When the weekend comes, a soak in a hot tub is all you need to relax completely. It’s one of the most tranquilizing experiences you can enjoy on your own or with your friends or family. But whether you already own a hot tub or are planning to buy one soon, you must be familiar with some dos and don’ts when using a hot tub. This will ensure that you’re getting the most out of your home spa experience.

DO: Shower before hopping into the tub

A tub is a small version of a pool. Just as you would not enter a pool before taking a quick shower, it’s good to clean your body before entering the hot tub. If you don’t, you will end up contaminating the water. This means you will need more chemicals to treat the water, and changing the water frequently will become necessary.

DON’T: Overheat the water

Warm water is certainly soothing, but a very high temperature can be bad and even dangerous. The recommended water temperature in a hot tub is 104 degrees Fahrenheit. If you raise the temperature beyond this, your cardiovascular system’s pressure will increase, and you may become unconscious. If you want to experience great hydrotherapy that reduces your stress and soothes your body pain, you must ensure the water is perfectly heated.

DO: Keep the water clean

Taking a shower before entering the hot tub does not mean the water will always remain fresh. It will get contaminated over time, so you need to regularly change the water and chemicals to ensure that the water looks pristine and healthy. Bacteria can easily build up if the hot tub and the water are not cleaned properly. You must also clean the hot tub filters once every few months and replace it at least once a year.

DON’T: Drink alcohol

You may have seen people sipping a beer or cocktail inside the hot tub in movies, but it’s not a great idea to do that in reality. Alcohol can make you drowsy, and warm water dilates your blood vessel, leading to a higher level of intoxication than you wanted. You must not even enter the tub if you have excess alcohol in your body.

DO: Relax and enjoy

Besides being relaxing for your mind, did you know that hot tubs have several health benefits too? It can improve flexibility, soothe arthritis pain, lower back pain, ease sore muscles, and promote better sleep. So, when using a hot tub, keep all your worries aside, be in the moment, and live the experience.

DON’T: Soak your open wounds

There is a slight chance that some amount of bacteria is always present in your hot tub, even after treating the water with chemicals. And if you have even a minor cut or an open wound, it can easily get infected from these bacteria. If the wound is on your arms, neck, or head, make sure you do not submerge the affected area. But, if it is on your feet, ankles, thighs, or any other body part that you have to submerge, you must avoid getting into the water till the wound is healed.