How to keep ice bath water clean
When it comes to maximising your post-workout recovery or fully waking your body up in the morning, nothing quite compares to the rush offered by a quick cold-water plunge. Ideal for heightening your awareness and reducing muscle fatigue, there are many ice bath health benefits to gain by regularly diving into this simple piece of spa equipment.
However, much like when owning a hot tub or swim spa, ice baths also require a degree of upkeep in order to keep them in tiptop condition – namely keeping your ice bath water clean and ensuring your tub is free from mould and dirt.
Of course, if you’ve never owned an ice bath before, you might not know where to begin with ice bath maintenance, and how to keep ice bath water clean without constantly needing to refill your tub.
If this is the case, then don’t worry; we’ve included everything you need to know about how to keep an ice bath clean and fresh, and how often you should be cleaning your tub’s interior.
Why is keeping ice bath water clean important?
It should probably go without saying, but the main reason you want to focus on keeping your ice bath water clean during regular use is to maintain good water hygiene and ensure that your ice bath functions at maximum efficiency.
Unlike a hot tub or a swim spa, where the water is constantly being cycled through a filter and moved around the bowl, the water inside most ice baths is immobile, meaning there’s a very real risk of it becoming stagnant if left for too long.
Therefore, making sure that you regularly sanitise and change the water in your ice bath is essential to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus, otherwise, you might find your tub is left with bad smells and surface scum on the water, not to mention increasing the potential to make you ill should you accidentally swallow any of it.
And as an added bonus, by keeping ice bath water clean, any additional systems and chill tub filter features included in your ice bath will run that much more efficiently, increasing the lifespan of your spa system.
How to keep ice bath water clean with minimal effort
In terms of keeping your ice bath water clean, there are five things you’ll want to consider in order to maintain tub and water hygiene:
- Regular water switching – by far the most straightforward way to keep ice bath water clean, regularly changing out your tub’s water will mean that you’re always bathing fresh water with each plunge.
- Water sanitisers – while not feasible for every ice bath, if you have a more advanced cold plunge model rather than an inflatable chill tub, you may be able to make use of ice bath-friendly sanitisers to eliminate bacteria build-up in the water.
- Clean ice – in order to get the most out of your cold plunge, it’s always best to use ice that is free of dirt and other contaminants that could add impurities to your water when melted.
- Use an ice bath filter – again, while not possible for all ice baths, if your model can fit a filter system, then you’ll be able to filter impurities out of your water as you use your tub, increasing the length of time needed before a fresh refill.
- Keep your tub clean – finally, keeping your ice bath clean is one of the best ways to minimise bacteria growth, only requiring a quick wipe down between uses and a larger deep clean every so often.
How often should you change ice bath water?
Much like asking how often you should take an ice plunge, there is no set length of time before you should change your ice bath water. However, the common consensus is that you should be changing your ice bath water every 3-4 days with a basic ice pod, or every two weeks or so if you have a more advanced Chill Tub model.
How to keep an ice bath clean?
Unlike a hot tub or a home sauna, cleaning an ice bath is very easy and doesn’t require a huge time investment. In fact, all the ice bath maintenance knowledge you need in order to keep your ice bath clean is held in the following four steps:
- Drain your tub of all water.
- Wipe your tub’s entire interior with a mix of warm water and light detergent or vinegar.
- Thoroughly rinse your ice bath to remove any soapy remains.
- Refill your bath with fresh water and sanitise as required.
Such a cleaning routine as this one only needs to be done every couple of weeks, while a deeper clean involving filling your ice bath with warm water and detergent should be done every few months.
On top of this, another good ice bath maintenance tip is to keep your tub in a location that is well-ventilated to minimise dust and debris build-up and to make use of an ice bath cover so that its water is protected between uses.
Finally, before getting into your ice bath, it’s always a good idea to take a quick shower. This will wash off any oils, loose hairs, and dead skin that would otherwise contribute to bacterial growth in your ice tub’s water.
Buy your first ice bath with Chill Tubs
And with that last point covered, you should now have a much better idea of how to keep your ice bath water clean between uses. Naturally, it’s up to you to decide how often you do this, just remember to make it a regular part of your overall cleaning routine.
Of course, if you’re yet to actually purchase an ice bath, then you need look no further than the Chill Tub range. With ice baths to suit beginner cold plungers and experienced bathers alike, we’ve ice tub models to suit everyone.
Get in touch today to find out more and don’t forget to visit our Chill Tubs blog for more informative articles like this one, such as advice on how to incorporate ice bath use into your daily routine and the best time in the day to take an ice bath.
