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LEGO® Offers Hot Tubs – Controversy Ensues

Posted on February 9, 2012 by jessica

LEGO®, well-known plastic block and toy maker, recently launched LEGO Friends — a new and, it turns out, somewhat controversial line of toys.

As an initiative put together simply to market to young girls (because their current market includes mostly young boys, and as CEO Jorgan Vig Knudstorp was quoted as saying, “We want to reach the other 50 percent of the world’s population”), the line includes a lot of pink and pastel colours. There are five female dolls offered now too, along with buildings such as a beauty salon and a fashion design studio. There’s even a “splash pool” that appears to be a hot tub.

Some parents are up in arms over the entire line of toys (http://stonemountain NULL.patch NULL.com/articles/moms-talk-gender-stereotyping-by-toymakers-6ea36913), claiming that it is full of gender stereotyping. Stephanie Cole says in an article on Patch.com, ” … if you keep on excluding [girls] from your marketing vision, soon they will start to believe that they would rather have hot tubs and little plastic boobs.”

We’re sure she doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with hot tubs, even though there is something wrong with gender stereotyping — whether or not you believe LEGO means to stereotype.

Regardless of the cause, perhaps it’s why this LEGO advertisement from 1973 has started making the rounds on the Internet recently:

lego ad from 1973 what it is is beautiful

Do hot tubs belong in LEGO play sets? We don’t see anything wrong with little girls AND boys having a toy hot tub — as long as kids are safe and supervised when in the real thing!

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Best Hot Tub/Spa in 2012?

Posted on January 30, 2012 by jessica

reader's choice seal - about.com

The About.com Readers’ Choice Awards 2012 nominations are now open!

The Best Hot Tub / Spa category (http://poolandpatio NULL.about NULL.com/u/ntn/spahottubhu1/About-Com-Readers-Choice-Awards-2012-Best-Hot-Tub-Spa/form NULL.htm) will showcase the year’s top portable spa and hot tub brands and manufacturers, as nominated and voted on by readers. This means you could have a say!

Do you have a favourite? Hurry over and nominate it — nominations end February 15, 2012, after which About.com will narrow it down to the top five contestants in each category. Then readers can vote on the best of the best. Winners will be announced March 30, 2012!

Learn more about the About.com Readers’ Choice Awards here (http://awards NULL.about NULL.com/od/webdesign/a/awards_FAQ NULL.htm)!

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Safe and Responsible Disposal of Your Old Hot Tub Cover

Posted on January 13, 2012 by jessica

creativewaystoreusecovers

So you’ve found the perfect new hot tub cover for your hot tub. You old cover is heavy and waterlogged, and ready for the dump. But is a landfill the best way to dispose of it? There may be a better way.

First, can you reuse your old hot tub cover?

Back in September we covered some creative ways to reuse your old hot tub cover (https://www NULL.hottubcoverscanada NULL.ca/blog/general-interest/what-to-do-with-old-hottubs/). We suggested using it to transport something across water, or to cut a boogie board out of it, or even to reuse the foam as insulation somewhere else. Reusing it is definitely more environmentally friendly than throwing it away, and if you can find a new use for it you’ll be saving money you would have spent on something else.

If you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, or have no reason to reuse it, can you recycle it?

Yes, you absolutely can recycle parts of it, if you take it apart and separate the different materials. You can cut the seam with a box cutter, open the zippers, and pull out the foam insulation and metal stiffeners. Cut up the vinyl and any plastic vapour barrier that still exists between the vinyl and the foam (vapour barrier tends to break down over time). Cut the foam into smaller pieces and bag it. The metal pieces can be taken to a metal recycling facility and usually recycled for free (metal recycling is usually available at or near your local landfill. This vinyl and foam may be able to be recycled in your area, or it may need to go in the garbage bin.

Check with your municipality for local landfill information and recycling initiatives.

If you’re unable to reuse or recycle a hot tub cover for any reason, should you just throw it out?

As with most items these days, it is usually preferable if you can find a way to reuse it or recycle it in some fashion. If this is not possible, your local landfill will likely accept it as waste material.

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Hot Tubs: Good for Your Health!

Posted on January 6, 2012 by jessica

healthbenefitsofspas

It has long been suggested that saunas are good for your health; supposedly you get in, sweat out toxins, and get out refreshed and healthier. Finns have been using saunas since the ice ages for relaxation, detoxification, and an afterglow of clear, healthy skin. It’s such a cultural phenomenon that in Finland, the number of saunas averages one per household. That means pretty much every single Finnish family believes in saunas for one use or another!

But what about hot tubs; do they boast the same health benefits as saunas?
Hot water or steam healing using saunas and baths has been in practice for centuries. Egyptians are said to have used hot baths for relaxation and pain management. Lately, therapeutic tubbing has been named many things including spa therapy, hydrotherapy, and balneotherapy.

