Can I put Epsom salt in my hot tub? What are the risks? (Warnings, alternatives and more)

March 27, 2023

Estimated read time - 3.5 minutes

Author - Fin Green – Content Creator UK, Jacuzzi Group

Are you wondering if you can use your regular bath salts in your hot tub? Tempted to take your relaxing hot tub soak, to a new level?

To put it simply, Epsom salts should never be used in hot tub. They are designed to work in stationary water, not rapid moving water.

By reading this article, you will gain awareness of the issues surrounding the use of adding Epsom salts in your hot tub and what we at Jacuzzi recommend as safe options you can use instead.

What are Epsom salts?

Epsom salts were discovered in the town of Epsom in Surrey, England. They look similar to coarse grain sea salt, but instead of eating it, you place it in hot water (such as your bathtub) to dissolve.

However, Epsom salts are completely different to your standard table salt, in terms of use, and can provide relief to parts of the body.

What are Epsom salts used for? How do Epsom salts work?

Epsom salts are a chemical compound made up of magnesium, sulphur and oxygen. They are used medicinally to help with magnesium deficiency, premature birth, general sports, training injuries and much more.

The most common way to use Epsom salts is to dissolve them in the bath as they are meant to be able to soothe-tired muscles and reduce swelling.

Although this sounds like an ideal addition to your warm, hydrotherapy hot tub, it can cause more harm than good.

Common names and forms of Epsom salts

Many brands use a play on words as there are many different soothing bath products that contain Epsom salts. It’s important to be wary of the different names and forms it can have.

Bath salt, bath salts
Bath flakes
Magnesium bath salts,
Magnesium bath flakes
Magnesium sulphate
Epsom salt soaking
Magnesium Chloride bath flakes

For the sake of avoiding confusion, in this article we are going to use the simple term ‘Epsom salts’.

Can Epsom salts damage my hot tub?

Yes, Epsom salts will damage your hot tub and hot tub equipment. In the majority of cases, salt levels exceeding more than 1500 ppm (parts per million) can cause corrosion to metal parts of a hot tub such as the heater or the pumps. This would not be a cheap fix!

For Epsom salts to be beneficial for your medical needs, it is usually recommended that the levels of salt your body needs, or for soaking, is 20,000 ppm. It is highly likely that your hot tub will suffer from corrosion and damaging chemical reactions with this level of salt.

If you would like to bathe in Epsom salts, then using them in a normal bathtub is a better option. You can drain the water after each use, and it won't affect the pipes, as it would in a spa pool.

How can Epsom salts damage my acrylic hot tub?

There are several ways that Epsom salts and bath salts can damage your hot tub.

1 - Salt residue is still abrasive even when dissolved. This means the rapid movement of the hot tub water could cause the now abrasive water to scratch the shiny, acrylic surface of your hot tub.

2 - Dissolved Epsom salts leave a slightly oily residue. This could damage the filter, if it collects oil and it could therefore stop working and need replacing.

3 - Dissolving salts could also cause damage and erosion to internal equipment such as sections of the pumps, parts of the jets, and heater.

4 - Epsom salt may also cause froth to form on the surface of the water in your hot tub, whilst jets are running.

Can I use Epsom salts in my Jacuzzi® Hot Tub?

Again, unfortunately no, you can't use use Epsom salts or any kind of bath salts in your Jacuzzi® Hot Tub. Epsom salts have the potential to cause the same damaging issues as with any other hot tub brands.

Adding Jacuzzi aromatherapy salts to hot tub

Can I use bath products in my hot tub?

We frequently get asked about what products can be put in a hot tub, with bath bombs and bubble bath also being a more common question than you might think.

Can I use bath bombs in my hot tub?

No, you can not use bath bombs in your hot tub, due to the issues they may cause:

Residue and staining
Filter clogging
Water chemistry imbalance
Foam overload
Damage to equipment

Can I use bubble bath in my hot tub?

Although bubble bath may seem like a fun idea to use in your hot tub, you should put bubble bath in your hot tub as it may cause the following problems:

Excessive foaming
Clogged filters
Imbalanced water chemistry
Damage to hot tub pump
Difficulty in maintenance

What can I use instead of Epsom salts in my hot tub?

Hot tub friendly alternatives can come in the form of hot tub aromatherapy products.

We recommend that you discuss with your hot tub supplier which products are safe and harmless for your hot tub. For example, we offer a range of six different scented aromatherapy salts that are assured to be safe for a Jacuzzi® HotTub.

You may now be wondering, what makes these products safer than Epsom salts? Although the primary ingredient is Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom salts), they have been formulated especially for hot tubs.

The Jacuzzi® aromatherapy salts are made up of smaller quantities of salt along with vitamins, minerals, moisturising nutrients and natural herbs and botanicals.

Summary

To wrap this article up, if the labelling doesn’t say it is designed for use in a hot tub then we highly recommend that you do not add Epsom salts to your hot tub water. Corroding equipment is the last thing you will be wanting to deal with as a hot tub owner!

Interested in taking a closer look at the range of Jacuzzi® aromatherapy salts we offer? Visit Jacuzzi® Shop for more details.

View Jacuzzi® aromatherapy salts

Disclaimer - We, Jacuzzi Group, are not medical professionals. Any health-related information stated in this article is of a general nature and should not be taken as specific advice on any medical conditions, including their diagnosis or treatment. Nothing in this article is intended to prescribe any particular diagnosis or course of action, nor to constitute a claim that any product referred to can diagnose, treat or prevent any disease, injury, ailment or adverse condition. If you are in any way concerned about your current health or wellbeing, please make contact with your General Practitioner or other medical professional for advice, and in particular we encourage you to take independent medical advice before committing yourself to any significant treatment.