Hello, my name is Gregory. When I was a young lad, I had to enter the health care world in an unexpected way. I developed a serious disease out of the blue that took doctors by surprise. I went through so many different testing procedures before my doctors could diagnose the rare disease. Everyone around me reeled as they tried to understand the purpose and process of the diagnostic tests. I hope to help others understand these important tests better through this website. Please come by often to learn all you need to know about medical diagnostics and working closely with health care professionals.
Nanja Bongers
Walk-in tubs allow senior citizens to continue to enjoy a relaxing soak and the benefits of hydrotherapy without having to put themselves at risk for a serious slip-and-fall accident. However, the tub will only work properly if it's regularly cleaned so that the tight seal is maintained around the door in the side of the tub. Either follow these cleaning tips yourself or ask your caretaker to help you stay on track.
Clear Jets
If your walk-in tub features air and water jets to add massaging features to the bath experience, you may need to clean them out once a year or so, as minerals and soap scum can build up in the openings. The nozzles must be removed, soaked in a compatible cleaner to dissolve the deposits, and reinstalled. It's best to leave this to the professionals because it involves using needle-nose pliers to pull the nozzles apart, and it's easy for an inexperienced owner to accidentally damage their nozzles or the jet mechanisms in the process.
Wipe the Seals
Take the time to wipe down the flexible seal around your bathtub's door at least once a week with a damp, clean rag. This removes any oils, soap residue, and other products that can break down the material over time. Just dirt and debris can interfere with the seal and lead to leaks, so give the seal a quick look-over every time you finish a bath. You don't want to discover that there was a scrap of soap blocking the door seal by slipping on a big puddle caused by a leak you didn't notice while in the bath.
Sanitize the Water Lines
For tubs with recirculating pumps and massage jets, the water lines connecting to the pump are a concern when it comes to bacterial exposure. When moisture lingers in those lines after being exposed to skin cells, dirt, and other contaminants, bacteria thrives and gets flushed back out into the tub during the next use. Run this quick sanitizing procedure once a week:
Avoid Oils
Bath oils can add a luxurious element to an otherwise routine bath. Unfortunately, those same oils are damaging to the flexible rubber or silicone seals used around the door of a walk-in tub. While it is possible to replace that gasket and obtain another good seal, there's a higher chance of a secondary leak once you're on the second or third replacement seal. It's better to try to keep the original equipment intact from the beginning by avoiding bath oils and other oil-containing products. Aside from damaging the seal, the oily residue left behind is hard to clean out and makes the tub so slippery it's dangerous.
Rinse Regularly
Finally, don't forget to give your tub a quick rinse with warm or hot water after each bath. Taking a moment to wash away the last bits of soap residue reduces scum build up dramatically between more thorough cleanings. This is essential when you're a person with limited mobility who can't get on your hands and knees to scrub the walls and floor on a regular basis. It's fine to spray down the walls with a bathroom sanitizing spray if you want to control bacterial spread between baths as well.
For more information on walk-in tubs, contact a company like Twin City Stair Lifts.