–

From Hot Tub:

NO SOAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If your not going to buy the filter cleaners which are a mild acid then you might as well use Muriatic acid which most services have always used. Do a 1 to 10 ratio with water. It’s much cheaper but can destroy your filters over time. Do not also use a high powered hose system either since it will ruin the polyester fibers.

If you do not want to use the filter cleaning products designed for the cartridges, either just use a garden hose with a nozzle, or a 1 to 10 ratio of Muriatic acid.
Obviously the Filter cleaner works BEST, but muriatic Acid is a 2nd best option.
Never EVER EVER EVER use anything that is NOT MEANT for a Pool or a spa that contains soap.

There are some products that are cleaning products, that are designed specifically for the swimming pool, and these are OK for your water, but would you want to swim in water that has been filtered with a cartridge that has been cleaned with dishsoap. Think of it as a sponge. Once that sponge gets saturated with soap, you can almost always get soap bubbled out of it when you get it wet. Well you are in essence doing the same thing to that filter if you use dish soap. That will eventually transfer into your water, and now you will be forced to correct this with other chemicals or means later on.
IF you do not feel comfortable with handling muriatic Acid, just hose it off. thats the best thing you can do for it.

Dr. Hot Tub is right, DO NOT use soap. Muriatic Acid is available to your local pool supply store or hardware store most of the time (Lowes and Home Depot). You may have trouble finding it at a smaller hardware store (call ahead of time).
You should really be asking yourself one question though. Would you rather pull apart your filter often and clean the filters without a good cleaning solution, or save yourself time and do it correctly?
I have a feeling that you’ll have a hard time finding Muriatic Acid for much cheaper than cartridge cleaner. Besides, you’ll have to invest the time looking for you. You probably already know where your local pool supply store is.
Just my $.02…
Cheers Dr. Hot Tub! Get my message? Call me when you’re free.