top that was easily wiped off.” Travis Gilinsky emphasized, “It means your Ph is too low. High Ph means scale forming water, low ph is acidic water.” Others, like Terry Johnson, pointed to “low grade stainless steel” as a factor. Understanding these causes whether chemical imbalances or material quality—helps you target solutions effectively.
How to Clean Rust Stains from Your Swim Spa
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Magic Eraser for Quick Fixes: Gerald Dingeldein and Erinne Wasalski raved, “Magic eraser took mine right off.” Ashraf Al-Jabari agreed, “To clean use magic eraser it will take it out.” A gentle scrub can remove surface stains instantly.
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Baking Soda Paste Caren Louise shared, “To clean it…baking soda and water paste with a tooth brush, comes right off.” This natural abrasive tackles stains without scratching.
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Vinegar Solution: Michelle Nofziger noted, “My husband uses vinegar (what our supplier recommended) and it works great.” Vinegar dissolves mineral deposits and stains effectively.
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Drill with Soft Brush: Cindi Swimmer’s creative hack: “I got it off with a tiny little soft brush on my drill. It’s gone.” Perfect for stubborn stains while keeping surfaces safe.
Preventing Rust in Your Swim Spa: Top Community Tips
Prevention is key to a rust-free swim spa. The group’s advice focuses on water chemistry and maintenance habits:
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Balance Water Chemistry: Chris Q advised, “Stay away from chlorine, switch to bromine. Then make sure your ph and alk levels are bang on.” Julie Bernier recommended, “Ph/alkalinity is off. Get a good test kit. About $100.” Aim for pH 7.2-7.8, alkalinity 80-120 ppm, and chlorine 1-3 ppm (or bromine 2-4 ppm). Chelle Johnson warned, “Don’t over use chlorine,” echoed by Cindi Swimmer: “Once I stopped over loading with chlorine it stopped.”
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Ventilate After Adding Chemicals: Danielle Gauthier Shaw asked, “Do you leave your cover open for 15-30 mins after adding chemicals?” Sue Abbott explained, “The cover needs to be left off for at least 30 minutes after putting chlorine in…the gases trapped under the cover will destroy some of the components.” Joy Hill added, “The chlorine that is evaporating from the water into the air is trapped by your covers,” suggesting removing headrests to avoid damage.
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Filter Out Metals: Alana Simon’s routine is a winner: “I fill with a water filter on the hose, put a bottle of metal out in it at fill up (1900 gallons).” John William Holden noted, “Need to check water hardness, probably soft water so needs calcium adding.” Metal sequestrants prevent iron from staining.
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Avoid Frog@ease with Closed Covers: Sue Abbott cautioned, “We were told not to use the Frog ease system for this very reason…if you keep the covers on the pool while not in use,” as it releases chlorine intermittently, worsening offgassing.
Warranty and Replacement Options for Persistent Rust
For ongoing issues, warranties can save the day. Louise Bates shared, “Warrantee – one of mine did that in the beginning and they replaced it and it has been fine ever since.” Chandra Rice is hopeful: “I am having the same issues! I contacted the company. Hoping they make it right.” If stains persist, Terry Johnson suggested, “You might want to have a service check all of your plumbing, pumps, motors, etc. Hopefully you have a good warranty.” For a permanent fix, Dave McIntosh recommended, “Replace it with real stainless steel parts,” and Wayne Broad noted, “It should be all stainless steel, including screws.”
Can You Ignore Rust Stains? One Owner’s Perspective
Mark Van Wormer took a chill approach: “Just forget about it. It doesn’t affect the workout.” If the stains are cosmetic and your spa functions fine, this might work for you. But for most owners, keeping things clean enhances the swim spa experience.
Ready to Upgrade? Sell Your Swim Spa Hassle-Free
If rust stains or maintenance challenges have you eyeing a new swim spa, Trade My Stuff makes selling simple. They offer cash for your swim spa with easy pickup, saving you from buyer negotiations or heavy lifting. Just list your spa at Trade My Stuff upload photos and details, and get a fast cash offer. It’s the easiest way to turn your spa into cash for a rust-resistant upgrade or a new adventure.
