How do I remove the scum line in my spa or swim spa?

A scum line can make your spa or swim spa appear dirty and uninviting, but with proper maintenance, it can be easily removed.

This article covers:

• What causes the scum line to develop around the water line in my spa pool?
• Cause 1: Scum line from Oils in Sunblock, lotions and bodies
• Cause 2: Mineral Deposits in the spa causing a waterline stain

What causes the scum line to develop around the water line in my spa pool?

The line that may develop around the waterline area of your spa has two main causes:

Cause 1: Scum line from Oils in Sunblock, lotions and bodies

This is probably the most common cause of the scum line around spas. This is a deposit of body oils, lotions, or sunblock and is usually dull in appearance and can be slick to the touch. Follow the steps below to help get rid of this unpleasant addition to your spa water!

This is probably the most common cause of the scum line around spas. This is a deposit of body oils, lotions, or sunblock and is usually dull in appearance and can be slick to the touch. Follow the steps below to help get rid of this unpleasant addition to your spa water!

1. Rinse before getting in the spa to remove oils and lotions

One way of preventing this is requiring bathers to shower before sitting in your spa. Outdoor showers are an affordable and effective way of improving the water quality in your spa - saving you time and money on maintenance and water care products.

2. Use a spa cleaning disc to soak up oils & scum in your spa water

Many people choose to use a spa cleaning disc to reduce oils that float on the surface of the water. This simple device will not only reduce the scum line caused by oils but it will also help your filters work more efficiently by grabbing oils before they can plug up the small openings in the spa filter material.

You can also use a non-scratch scrubbing pad or scrubbing brush to remove build up of scum or scale around your waterline.

3. Use a degreasing product to help remove spa scum

This line caused by oils can be removed by using a small amount of pipe degreaser on a towel.

You will also want to use this degreaser just before emptying the water in your spa as it will remove any of the build-up on the internal surfaces and reduce future chemical use with the new water.

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Clean your spa filters

Make sure your filters are kept clean also, so they can work efficiently to keep your water clear. We recommend cleaning your filters every week with a filter cleaning product.

Soak your filters in the filter cleaning solution - we recommend for 24 hours, then rinse them off before placing back in your spa. Use a Filter cleaning wand to make rinsing them easy!

Cause 2: Mineral Deposits in the spa causing a waterline stain

This is more common with those that use bore water or other water that is overly hard. A white scaly line on your spa shell may be caused by a deposit of minerals left as the water evaporates away.

This deposit is usually white or rust-coloured and will be chalky to the touch. Try the steps below to help resolve this.

1. Use a solution of white vinegar to dissolve the scale

This deposit can usually be removed using a strong solution of vinegar. If you have this you need to be extra vigilant with your water hardness.

2. Use a scale inhibitor and water balance treatment

If you have a lot of minerals in your water we recommend using a scale inhibitor like the BioGuard Aquality Balancer that will grab the minerals and bind them together where they can be caught in the spa filter.

If you have a tiled or concrete spa you will want to use a product suitable for those materials.

Cause 3: Water contaminants causing waterline oil marks

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Got more questions?

Talk to us or email us your spa questions and we'll be happy to help!