A healthier hot tub experience - non-toxic sanitizer solutions

[Dover]

Needing advice and experience. I've avoided hot tubs because I simply do not want to bathe in harmful chemicals. Our skin is like one big sponge so I'm careful. However I know hot tubs do a world of good for aching bones and muscles, de-stressing, etc....so much so that I think it would be a big benefit to insurance companies if they included it in their coverage (both for existing health issues and as a preventative).

So the other day a good friend who has arthritis and has been looking for a good deal on hot tubs scored a FREE one on Craig's List. And she says that there is no longer any need for harsh chemicals. She did some research on the matter and found that with good maintenance and the use of a food grade 35% hydrogen peroxide, she could have a relatively inexpensive and lovely chemical-free soaking experience.

So my question is, does anyone have any experience with hot tubs and hydrogen peroxide? If so what are your recommendations or feedback?
Also, if you have had experience with better or different chem-free options, would you please share them?

If I do get myself a hot tub, I think I'd enjoy the wooden varieties which might present a whole new set of issues relative to non-chem care.

Here's some info I googled on Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide relative to its medical effects:


Question: I have a hot tub that I'd like to start using hydrogen peroxide in instead of all the harmful chemicals. Can you tell me who to contact regarding the ratio of peroixde per gallon of water and where to get the food grade peroxide. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Short Answer: Using Food-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide (food grade H2O2) is an excellent choice, since pure H2O2 dissociates to pure oxygen and water, leaving no toxic residues! Other chemicals (chlorine, bromine) are highly toxic and form carcinogens (cancer-causing compounds) in our tissues once absorbed. They absorb easily through the skin, or inhaled and absorbed through the capillaries in the alveoli of the lungs (since they readily emanate from warm water as chlorine or bromine gases). The advantages of food-grade hydrogen peroxide:

1.It comes at the maximal concentration of 35%, which allows long- term use (it can be highly diluted, making each bottle go a long way!). At this concentration it is very caustic, so don't touch it with bare skin! Once diluted to 6% or below (3% or below for mucous membranes), it is safe to handle.
2.It does not contain any of the toxic substances frequently found in store-brought H2O2 bottles (which are therefore not food-grade).
3.It has a long shelf-life.
4.It has many other uses at the home, kitchen, and yard. We use it at the Ecopolitan Restaurant to soak fruits and vegetables before preparing them in our recipes. This eliminates any pathogenic microbes and oxidizes any residual chemicals that even organic produce may be accidentally exposed to!


To use H2O2 as an antiseptic (antimicrobial) agent in your home- based hot tub, all you need is one ounce of 35% food-grade hydrogen peroxide per 100 gallon of water for every day you use the tub.
...cont'd

http://www.ecopolitan.com/healtheducation/ask-dr-t/102-hydrogen-peroxide-hot-tub

http://www.agriorganics.com/natural.php?Pid=13

[enki23]

1. I am interested in your idea that H2O2 isn't a chemical

.

[Dover]

3. My bad. I meant to say 'non-toxic'

changed it in the subject heading. thanks for pointing that out.

[notadmblnd]

2. I don't know where you live but you might just want to consider a bath tub with jets

Hot tubs are a lot of work with the chemicals, I imagine maintenence would require even more time if the water isn't chemically treated. If you live in an area where it gets cold in the winter, standing outside in the cold dripping wet is not a good ending to a good soak. I had a hot tub, it runs the electric bill up. Now I have a bathtub with jets, I haven't taken the front panel off to see if there is a filter (I imagine there is one) but I need to check because if it has one it's time for a cleaning. The good thing is. all maintenence can be performed in the comfort of my home (no going outside when it's cold). I don't have to fill and keep heated 750+ gallons of water and I don't have to treat it with anything because I can drain it after every use. And best of all I don't have to stand outside in sub zero temperatures dripping wet- wrestlng with getting the cover on. Finally, the cost of a tub should be lower to purchase and install.

[Dover]

5. Some good points.

That's something I've considered too but hate the thought of using all that water.
On the other hand, I don't know how good I'd be at even minimal maintenance of a hot tub (as in EVERY day) not to mention the heating cost. Heating costs vs. volume of water used - not sure which is worse.
I suppose keeping a hot tub does require a fair amount of maintenance even if you use something as easy and benign as h2O2. .
I enjoy soaking and at least in the winter would probably do it several times a week if I could. And I guess it's just a matter of taste (or perhaps I have some Scandinavian blood in my makeup) but I enjoy experiencing chill and heat together so don't think I'd have an issue with an outdoor tub and chilly air. Good for the circulation if you don't linger in the chilly air too long.

But your comments also bring up another issue relative to sanitation. I'm guessing the source of water used in the hot tub makes a big difference in what you should use for sanitation. For instance municipal water most often includes chlorine in its treatment, so in a sense there still is chlorine acting WITH the hydrogen peroxide. If it were well water or harvested rainwater perhaps the hydrogen peroxide wouldn't perform as well.

[TheMadMonk]

8. Well in theory you're supposed to replace about 10% of the water...

...per week. Using Peroxide (or even basic nappy sanitiser) there is no issue with discharging the water onto the garden. Use only nappy sanitiser in your washing machine and that water can go on the garden too.

Outdoor spa setups can include a bibcock outlet, use this to water the garden and your losses are evaporation only. Build a fernery/shade house around your spa and the evaporation is your friend. That bibcock outlet also gives you a little water for firefighting, as long as the power holds out.

[Dover]

9. Good ideas! And I suppose that one could also use indoor shower/tub water

for the same purpose by putting in a gray water system. In fact I've been looking into that.

[madrchsod]

4. buying food grade hp alerts the feds..

food grade hp can be used to make bombs.

[Dover]

6. Well, I don't know about the feds, but I'm sure they are aware of all the benign

uses for that product (as with so many others products). So I'm sure they are capable of sorting that out if they are watching.

[Turbineguy]

7. I use copper ions.

and very little chlorine (1 teaspoon per week)

The trick is how to set the ionizer because it does not adjust automatically.

[keetsajoe]

10. My experience

I am like you, in that I wanted the benefits of a hot tub without the toxicity of Bromine or Chlorine.
I did a ton of research. Here is what I am doing and have been having tremendous success with the peroxide
and colloidal silver.

First off, I purchased my hot tub off Craigslist used. It was 10 years old. So the first thing I did was
purchase a product off the net that you run through the tub for 5 days to flush the old chemicals out.
Then I replaced the filter and washed the tub with a water/hydrogen peroxide solution. Then I refilled the
tub with a filter attached to the garden hose. I then shocked the water with the 35% peroxide and added a
bottle of hot tub silver from purest colloids. I also keep a silver stick in the filter. I have run the tub
for two months now like this and the water has been crystal clear every day. And I use it 2-3 times a day.