Every person who owns a pool wants to have the same thing i.e. sparkling blue water, at all times. It is always so refreshing to go home after a hard day and take a dip or play games with the kids on weekends in the pool. Swimming laps can definitely be the way to keep fit. However, there is only one downside when it comes to a pool, the regular upkeep required.
Swimming Pool Cleaning Options
When it comes to cleaning your pool, you could do it yourself, hire a pool cleaner, or purchase an automated pool vacuum cleaner. The best option should be determined by the following:
- Your type of pool- above ground or in-ground
- The amount and the types of leaves your pool collects
- The size of the pool
- The pipes and filter systems you use
- Your budget
The Supplies You Will Need
Ensure that you have all the necessary supplies when cleaning your pool. This will make the job easier and more effective.
Tools
- Telescopic pole
- Leaf skimmer
- Pool brush
- Leaf net
- Pool vacuum
- pH tester
- Pool filter
Chemicals
- Sanitizing chlorine tablets
- Pool shock
- Salt chlorinators
How to Clean Your Swimming Pool
The first thing you have to do is skim the surface of the pool. This will remove all the debris floating on the surface. You can then use the pool brush to clean stairs, ladder, and the sides of the pool. If necessary, you can use force to remove grime and pay more attention to the areas of the pool without proper circulation.
To clean the floor, you will use the vacuum. In case yours is manual, you should clean your swimming pool the same way you would clean a carpet. If the pool vacuum is automatic you will just let it clean. Make sure the vacuum cleaner is designed for your pool surface, which could be vinyl, concrete or fiberglass.
You can then check the pH level of your pool and add the sanitizing chlorine tablets when you see fit. You can consider adding pool shock as well to prevent further contamination and algae growth.
You should have the filter running about 8 to 10 hours every day. The filter collects all the dirt as well as microscopic particles and it needs to be well maintained in order to be efficient. Cartridge filters can be cleaned with pressure washing with a hose and sand and D.E. filters should be cleaned through backwashing. Generally, backwashing should be done when the pressure reaches 10 psi above the initial startup pressure.
How to Clean a Green Swimming Pool
If your pool is completely dirty that it turns green, the surface is probably covered in scum. You should not use the skimmer because it will just mix the scum deeper in the pool making the water even dirtier. Instead, using a leaf net to remove anything on the surface of the pool is an excellent idea.
For a green pool, the first thing you should do is test the pH of the water and then, you should reduce or increase it accordingly. You could even need to use an alkalinity in this case. After this, add the chemicals starting with a few gallons of shock pool then wait for 24 hours to see what the color of the water becomes. It could either turn cloudy white, light green or clear. If it does not change, add more shock pool.
Keep your filter running full time for about five days and backwash your filter a few times every day to remove all the dirt caught. Once the pool water becomes clear, you can use the vacuum the floor. If the pool is too dirty to deal with, consider looking for professional help to avoid damaging your filters or clogging up your pipes.
Using Automatic Pool Cleaners
- Pressure-Side Pool Cleaner
This is the most common and it uses water pressure for the pool pump and filters. However, some need their own booster pumps. This type is great for cleaning large debris like leaves, grass, and bugs. It is also very durable and it does not move the debris to the filter or pump basket. It moves the dirt to a designated filter bag.
- Robotic Pool Cleaners
This type is powered by an electric motor and a pump. It is connected to a low voltage transformer that is plugged into an outdoor outlet. A robotic pool cleaner comes with a pump and does not need the pool filter to be running. They are great for cleaning both large and small debris, the scrubbing the walls and some of the best robotic pool cleaners filter the water when the pool filter is off.
- Suction Pool Cleaners
These are like manual vacuum cleaners only that they move on their own. They need the pool system for filtration and power. These cleaners are ideal for people who are working on a low budget but they still need something to clean the pool.