As for whether today’s hot tubs can boast the same health benefits as saunas, or as natural mineral hot springs with supposed healing properties, it’s pretty clear that there are some absolute health benefits and a lot of debate over others.

Look up any relaxation ranch or health spa and many do suggest that hot tubs and holistic health practices go hand-in-hand. They imply that bringing up your body’s temperature allows you to sweat, detoxify, and therefore leave healthier and happier. (The line between spas for pleasure use and spas for health use is hard to define at times; if you look for a health spa, do your research! Speak to your health professional for recommendations.)

Some doctors have suggested patients (including cancer patients) indulge in some stress-free hot tubbing for relaxation (physical and mental) and for pain management, which seems as good a recommendation as any! However, there are caveats to using hot tubs for health purposes; people with certain health situations (low blood pressure, varicose veins, pregnancy) should consult their doctors before beginning a hot tubbing regimen, or simply steer clear of hot tubs rather than exacerbate a problem.

For the majority of people, however, a few minutes a day in a hot tub can make all the difference in improving their sense of well-being.

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How Safe Are Hot Tubs for Kids, Really?

Posted on December 20, 2011 by jessica

young girl ready to jump out of hot tub

If you have a hot tub and children or grandchildren, you’ve no doubt wondered: How young is too young for a dip in the spa? Assuming the kids are old enough to play in a pool or hot tub (let’s say they have taken some swimming lessons so they’re comfortable in the water), is the high temperature harmful? How long should they stay in the water?

When can you leave kids alone to use the hot tub? Will the kids understand the dangers?

There are so many questions! Luckily, we’ve found some guidelines.
As long as you keep your hot tub maintained and clean, disinfected and relatively free from bacteria, it should be safe for most people of most ages to use. However, pregnant women should avoid soaking for longer than ten minutes at a time (or avoid it completely, if they’re not feeling well). The elderly or those with health conditions such as varicose veins or low blood pressure (if it’s okay with their doctors that they use the spa) should monitor how they feel and exit the hot tub should they feel worse upon entering.

As for kids, you should restrict access to your hot tub at all times. Babies and toddlers should not be allowed in your hot tub at all. Older children are still at a much higher risk of overheating than adults, and according to a HealthLinkBC article from July, 2007, should not be allowed to soak in a hot tub for longer than five minutes at a time.

Consider the temperature too – it doesn’t need to be at the maximum safe heat setting! Choose a lower temperature for kids.

Of course, if you don’t have the time or ability to supervise older children using your hot tub, you shouldn’t allow them to use it at all! Most spa accidents involving kids happen when they’re unsupervised, or their supervisor is (even briefly) distracted.

Ensure that children don’t put their heads near the suction fitting; hair can become entangled and cause drowning. Know how to turn your hot tub off immediately should an emergency arise.

Use caution, prioritize kids’ safety around hot tubs, and you and the kids can have an enjoyable spa experience.

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Hot Tub Gift Ideas

Posted on December 12, 2011 by jessica

holiday_spa_retreat

What to get for the hot tub owner who has everything?

Whether for birthdays, anniversaries or holidays, it always seems like a struggle to think of a gift for your loved ones that they will appreciate, and that won’t break the bank. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite hot tub related gifts. Everyone loves their hot tub, and will love your gift to make it even better. So next time you’re stuck for presents, rather than thinking inside the box for the same tired old gift ideas, think inside the tub instead.

Kids of all ages love to splash around and play in the hot tub, and there are a ton of toys out there to add fun and excitement to the hot tub. From rubber ducks to waterproof playing cards, games and toys make a much better gift when you can use them in the hot tub!

If you have someone in your life who deals with a lot of stress, why not help them out by giving them the gift of relaxation? Hot tubs can be a great place to relax, and the experience can be even better with the right products. Hot tub pillows can help make time in the hot tub even more calming. Why not be creative and put together a “relaxation kit,” complete with a luxurious bathrobe, hot tub pillow, scented candles and a rejuvenating herbal tea?
For people who like to socialize in their hot tub, and often play the role of host to their friends and family, why not make the hot tub an even better place to hang out with some helpful gifts? Floating drink coolers can let you stay hydrated without having to leave the tub, and spa caddies that attach to the side of the hot tub save the host from having to leave the party to get drinks and snacks.

Many hot tub owners will also appreciate a gift to help “spruce up” the area around their hot tub. A bold piece of art or interesting item of patio furniture can turn a simple spa area into a place that is trendy and welcoming. If you’re feeling more practical, give the gift of safety by buying non-slip mats or stairs for entering the hot tub.

Whichever item suits you loved ones best, the possibilities are nearly endless in terms of purchasing unique and thoughtful presents for the hot tub owners in your life. Consult your local hot tub dealer, or check out the wide variety of products online. And be careful, most of the products are so great you might just end up buying some for your own hot tub!

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