How to Clean a Pool in 4 Easy Steps

Having a pool to enjoy in your backyard is one of the best added luxuries of being a homeowner. And keeping it healthy and clean is crucial to maximizing its benefits. The secret to pristine pool health is regular, routine care. There are 4 easy tasks you can do that will ensure it stays sparkling and clear. Follow these steps on how to clean a pool so you can enjoy all the advantages of a personal lagoon:

Step 1: Skim Debris Off the Surface

Every pool owner should have a hand skimmer or net to be able to filter out leaves, bugs, and other debris from the surface of your pool water. Skimmers with long handles are ideal for easily reaching the center of your pool. By catching floating debris before it sinks to the bottom, you can prevent having to remove it with a vacuum and risk the chance of any large items from clogging the vacuum, drain, or filter. This increases the efficiency of your pool’s circulation system by inhibiting excess debris from getting caught in it. Skimming your pool reduces the amount of chlorine you’ll need to use in order to keep it crystal clear, as well.

Step 2: Vacuum and Brush Pool Floor, Walls, and Tile

Though it is sometimes a nuisance to keep a vacuum roaming your pool, they are very handy for keeping the plaster in top condition. However, if you want to avoid having to constantly swim past a vacuum, simply store one away to use every few weeks. In the meantime, you can use an extended pool brush with thick bristles to gently scrub away dirt and algae on the walls and floor. Using a downward motion, push any unwanted materials towards the main drains in the center of your pool. A smaller, softer brush can be used to scrub tiles to keep their colors vibrant. This should be done weekly to sustain an immaculate pool.

Step 3: Maintain the Skimmer and Filter

Emptying the skimmer basket is a simple task that prevents any blockage in the circulation system, which could lead to a quickly polluted pool. Keep an eye on the skimmer basket, and empty it every week or so. It’s not necessary to completely rinse it out, as some dirt particles actually help to catch more. The same thing goes for the filter in your pool equipment. A pristinely clean filter doesn’t catch as much dirt as one with a mild amount. However, a filter that is too dirty is counteractive and can significantly increase your energy bills from your pool pump. A good time to rinse out your pool filter is when the flow between the pressure gauge and flow meter is increased by 10 to 15 pounds per square inch.

Step 4: Keep an Eye on the pH Level of the Water

In order to ensure that your pool water is safe for swimming and the sanitizers are working efficiently, it’s important to check the pH level periodically. The pH scale is a measurement of acidity that runs from 0 to 14, with an ideal reading between 7.2 and 7.8. Inexpensive testing kits can be bought at your local pool store. There are many kinds of testing kits available, but most homeowner versions are either reagent kits or test-strips. Both are very easy to use. Imbalanced pH levels cause eye irritation.  Also, chlorine can’t properly kill bacteria if pH levels are too high. If pH levels are too high for an extended period of time, you may have to shock your pool. Shocking your pool essentially means adding a considerable amount of chlorine that will kill off bacteria and prevent algae from growing more. Before doing so, however, make sure to reduce your pH level to 7.2 - 7.8 to enable the chlorine to do it’s job.  

Now that you know how to clean a pool with these simple tasks, you’ll be able to maintain a healthy and sustainable swimming pool. Don’t let your cleaning efforts go to waste - a gorgeous pool deserves to be used every season! So, investing in an efficient heater is well worth it. Solar powered heaters have the quickest return on investment for pool heaters, and Superior Solar is a great place to start your search for one. Take one step closer to enjoying your sparkling lagoon every day when you contact a Superior Solar representative!