Donna, Um, every whirlpool I have ever heard of is also available just as as a soaking tub... If it's going to be your tub, go sit in the tubs (yes, the whirlpools! :)) and decide which one feels best. That was my criterion. Sit in them and then get your favorite one made as a soaking tub. (after checking step-in heights, since it will be used as a shower too) As I said, Maax Melodie and Palace felt the best by far to me, but everyone's different (I've heard the Palace is pretty popular with folks who can fit a 6' tub in). Also, if you can fit 6' in, try the Toto cast iron 6' tub. If after all that the Porcher Ardennes is the one that feels best, go with that. I'm sure they'd have a way to help you make an alcove situation for it. If the Neptune feels best, go with that (again, check the height wrt using it as a shower). So your assignment is to go to the stores in Chicago, step into the tubs, sit in them, and decide which one feels best entering and lounging in. Then report back :)

The whirlpool bath manufacturers, such as ourselves, have made great strides in reducing the amount of water left in the plumbing harnesses in conventional whirlpools. In the past, only flexible tubing was used in the plumbing harness. This flexible tubing would sag over time and hold substantial amounts of water in them. The results were the black mold build up discussed. Now, some manufactures use rigid PVC piping that is heat formed to allow the water to automatically drain out of the jets. MTI Whirlpools took it a step further and patented a cleaning system that back flushes the entire plumbing harness using your incoming potable water supply. You can clean the entire plumbing harness will less than 10 gallons of water. We have a very detailed illustration on our website. Here is a link that might be useful: MTI Whirlpools

I'd like to invite you to check out Zero Bull Jetted Tub Cleaner. I’m a co-founder of Zero-Bull.com. We make powerful, safe, all-natural replacements for common, dangerous chemicals. We’ve taken a successful industrial cleaner used by Kellogg’s, Carnival, Craft, and U.S Navy and repackaged it for household bathtub use. Pages like this often recommend DIY solutions using bleach, vinegar, or products that use “quat” like Oh Yuck. We have a lot of research on these chemicals as cleaning solutions. The consensus is that bleach and quat are extremely dangerous, and vinegar is mildly effective. Here’s a brief explanation about why bleach, vinegar and quat are not great solutions for jetted tubs: Bleach: when bleach is added to a tub of hot water, the chemical aerosolizes, filling the room with the noxious chemical known to cause asthma, lung damage, and rashes. Also, the corrosiveness of bleach will damage a jetted tub system over time. Vinegar: household vinegar has a pH of about three. Vinegar by itself won’t actually clean out the jets—it’s better at cleaning mineral deposits but can’t cut and remove gunk saturated in biomaterial oil deposits. Quat: Like Bleach, quaternary ammonium compound is known to cause asthma, lung damage, and skin irritation. Quat poses a “high health risk” and “moderate flammability” on the HMIS scale. Oh Yuk is a popular jetted tub cleaner that contains quat. Jetted Tub Cleaner - LInk! Please send your feedback, we love seeing reviews, especially the nasty photos!

Dana, thank you - you made my day! Glad to hear you are saving the tub. You won't be sorry. Believe it or not the original claw tub is a feature which is now included in real estate listings to attract old house buyers. Chances are people who don't like baths just have never lived with a nice deep luxurious old tub. A bath in such a tub bears no resemblance to a bath in one of those horrible shallow modern bath tubs. It might take some getting used to but the claw tub with a tall gooseneck faucet is a great substitute for a shower. After a good soak you rinse off sticking your head under the faucet. Or, some people use the hand held showers. I just have a tub only and I never ever have wished I could have a shower. When I lived with a shower only I really missed having baths and would in fact sometimes go to friends houses to use theirs! For the people who just GOTTA have that stand up shower==see if there is ANYWHERE else in your house where you can put it. The tiled floor with drain sounds like a great solution too.