Cleaning a jacuzzi shell: acrylic and granite coating

Short answer: clean the shell with every water change (every 2 to 3 months) using a soft cloth and a mild, non-abrasive agent, tackle limescale on the waterline with a diluted vinegar solution, and always rinse thoroughly before adding new water. Abrasive cleaners, scouring pads and aggressive solvents are banned on both finishes. The only difference between acrylic and granite coating is what you see: on smooth, light-coloured acrylic every mark stands out, while the speckled granite texture forgives far more.

Know your top layer

Both Q-cuzzi shells are made of strong fibreglass with a thick layer of insulation; the difference is in the finish. Acrylic is smooth and light-coloured: dirt and limescale are immediately visible and easy to remove, but the surface is sensitive to scratches from the wrong products. Granite coating has a stone-like texture where waterlines and usage marks blend in; the cleaning approach is equally mild, but the material simply forgives more.

The full clean with every water change

1. Drain the tub via the ball valve; for a wood-fired version, only once the fire has fully died down and the heater has cooled (see wood-fired heater use and maintenance).
2. Clean the waterline: this is the greasy ring of skin oils, personal care products and limescale. Microfibre cloth plus a mild agent; let stubborn limescale soak first with a strongly diluted vinegar solution.
3. Wipe down the whole shell, including seats, the floor and the edges around jets and the drain.
4. Rinse everything thoroughly with clean water. Residue from cleaning agents or vinegar upsets the water balance of the new fill and can cause foaming.
5. Fill the tub and start water treatment immediately on the fresh fill; the schedule is in using AquaFinesse.

For guidance on how often it is wise to change the water exactly, see how often to change the water.

In between: light maintenance

• Wiping the waterline weekly prevents the greasy ring from baking in; thirty seconds of work.
• Letting the jets run during every maintenance session, so the pipework flushes through and no water sits still in the jet circuit.
• Keeping up with the filter: a clean filter keeps suspended dirt out of the shell; see backwashing the sand filter.
• Lid on when not in use: keeps leaves, dust and insects out of the water and off the shell wall.

What you should never use

• Abrasive cleaners, scouring pads and steel wool: cause dull patches and scratches.
• Acetone, white spirit and aggressive solvents: attack the top layer.
• Chlorine products undiluted on the shell wall: only dosed in the water, according to the maintenance schedule.
• Pressure washer: too harsh for the top layer and sealant edges.

Scratches and damage

Surface scratches in acrylic can be polished out by a specialist; deeper damage can often be repaired locally without replacing the shell. On the granite coating, minor marks blend into the texture. Prevent damage by not using glass or sharp objects in or around the tub and by removing jewellery before bathing.