Hi,
I'm sorry about your mother's arm. If you do a search on whirlpool cleaning instructions you'll come up with something like this. We just bought one of these tubs but it isn't installed yet. My sister has one though and follows these instructions from the Kohler website.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kohler cleaning instructions for whirlpool tub

I do what the kohler web site suggests after taking a bath. Not evern time though, since it's my own tub. I bet the hotels that have jetted tubs in the rooms don't do this. Kind of dusgusting when you think about it!!

THIS is why I replaced my whirlpool tub with a clawfoot tub. I had to do this just about every time I used it, which was rarely, because I couldn't stand the idea of all those cooties lurking in the pipes. I have heard the newer tubs use a more sanitary system. You ARE a good son! You really should tell your mom to repeat this process every few times she uses the tub, minimum.

Yes, you need to run them regularly to keep them clean. In addition, you can buy a solution that you add to the water and flush it thru the lines. Having said all that, the better option for new buyers are the "Air Jet" or "Bubblers." These tubs take in NO water and rely on warmed air. Far more hygenic and the bubbles are quite forceful! Check em' out......

You need to periodically use a cleaning or bleach solution in the tub. Purge the solution thru the jets to eleminate the algae. As an adjunct, the newer "Air Tubs" are far superior. They never have water in the lines and only use heated air for the bubbles....which are quite forceful!

I'm with Spacechallenged on this - I just did this last night in my tub. When I first bought the house, I didn't know how to clean this, and the jets had not been used in some time, but this took care of it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't outdoor spas and hot tubs have the same problem. So, why wouldn't you want to use the same solutions you use for the outdoor tubs and use that also for the indoor tubs? I was at Home Depot, and noticed that they had special algicide solutions for these outdoor hot tubs and spas.

Unlike bathtubs, hot tubs aren't for bathing. They are for relaxing. People are supposed to be clean before they get in. Since soap or detergent should never be used in a hot tub, it doesn't have to be drained after each use, but germicide is still required to keep bacteria in check.

Adding germicide to a bathtub for each use would be an expensive hassle, in my opinion. How well the germicide would interact with soap or detergent is an unknown.