Cleaning your swimming pool can be quite tedious, especially if you have to do it by yourself. That’s why it’s important to have the right tools and equipment to make the process easier. If you don’t have the proper tools, you might spend more time cleaning than necessary or you might even damage the pool in the process. By using this guide on how to clean your swimming pool, you can learn which tools and equipment you need and how to use them correctly so that you can enjoy your pool to its fullest potential.
Why is my pool dirty
If you’ve been noticing that your pool is gradually getting dirtier, or if you simply can’t see the bottom, it’s time for a thorough cleaning. Dirty pools can be a result of too many people in the pool at once, excessive contact with trees and shrubs near the edge of the pool, or leaves collecting at the bottom. It’s best to avoid these things if possible so that when it comes time for cleaning you won’t have as much work to do.
Tools needed for a clean pool
The equipment necessary for cleaning a pool is surprisingly minimal, but you should always have the following items on hand: brushes, leaf nets, long-handled garden hoses, pool skimmers and squeegees. You may also need a pool vacuum cleaner and an in-ground or suction powered drain filter.
Pool skimmer
It’s important that you purchase a pool skimmer that has a lid, so dirt doesn’t get stirred up into the pool while you’re scooping it out. A good time to clean your skimmer is after someone takes a dip in the pool (assuming they didn’t walk across the surface). If they walked on the surface, it’s best not to use a net at all as this will stir up more dirt. Always rinse off your net with fresh water before putting it away.
Leaf rake
The leaf rake is a tool that you can use to help keep your pool clean. It has a built-in basket in the front which allows you to sweep up debris from the water surface or from dry leaves on the ground near the pool. The front edge of the rake is covered in tough, ribbed bristles, so it’s able to grab leaves out of water or dirt as well.
Vacuum cleaner
This guide will show you how to clean the bottom of a pool without a vacuum cleaner, just using a powerful leaf net. We recommend that you pick up a leaf net for your pool before tackling any cleaning tasks.
Hose (attachment required)
If you’re out of a vacuum and there’s sand, leaves, or dust in the bottom of your pool, there’s no need to panic. Simply attach a garden hose (also known as an extension nozzle) to your standard garden faucet by screwing it on tight. Attach the other end of the hose (the part where the water comes out) securely to the hole at the bottom of your pool–directly on top of whatever needs cleaning.
Test strips
Pool test strips are a great way to measure the chemicals in your pool. All you need is one single strip of paper, dip it into your pool water, and then wait a few minutes for the color result on the other side. They will usually tell you what you need to know within seconds so that you can make adjustments accordingly. However, they cannot tell you how well these changes will work until there is sufficient time has passed.
Chlorine tablets
One method for how to clean the bottom of a pool without a vacuum is by dumping chlorine tablets in the water. Doing this will disinfect the water at its roots, which is where your chlorine concentration is strongest. Simply pour an entire package of tablets in a clear and relatively deep container of pool water, stir them around with a long-handled brush until they are dissolved, wait five minutes for the chlorine levels to drop before dumping them out into the yard.
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