Cedar Hot Tub Maintenance: Caring for the Wood Through the Seasons

Cedar hot tub maintenance is lighter than most people expect. Canadian Western Red Cedar does not need oiling or sealing: leave it to weather to a soft silver, or protect and tone it to any shade you like. The one rule is to avoid copper based products. Beyond that, an occasional wash and a little seasonal attention keep it looking right for years.

This guide covers the cedar on the outside of the tub, through the year. For the water inside, the Water Care Academy has everything, and the maintenance checklist covers the rest of the tub.

Why cedar needs so little

Western Red Cedar has a natural resistance to rot, decay and insects, and its long, straight grain resists twisting, warping and shrinking. Its low density makes it an excellent insulator, which is why it wraps the tub in the first place. Why we use Canadian Western Red Cedar tells the full story, including where ours comes from.

On an AlumiTub the cedar is cladding, not the watertight layer. The water sits in the aluminum structure, so the wood never has to swell to seal and never cracks from drying out between fills. That is the main reason maintenance is so light.

Two ways to wear it: silver or toned

Let it weather. Left alone, cedar softens over a season or two and then silvers. Sunlight breaks down the color in the surface fibers and rain carries it away. The silver patina is cosmetic, does not weaken the wood, and suits a tub that is meant to look as though it belongs where it sits.

Protect and tone it. If you prefer the warm color of new cedar, or want a darker or lighter shade to match a deck or a house, a penetrating toner or stain keeps it there. Choose a copper free product, test it on an inconspicuous board first, and keep any finish to the outside of the cladding, well clear of the water. Expect to refresh it every year or two, depending on sun.

You can move between the two. A silvered tub can be lightly sanded back to fresh wood and toned. A toned tub can simply be left to weather.

The one rule: avoid copper

Many wood preservatives, and some stains and treated lumber, contain copper. Copper and aluminum do not belong together around water, and copper is already on the short list of things to keep out of the tub water. So read the label of anything that goes on the cedar, on the steps or on a deck that touches the tub, and choose copper free.

Cedar care through the seasons

Spring

Give the cedar a wash: rinse with a garden hose, clean with mild soap and a soft brush along the grain, then rinse again. Skip the pressure washer, which raises and tears the grain, and skip bleach. Spring, once the wood is dry, is the natural time to apply or refresh a toner if you use one.

Summer

Sun is what silvers cedar fastest, so a toned tub in full sun will want its refresh sooner than one in shade. Keep planters, sprinklers and wet towels off the cladding so it can dry between soaks, and sweep away pine needles that collect at the base.

Fall

Clear leaves from the steps, the lid and around the base so they do not sit damp against the wood. Stack firewood a little away from the cladding rather than leaning against it, which keeps both drier.

Winter

Brush snow off with a soft broom. Never chip ice from the cedar or the lid with a shovel or anything metal. If the tub is in use through winter, soaking in winter and winter water care cover the rest.

Inside the tub: tannins

Cedar is rich in natural tannins. If the water ever takes on a faint tea color, it is tannin, not dirt, and it is harmless. Cedar tannins in hot tub water explains why it happens and how to clear it.

If a board is ever damaged

On an AlumiTub, the cedar is held to the aluminum structure with stainless steel bands and fasteners. Because the wood is not part of what holds the water, a damaged board can be replaced on its own. It is one of the ways the tub is designed to keep going, set out in the Evermore Standard.

Common questions

Do you need to oil or seal a cedar hot tub?

No. Canadian Western Red Cedar resists rot, decay and insects on its own, so the cladding does not need oil or sealant to last. Owners who like the warm tone of new cedar can protect and tone it to any shade they choose. The one rule is to avoid copper based products anywhere on or near the tub.

Why does my cedar hot tub turn grey?

Sunlight breaks down the color in the surface fibers of the wood, and rain washes them away, leaving a soft silver patina. It is cosmetic and does not weaken the cedar. Many owners love the silvered look. If you prefer the original color, a light sanding brings fresh wood back to the surface.

Why avoid copper products on a cedar hot tub?

Many wood preservatives and some stains contain copper. Copper and aluminum do not belong together around water, and copper is also on the list of products to keep out of the tub water itself. Read the label of any stain, oil or cleaner before it goes near the tub, and choose one that is copper free.

How do I clean the cedar on a hot tub?

Rinse with a garden hose, wash with a mild soap and a soft brush, working along the grain, and rinse again. Avoid high pressure washers, which raise and tear the grain, and avoid bleach based cleaners. Let the wood dry fully before applying any toner or finish.

Can the cedar on a hot tub be replaced?

On an AlumiTub, yes. The cedar is fastened to the aluminum structure with stainless steel bands and fasteners rather than being part of what holds the water, so individual boards can be replaced if one is ever damaged. That is part of what lets the tub keep going for decades.