How to care for your spa cover (cleaning, protecting and more)

Your spa cover is an important investment - that can last for a number of years if you treat it carefully and with respect.

Reasons why it’s important to take good care of your spa cover

• It insulates and keeps heat in your spa, saving you money on electricity
• It protects your components in your spa from UV damage from sunlight
• It keeps dirt, debri and organic matter out of your spa, helping you keep your water clean and crystal clear
• It keeps your spa safe from kids or pets, or unwelcome wildlife visitors
• It’s a legal requirement to keep your spa covered and locked for safety reasons

So all of that being said, you want to keep your spa cover in good condition so it lasts as long as possible and can continue to protect your spa for years.

Watch: How to look after your spa cover

Here are a few helpful tips for looking after your spa cover.

1. How do I keep my vinyl spa cover clean?

Wash off loose dirt, leaves, debris regularly, and use an appropriate cleaning product to clean off more stubborn dirt and stains.

We recommend the 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner which doesn’t contain any harsh ingredients, but still has the power to effectively clean your spa cover and keep it looking great. It is designed specifically to be used on vinyl spa covers to help keep them clean.

303 Multi-Surface Cleaner is designed to quickly remove even the most stubborn spots from coffee, oil, grease, and ink from virtually any material or surface.

It’s a great product to have around the home and you can use it on lots of other things including vehicle interiors to RV awnings to car covers. It also won’t leave any residue on surfaces.

To use 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner, spray it directly across problem areas on your cover until wet. Gently agitate with a soft brush or wet cloth.

Wipe up stains and excess cleaner with a damp cloth, rinsing out the cloth in clean water as necessary.

After cleaning, let the cover dry completely before placing it back on your spa.

2. How do I keep my spa cover oiled and protected?

Ultraviolet light from the sun can deteriorate the vinyl on your spa cover, so it’s important to regularly apply a UV screening product to extend the life of your vinyl. This will help your vinyl maintain it’s water-proof properties, so your cover doesn’t absorb water and start to lose its effectiveness as an insulator.

We recommend the 303 Vinyl Protectant product - which is the world’s highest rated UV screening product. Developed for the aerospace and aviation industries, it’s designed to protect surfaces from the harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun.

303 Protectant restores and maintains your spa cover, keeping it looking new and shiny! It creates a protective coating on your spa cover that helps repel dust, dirt and staining.

We recommend applying 303 Protectant every 3-5 weeks for maximum UV protection. Remove your cover from your spa before applying any cleaning or protective products to your cover, so you don’t get any runoff into your spa water.

It might be tempting to use other protectant products - but it’s important not to use any cleaning or protectant products that contain petroleum, silicone, or citrus. These ingredients can all damage the vinyl on your cover, shortening its life.

3. Can you walk on a spa pool cover or put things on it?

Your spa cover is a nice flat surface and it’s the perfect place for popping some gardening tools for a couple of days until you get a chance to get back outside again right?

Wrong!

It’s important to keep your spa cover clear for a few good reasons.

Firstly, dirt from items (like your gardening tools) can accumulate on top of your spa cover. It’s easier for dust and debris to get trapped on there too around items left on top of your spa cover. This can cause the waterproof quality of your vinyl to deteriorate, and your cover insulation can start to absorb moisture.

Secondly, your spa cover is not designed to carry much weight. Storing things on top of it weaken the structure, reducing its lifespan, meaning you’ll need to shell out for a new cover sooner than you would have!

So, do yourself a favour and keep your cover clear.

4. Do I need a spa cover lifter?

Dragging your spa cover off and on by hand can seriously damage it over time, weakening the vinyl and structure, ultimately reducing it’s lifespan.

Our customers who use a cover lifter for their spa pool find that their spa experience is much improved. There is no need to break a sweat wrestling with an unwieldy cover before you can relax in your spa!

A cover lifter takes most of the weight off your cover, so it just glides off the top of your spa and rests out of the way beside your spa.

For a small investment, a cover lifter helps protect your cover from handling damage and makes your life easier. You’ll find yourself using your spa more, it’s just that much easier.

5. How does water balance affect spa covers?

Keeping your spa water maintained and balanced will help keep your cover in good condition. If your water is too acidic or too basic, this can start to deteriorate the underside of your spa cover, reducing its effectiveness and lifespan. Use test strips to check your water pH and alkalinity and adjust accordingly.

6. Do I need to remove my spa cover when adding chemicals?

Whenever you are treating your spa water, remove your cover completely. You need to let your chemicals have time to circulate in your spa and ‘gas off’ to the open air before closing your spa up again. We recommend leaving your spa cover off for at least 45 minutes before putting your cover back on.

If you don’t do that, the sanitiser or other products that is trapped in the warm air inside your spa can begin to eat other components of your spa also, like your headrests.

7. Why do I need straps on my spa cover

It might be tempting to leave your cover straps undone if you’re in a hurry. After all, you were planning to jump in the spa again tomorrow right!?

But here’s why that’s not a good idea…

If you leave the straps on your cover undone, this means your cover is not sealing as tightly around your spa. So it’s not providing the proper insulation for your spa keeping your water warm.

Not only this, if the wind picks up during the day, a loose spa cover can be picked up by the wind and thrown against your house or fence, causing it to rip or tear and creating other damage to your property. (We’ve seen it all, believe us!) A spa cover that has been thrown about by the wind is never quite the same!

It’s also unsafe to leave your cover straps undone - kids can potentially get into your spa.

We’ve even heard of dogs chewing spa cover straps that are left undone. They must look pretty tempting to your furry friends!

So take the extra two minutes to do up your straps on your spa cover - it’s well worth the effort!

8. Check your straps and locks are in good condition

Did you know that in most states of Australia, it’s compulsory for your spa cover to be locked?

Spas can be a serious water hazard for young children, so this regulation is in place for a good reason.

Locking clips can be retrofitted to any spa cover, even if your existing straps are ripped or broken. They are well worth the investment. They are also great for a holiday home with a spa, or if you’re renting out a property and you don’t want guests using the spa.

We recommend the Cover-safe clips. They come in a set of 4 and are a durable and effective repair option if you've got broken straps or clips on your existing spa cover.

9. Does your spa area comply with safety regulations?

While we are on the subject of safety, did you know that it is mandatory to display a CPR sign in your spa area?

Got questions about anything spa-related? Feel free to get in touch and one of our experienced spa experts will help you find what you need.