Regular cleaning of your home swimming pool requires four easy steps and the right tools for the job. This article will tell you about regular maintenance first, then what to do if your pool is especially dirty or overrun with algae. Make sure you have the following items on hand: Leaf skimmer, pool vacuum, wall and floor brush, algae brush, tile brush.
- Step one: Skimming leaves. This is something you should do regularly. You can use a net to walk around the pool nightly, removing debris, or reach down and sweep up leaves and other objects by hand when you notice them. Regularly skimming debris before they sink to the bottom will keep your filters clean and efficient, and help you avoid adding chemicals, like chlorine.
- Step Two: Cleaning out baskets. At least once a week, clean out strainer baskets to avoid clogging and keep water circulating. These are constantly sucking dirt and debris out of your pool water, and keeping them clear will ensure that your pool water is staying clean and fresh.
- Step three: Vacuuming. Using a pool vacuum once a week keeps water clear and reduces your need for chemicals. The vacuum should sweep up one side and down the other, overlapping slightly on each return. Clean the vacuum filter regularly.
- Step four: Clean the walls. Use a brush once a week to scrub the walls. This helps stop calcium deposit and algae build up and keep the water and pool clean naturally.
It is a good idea to assign each task to a different day of the week, that way the regular maintenance of your pool is not very time consuming, and the consistency of cleaning ensures that you don’t get any tough dirt or build up.
If you regularly maintain your pool, you shouldn’t have to worry about big cleaning jobs; but, in the case that you have a pool that is especially dirty, overtaken by algae, or gets regular, difficult to control algae, it may be time to drain it and use an acid wash. Call a professional and find out if this is right for you. Sometimes, if you can still see the bottom of the pool, there are chemicals that can help. Although undesirable, chemicals are less dangerous, and, in some cases less expensive than an (also chemical) acid wash. Lots of black algae in a pool, or growing out of the walls, means an acid wash may be a less expensive alternative, and can be done at home by individuals who have done extensive research and are willing to take extreme safety precautions.
Regular maintenance of your pool will keep your pool fresh, clean and beautiful. If, for whatever reason, circumstances have taken your pool beyond what is provided by normal maintenance, it is a good idea to consult a professional about using chlorine and other chemicals to restore your pool, or possibly doing and acid wash.
