How to Clean and Maintain Your Swimming Pool

Maintain Your Swimming Pool

If you have just finished pool renovations and are new to the delightful world of home swimming pools you will want to know the best ways to keep that pool clean. The easiest way of all is to purchase an automatic pool cleaner. That way you don’t have to work quite so hard to clean and maintain the water in your pool.

However, automatic pool cleaners can’t do all the work that is needed. Here are some of the other ways in which you can ensure good water quality and reduce the need for extra chemicals in the pool.

  • Use a pool scoop to skim leaves and other debris out of the pool on a daily basis. The sooner they are out, the less likely the ph of the water is to change. Rotting starts immediately, even though you cannot see it with the naked eye and it is that which interferes with the ph level of the water. Vacuuming should be done at least once a week, but daily is better.
  • If you don’t have an automatic cleaner, brush down the walls of the pool. Algae tends to form on the walls of the pool. Since it seems to grow there, it needs to be brushed off. It will then sink to the bottom where the robot cleaner can deal with it. If your pool is concrete lined with plaster, a stiff brush will be needed. Other types require a soft bristle brush.

  • Pool blankets are a good way to keep the water cleaner if you are going away on holidays or during the winter when it is not in use. It will also prevent water evaporation that may alter the ph to some extent. Less chlorine is needed due to the lack of evaporation.
  • Every pool has a filter along with the water pump, but the type of filter can vary. The three common filters are diatomaceous earth, sand and cartridge. Each one has different requirements for cleaning and/or refilling or renewing. Keeping strictly to the instructions is the best way to use them.
  • Testing the ph levels of the water is part of the maintenance process. Unless you know what the ph levels are you won’t know what action needs to be taken. Ph levels should be in between the 7.2 and 7.8 mark for safe swimming. You can test the ph levels with a special kit that is easy to use. If the water is too alkaline the bottom feels slippery and this will impede the progress of your automatic cleaner.

Pools don’t need dangerous chemicals like chlorine to be safe and sanitary. Alternative sanitation that is far more environmentally friendly is available.  The pool is easier to clean, too.