Soonerdal Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 I had several friends over and someone did not head my warning about running their suit through the washer with no soap before getting in and I have soap bubbles. How can I get rid of them without draining the spa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 I had several friends over and someone did not head my warning about running their suit through the washer with no soap before getting in and I have soap bubbles. How can I get rid of them without draining the spa? There are several foam down products available. Use them sparingly to the point of diluting them with water 50/50 in a spray bottle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soonerdal Posted March 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 I had several friends over and someone did not head my warning about running their suit through the washer with no soap before getting in and I have soap bubbles. How can I get rid of them without draining the spa? There are several foam down products available. Use them sparingly to the point of diluting them with water 50/50 in a spray bottle. Thanks, then I just spray the mixure into the tub when the jets are on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 I had several friends over and someone did not head my warning about running their suit through the washer with no soap before getting in and I have soap bubbles. How can I get rid of them without draining the spa? There are several foam down products available. Use them sparingly to the point of diluting them with water 50/50 in a spray bottle. Thanks, then I just spray the mixure into the tub when the jets are on? Turn the jets on and let it get foamy...then spray it right on the foam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hot_water Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 I had several friends over and someone did not head my warning about running their suit through the washer with no soap before getting in and I have soap bubbles. How can I get rid of them without draining the spa? There are several foam down products available. Use them sparingly to the point of diluting them with water 50/50 in a spray bottle. Thanks, then I just spray the mixure into the tub when the jets are on? Turn the jets on and let it get foamy...then spray it right on the foam. Foam is not always due to soap. I've had foaming and I do all the right things in terms suits & soap, and even have an outdoor shower that I use before entering the spa. I believe that chem balance & TDS can drive excessive foaming, as I've been able to make adjustments and completely correct it. Richard ("chem geek") often posts on the water chemistry board and is a great source. The foam reducers work great & instantly but they only work for a short time. A very good, but tedious, thing to do is let your tub foam up, then scoop out the foam. This does take awhile, but it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnepr Dave Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 When I get foam, I run the jets, with air, and scoop the foam off with a plastic dust pan. It may take up to a half an hour of scooping, but it has always taken care of the foam for me. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soonerdal Posted March 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 When I get foam, I run the jets, with air, and scoop the foam off with a plastic dust pan. It may take up to a half an hour of scooping, but it has always taken care of the foam for me. Dave thanks, I have been doing the scoop method and it is working!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djousma Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 My SPA guy tells me to keep TA in the 120-150 range, and PH balanced, and I will have no problem with suds. You know what? For me, he was right! I used to keep TA in that 70-100 range and would get the suds so bad that I wouldnt even use the air jets. Now my spa bubbles, when the jets with air are on, but the bubbles immediately go away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soonerdal Posted March 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 My SPA guy tells me to keep TA in the 120-150 range, and PH balanced, and I will have no problem with suds. You know what? For me, he was right! I used to keep TA in that 70-100 range and would get the suds so bad that I wouldnt even use the air jets. Now my spa bubbles, when the jets with air are on, but the bubbles immediately go away. My TA is pretty much in that range too. My soap bubbles are a lot better, I am just scooping them out when I go in and they are almost gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chem geek Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 My SPA guy tells me to keep TA in the 120-150 range, and PH balanced, and I will have no problem with suds. You know what? For me, he was right! I used to keep TA in that 70-100 range and would get the suds so bad that I wouldnt even use the air jets. Now my spa bubbles, when the jets with air are on, but the bubbles immediately go away. Normally, it's the Calcium Hardness (CH) that needs to be in the 100-150 ppm range to avoid too much foaming. This is the first I've heard of the TA having that effect. The downside to the higher TA is that the pH will tend to rise more quickly. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djousma Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 My SPA guy tells me to keep TA in the 120-150 range, and PH balanced, and I will have no problem with suds. You know what? For me, he was right! I used to keep TA in that 70-100 range and would get the suds so bad that I wouldnt even use the air jets. Now my spa bubbles, when the jets with air are on, but the bubbles immediately go away. Normally, it's the Calcium Hardness (CH) that needs to be in the 100-150 ppm range to avoid too much foaming. This is the first I've heard of the TA having that effect. The downside to the higher TA is that the pH will tend to rise more quickly. Richard Yes, you are true on that. I do keep an eye on PH. I've always kept CH in that range, and still got the foam, prior to adjusting TA up. Seems to do the trick for me now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P. Land. Posted December 11, 2020 Report Share Posted December 11, 2020 We think someone put detergent in our condo hot tub (kids jumping the fence is most likely). Bubbles everywhere—-many bubbles. Just like a giant bubble bath. We’ve had the pool service out 3 times and they can’t seem to get rid of the soap foam. Any suggestions? They’ve supposedly drained it and cleaned,etc. but still many, many soap bubbles. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted December 12, 2020 Report Share Posted December 12, 2020 Keep draining and filling. You cannot get 100% of the water out, so each drain and fill just dilutes it more. Foam gone can only do so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
north_of_boston Posted December 19, 2020 Report Share Posted December 19, 2020 Gee I guess my advice on not allowing bathing suits in the hot tub might have some merit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted December 19, 2020 Report Share Posted December 19, 2020 I recommend rinsing them in the sink and hanging to dry after use. No detergent, no detergent residue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cusser Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 On 3/7/2009 at 5:43 AM, Soonerdal said: I had several friends over and someone did not head my warning about running their suit through the washer with no soap before getting in and I have soap bubbles. How can I get rid of them without draining the spa? I worked in the soap and detergent industry for 4 decades as a chemist. It may sound gross, but fats and fatty acids from skin produce SOAP, absolutely will happen. 1. No swimsuits allowed !!! Seriously. 2. Buy a container of silicone antifoam and add a few drops; drain/change the water at least 3 times a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 Day time hot tubbing is weird.... just is. Can't do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5tan Posted January 11, 2021 Report Share Posted January 11, 2021 I recently had the exact same problem. 1 or 2 people got in with bathing suits that were washed in soap/detergent and not very thoroughly rinsed. Caused a ton of foam in a 434gal (1643L) 3-week-old Bullfrog A7, and solved the foaming without having to dump and replace the water. The Bullfrog Owner's Manual says defoamer product only works temporarily (I tested and it's true, only lasts a few days tops), and it says that only super chlorination (aka chlorine shock) will destroy the soap agents. The amount of chlorine needed to super-chlorinate depends on your cyanuric acid level, and best case (with CYA levels between 0 and ~30) is 10ppm FC. Get some AquaChek test strips that show Stabilizer (CYA) levels, go to https://app.poolcalculator.com/, enter in all your numbers, then scroll to the bottom to see the Shock amount needed. Maintain or exceed that shock FC ppm such that you still test that number after at least 4 hours later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cusser Posted January 12, 2021 Report Share Posted January 12, 2021 Might be easier and cheaper to drain and refill the spa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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