New to HottubDR or hot tubs in general? You may be able to answer a question or two by looking through our Tips 'n Tricks here.
*Baby Got Backup Filters
  Sometimes, hot tub care is about hoping for the best, but planning for the worst. With proper care, your spa filters can have a long and healthy lifespan. But nothing lasts forever, and Murphy's Law is always hiding in the tall grass. Always keep an extra filter cartridge on hand, just in case. If your filter flakes, you can swap in your spare and keep the hot tub fun rolling without missing a beat.
  
*Good Cover
  Invest in a good quality cover. A wise way to keep your investment in great condion starts with keeping it covered when not in use with a good quality cover.
  
*Tennis Balls for Dirt and Grime
  Want to keep body oils, hair products, lotions, and other goop from entering your spa's filter? Drop a few tennis balls into your spa's skimmers, or even directly into the water. Your fuzzy, yellow friends will soak up the bad stuff in their fibers and make it easier to keep your spa looking, and feeling, clean and healthy. For best results, change them regularly, especially if you use your tub frequently or have a lot of people using the tub at once.
  
*Make Time for Enzymes
  You might know them best from chemistry class, but enzymes aren't just handy for processing food or making wine. These twisty little proteins get around to the strangest places, including your hot tub. Special enzyme products for your spa work the same way most other enzymes do: they break down organic compounds. In your hot tub, they break down fatty lipids from body oils, cosmetics, lotions, and other sources that might be lurking in your water. Dosed with enzymes, your hot tub and filter system will be cleaner, and your sanitizer will work more efficiently. Enzymes also keep your spa free of the ugly line that can sometimes form at the water's edge.
  
*Find Hidden Surface Issues with Dish Soap
  Draining and refilling your spa is hard work that you're probably not thrilled to take on unless absolutely necessary. So if you're trying to track down interior surface problems in your spa such as texture issues, cracks, etc., but don't want to drain the whole works to do so, make a run to your kitchen sink. A squirt or two of dish soap will help break ripples on the water's surface, giving you a clearer view of what's going on beneath.
  
*Track Your Time to Avoid a (Re)filling Disaster
  Make sure you set a timer when you're filling or refilling your hot tub. It can be all too easy to walk away and get caught up in other chores. The result? Potential overflows, a huge mess, and even fried equipment. A little preparation sure beats having to magically bail out your spa enclosure.
  
*Keep Cover clean with Bleach
  One of the most overlooked areas of proper hot tub care is treating your hot tub cover right. Exposed as they are to constant heat and moisture, hot tub covers can develop a musty or 'mildewy' smell if they're not cleaned properly. You can keep the funk away by using a simple bleach solution to clean your hot tub cover. In a spray bottle, combine nine parts water to one part bleach, and use it to clean the underside of your hot tub cover every 90 days.