A: Hi John, congratulations on the new whirlpool!

Whirlpools are a great way to relax in your own home. However, like any piece of high-performance equipment, special care is needed to keep them clean and trouble-free.

What you're dealing with is not a problem with the tub itself, but what is left behind in the jets and pipes of the whirlpool from previous baths. Oils, hair and dirt can become trapped in the piping of the whirlpool.

Most people don't even realize that when a whirlpool is drained and washed down on the "outside" of the tub, some water will be trapped in the jet lines with all the debris I just mentioned. This is a recipe for forming black soap-scum-like particles that will be forced out of the jet lines when the pump is turned on, and these particles will end up floating around in the tub.

Most whirlpool manufacturers and specialty cleaning companies do sell products made exclusively for cleaning the "inside" of jetted tubs. I recommend you contact the manufacturer of your whirlpool to get a list of the cleaning products that you can use with your tub.

Basically, how the cleaner works is that after every use you would keep the tub full of water and as per the directions, you add the cleaner to the water. Then run the tub to mix the cleaner into the water and through the jet lines. When you drain the tub, any trapped water remaining in the lines will have the cleaner in it, and this should cut down on scum buildup in the piping.

So basically, you need to give your whirlpool a "bath" to solve this issue. Also, to cut down on debris in the jet lines, you should not use soap products or shampoo in a jetted tub. Just remember Ed's advice that "Showers are for washing up and whirlpools are for calming down."