One of the most commonly asked questions is ‘what is the ideal amount of time you should spend in a hot tub? ‘ Many hot tub dealership websites are happy to give a number before asking what you are intending on using the hot tub for. A guide time of 15-30 minutes is often quoted. In this article, we will decide together if this is a reasonable amount of time for the type of hot tub experience you are looking for. Below is how long I recommend you soak in a hot tub, for each category.
Types of hot tub experiences and my recommended times
- Hydrotherapy 20 min
- Destressing 15-20 min
- Relaxing 15-60 min
- Invigorating 10-15 min
- Hot tub party – unlimited time!
You will need to consider the hot tub temperature very carefully as well as some other vital factors. Let me explain more.
Hot tub hydrotherapy soak time
Many people buy a hot tub to enjoy hydrotherapy benefits. Hydrotherapy is an in-water massage that has all the benefits of a regular massage with the added benefit of heat therapy. There is much medical literature supporting the therapeutic use of hydrotherapy, and it has been shown to help with arthritic pain, joint pain and muscle pain.
I have written more about the health benefits in this article.
The way to achieve the ultimate hydrotherapy experience is to use all of the seats in the hot tub for about two minutes each. Each position will have a combination of hydrotherapy jets that massage a different body area or massage the same body area with a different type of jet.
As you are going for maximum ‘hydro-effect’, you will have the jets on full or near to full power, so staying in one seat for too long can make some people feel queasy – moving from seat to seat every two minutes, stops this feeling.
Why is 20 minutes the best hot tub hydrotherapy time?
Like with any exercise, you should warm up before you start your hydrotherapy session; otherwise, you may risk muscular injury. I recommend at least five minutes in the hot tub before you put the jets on full blast! Equally after your session, you need to let your muscles relax and then exit the hot tub slowly. A seat that raises your torso out of the water is an ideal place to sit for one minute before exiting the hot tub.
My perfect hydrotherapy recipe looks like this:
- 5 minutes warm-up in the hot tub
- 2 minutes on each seat (12 min total)
- 4 minutes relax with the jets off
- 1 minute half out of the water (cool-down chair)
- Total = 20 minutes of joy!!
The temperature of the hot tub should be comfortable – 100 – 102 degrees Fahrenheit is best, but the maximum 104 degrees is acceptable as long as you sit on the cool-down seat before exiting.
The best amount of hot tub time for destressing
Hot tubs are fantastic at melting away stress. The health benefits of reducing stress levels are very well known. For me, I have a busy, stressful job in oncology and two additional jobs to make sure my family have the best life I can give them. But I am not stressed, and I think this is mainly due to the family hot tub. My ideal time to soak in the hot tub to destress is 15-20 minutes. Sometimes I do not even put the jets on!
My best hot tub de-stressing recipe
- 1 minute – Grab a plastic bottle and fill with a cold soft drink of your choosing
- 5 minutes – Enter your hot tub, and let your muscles relax and hydrate
- 2 minutes – Deep breathing exercise
- 5 minutes – Turn jets on low and lay in the lounger (captain’s chair)
- 1 minute – Sit on the most deep-seated chair, so the water comes up to neck level
- 1 minute – Sit with half your body out of the water ( cool-down chair)
- Total = 15 minutes Stress – GONE!
A recommended water temperature of between 100 – 104 degrees Fahrenheit – whatever you are most comfortable in
Best hot tub relaxation time = 15 – 60 minutes
To truly relax in your hot tub you need to pick the timing carefully. It needs to be a time where all your jobs for the day are completed or at least put off until tomorrow! It also needs to be a time when you are not going to get interrupted – so phone off and kids in bed!! Relaxing hot tub experiences are also best shared with those closest to you.
You will need to plan this session in advance because you will need to lower the water temperature to around body temperature (99.5 degrees) or less if you are planning to spend the whole hour in the spa!!
Relaxation recipe
- Buy some hot tub aromatherapy scent and add to your hot tub
- Light some candles
- Grab a cold bottle of water
- 2 minutes – No talking, let the warmth take away the day’s troubles
- 2 minutes – Deep breathing exercise
- 15 -54 minutes – Sit, chat, bob and hydrate!
- 1 minute – Sit on the most deep-seated chair, so the water comes up to neck level
- 1 minute – Sit with half your body out of the water ( cool down chair)
- Total = 20 – 60 minutes Dressing gown on – done!
Invigorating hot tub time = 10-15 minutes
The invigorating hot tub session is not for the faint-hearted, but I can assure you it is one of the best ways to start the day!! You will need to set your wake-up alarm about 20 minutes earlier than usual – I know sleep is essential, but trust me this is worth it!!
