Every now and then, you may come out to your hot tub and discover a giant blanket of foamy suds piled on top of the water. It can be an alarming sight to see. While the bubble bath won't hurt you, most people find it unpleasant. The main issues are to correct the problem and to hopefully determine the cause to prevent a repeat episode.

Causes
The most common cause of hot tub foaming is a foreign substance in the water. This can range from excess laundry detergent in your swimwear to a chemical reaction with lotions and hair products or using too much algaecide. Another common issue is soft water or a high pH balance.

Prevention
To prevent a hot tub foam outbreak, follow these tips:
•    Don't apply lotions to the skin within five or six hours of going hot tubbing.
•    Carefully calculate and measure algaecide agents before adding them.
•    Look for chemical solutions with "non-foaming" on the label.
•    Wear long hair in a ponytail or pinned up.
•    Test your pH frequently and adjust your spa chemicals as needed to find the 7.4 to 7.8 range.
•    Check your calcium levels and adjust as needed to 200 to 250 ppm for acrylic basins, and 200 to 400 ppm for non-acrylics.
•    Always rinse the basin well after cleaning before refilling it with water.
•    Re-rinse your swimwear thoroughly by hand after laundering is complete.
•    Consider installing an outdoor shower to use before entering.

Foaming Solutions
There are two routes to resolving the problem, short-term and long-term.
•    For immediate results, use a spa foam dispersal product, such as Remedy Anti-foam solution. It can be added to eliminate and prevent a blanket of foamy suds in your spa.
•    The long-term solution is to adjust your hot tub chemicals. It can take up to 48 hours for the suds to subside. Leisure Time chemicals has two products that are effective in foam control and prevention. Calcium Booster is a non-foaming agent designed to increase your water hardness level. Use this if your home has soft water. If the culprit is your algaecide, try adding Leisure Time Spa Algaecide about once a week. This kills existing algae and prevents new strains from forming. An alternative is to drain and refill your hot tub, although it can be time-consuming and discouraging.