Owning a swimming pool is one of the most enjoyable recreational investments you can make. But this doesn’t mean there isn’t a downside. Keeping your pool clean and maintained is essential for the pool’s functionality and your friends' and family's health and safety.
The good news is you can do things to make the pool cleaning experience more pleasant. Here are several expert pool cleaning tips to make the chore easier than ever:
Use a Robotic Pool Cleaner
Investing in a robotic pool cleaner is one of the easiest ways to make pool cleaning easier. This automates one of the most challenging and exhausting jobs of owning a pool.
Automatic or robotic cleaners are a game changer when it comes to maintenance. You can set and forget these cleaners, and they’ll take care of scrubbing debris, algae, and dirt from the floors and walls of your pool.
Most come with energy-efficient motors, smart navigation systems, and filters that pick up particles smaller than you’d likely capture manually. You can create a schedule for your pool cleaner that takes care of the work without you needing to do or think about anything.
Become an Expert at Water Chemistry Balancing
When you decide to buy a pool, you likely aren’t imagining yourself in a laboratory mixing chemicals to keep your pool functional. But it doesn’t take long to learn basic pool chemistry once you own the pool – if you’re handling maintenance on your own. For the best water quality, you’ll need to monitor a variety of factors, including:
- pH: Aim for a range between 7.4 and 7.6 for swimmer comfort and equipment longevity.
- Total alkalinity: Maintain levels between 80 to 120 ppm to stabilize pH.
- Calcium hardness: Keep levels between 200 to 400 ppm to prevent scaling or corrosion.
- Cyanuric acid: Ideal levels are 30 to 50 ppm to protect chlorine from sunlight degradation.
Choosing a professional-grade pool test kit helps you make accurate adjustments. Keeping these elements in balance prevents a variety of common pool issues, including algae growth, cloudy water, and damage to your equipment.
Optimize the Performance of Your Filtration System
Your pool’s filtration system is its primary defense against contaminants. It keeps the debris in your pool to a minimum between cleanings. To do so effectively, you must keep the pool filter clean.
Additionally, during the height of pool season, you should run your filter system for about 8 to 12 hours every day to keep the water circulating and clean.
Shock Your Pool
“Shocking” your pool might sound unusual for people who have never owned pools or are new to pool ownership, but all seasoned pool owners know it’s one of the most important chores associated with keeping a pool functional.
Shocking the pool requires you to add a concentrated liquid “shock” to your pool. We recommend doing so on a consistent schedule, especially after storms or extended heavy use of your pool. A few additional tips include:
- Add shock at night to avoid UV degradation of the chemicals
- Use a high-quality shock product and dissolve it in water before adding it to the pool
- Test the water 24 hours after shocking and re-balance the chemistry as needed
Perform Regular Deep Cleanings
In addition to keeping your filter in good working order and relying on a robotic pool cleaner to do regular cleanings, you’ll also want to schedule consistent deep cleanings. Deep cleanings include:
- Acid washing surfaces to remove mineral buildup and stains
- Inspecting and repairing grout and tiles
- Resealing concrete or plaster surfaces when needed
Many people perform deep cleanings annually, but consider whether more frequent deep cleanings could benefit your pool’s health and functionality. Also, when using harsher chemicals for deep cleanings, make sure you follow all safety precautions.
Keeping your pool clean is necessary to enjoy it fully, but it doesn’t need to be an arduous chore. Combining advanced technology and tools, consistent monitoring, and proactive care can make the job easier and more effective.
Do you need help improving your pool cleaning experience or want to invest in high-quality cleaning products and tools? Our experts are ready to assist you.