As always you need to start with a shower. Wash as usual and then at the end, turn the temperature down as low as it goes. Then wait until it has gone as cold as it will go. Then, and only then, count slowly to 20. You may have to build up the time, so start with 5 seconds on the first day you try this and then increase from there.
Hardest step completed – ready for the best bit!
After you reach your cold shower time goal, go straight to the hot tub via the fridge to pick up a soft drink. My choice is a smoothie because I think starting the day with vitamins must be good for you! This hot tub session is not about hydrotherapy or even planning what you are going to do that day. The experience is about clearing the mind, so you are ready to tackle the day.
After the hot tub then head back to the shower and wash. Again, at the end of the shower, turn the temperature down to as low as it goes, wait until it is at its maximum coldness and then slowly count up to 20. I promise you will feel amazing. The hot tub will have warmed you to the core, and the cold shower will have focused you – You will feel incredible!!
Invigorating hot tub recipe:
- 1 minute 30 seconds – Initial Shower (inc. cold 20 seconds)
- 2 minutes – In the hot tub to acclimatise
- 3 minutes – Sitting in your favourite chair or lounger – all jets on high
- 2 minutes – Stretching with jets still on high
- 1 minute – Sitting on the most elevated chair half out of the water
- 2 minutes – Back inside for the shower – yes with the cold 20 seconds repeated at the end!!
- Total = 10-15 minutes WOW – You are ready to take on the day!!!
The recommended temperature for this invigorating hot tub experience is between 102 and 104-degrees Fahrenheit. I have the temperature at the maximum – 104!!
How to plan the ultimate hot tub party
The ultimate hot tub party can last well into the early hours of the morning, but you need to take some precautions to ensure your guests stay safe.
A few days before the party, shock the water to make sure it is as clean as can be. Just before the party begins, double check that the sanitiser level is at the higher end of the range, even if you have UV-C or an ozone primary sanitation fitted.
Looking after your party guests
You will also need to make sure your guests stay hydrated which is not always easy if they are drinking alcohol. One of the tricks I use is to buy loads of little bottles of water from the local cash and carry, and then put these in a large ice bucket next to the hot tub. The ice bucket with all the other drinks in is out of reach of the hot tub. Having the water closer makes it easier for the guests to grab water if they are thirsty rather than a beer! Genius, no?!!
Recipe for the party
- Get in the hot tub
- Turn up the music
- Party!!
Showering before the hot tub party
You should encourage your guests to shower before they enter the hot tub, but unless you have an outdoor shower, this is a difficult ask. What I do know, is most people do not like being hosed off with cold water at a party!!
Outdoor showers
Outdoor showers are great, and you could always get a portable outdoor camping shower if you wanted to, and I will write an article on these in the future. However, for the pool party, it is not the end of the world if your guests do not shower before getting in the hot tub!! There, I said it!!
The reason I am not worried about this is that I am going to change the water the following day and give the hot tub a thorough clean. I am going to do this regardless of if they shower or not, so why stress and ruin the fabulous party vibe??
Eating in the hot tub
Eating in the hot tub is not the most hygienic thing to do, and if you spill crumbs into the water, this will put pressure on the filtration process. However, at a party, stopping your guests eating in the hot tub will be impossible after they have had a few drinks.
The only thing I do to discourage eating in the hot tub is I set up the nibbles station away from the hot tub. I am not worried about the water quality at this point as I will be carrying out a full water change in the morning.
Water temperature
I can’t stress enough how important keeping the correct water temperature is for hot tub parties. The water must not be more than body temperature (99.5 degrees Fahrenheit). If the air temperature is warm, then reduce the water temperature further. Ensuring the correct water temperature is vital to ensure your guest do not overheat or get dehydrated.
Change that water!
The following day you need to perform a water change as the level of total dissolved solids will now be very high due to the number of people who have used the hot tub. High total dissolved solids reduce the effectiveness of the sanitation chemicals, so carrying out a water change is a sensible thing to do.
How long should you be in a hot tub for? The conclusion!
The amount of time you spend in a hot tub will depend on the reason you want a hot tub session that day. As long as you are fit and healthy and take sensible precautions not to overheat, then you can stay in the hot tub for as long as you like. Remember to have drinking water handy and to reduce the water temperature if you are planning to be in the spa for an extended period.
If you can not bear the thought of turning the temperature of your hot tub down, then maybe intermittent hot tubbing would work for you. Basically, you use the hot tub for 20 minutes, then exit the tub. When you have cooled down, jump back in!!
Hope you guys have loved this article – I enjoyed writing it!!
Happy Hot Tubbing
Brendan
😊
