What Are the Best Home Swimming Pool Maintenance Tricks and Tips?
Nothing says summertime like a refreshing dip in the crystal blue waters of a swimming pool. The experience is even better when that pool is in your own backyard for your entire family to enjoy every day — provided those waters always stay sparkling and clear, of course. It’s critical to maintain your pool and the water in it in pristine condition, but contrary to what you might think, pulling this off doesn’t have to be an overwhelming chore.
In fact, all you have to do is practice some basic steps for pool care, and you can count on enjoying a sparkling, beautiful pool all summer long. From mastering a pool vacuum to putting your chemistry skills to the test, here’s a look at some of the most crucial things you need to remember about pool maintenance.
Keep Pool Surfaces Clean
Trash near your pool or in the water is more than just visually unappealing; it’s a potential health hazard. Use a dip net to skim debris, grass and leaves from the pool’s surface, and vacuum the bottom and sides of the pool frequently. Investing in a robotic pool vacuum requires a larger cash outlay up front, but it can ultimately save you a lot of effort when it comes to pool cleaning.
It’s also important to scrub the sides of the pool regularly to get rid of algae. Spot scrubbing is fine most of the time, but the whole pool should be scrubbed occasionally. Avoid using cleaners that could upset the chemical balance of the pool or cause stains or discoloration of the tiles. Instead, rely on some old-fashioned elbow grease to scrub away algae and allow the pool’s chemicals to do the rest.
Maintain Balanced Chemical Levels
As we just implied, it’s important to keep the pool’s chemical levels within their recommended ranges to ensure the water remains crystal clear and free of bacteria, toxins and other potential hazards. Be sure to pick up a water testing kit at a pool store or home improvement store and test the water at least once a week. The test kits come with precise instructions to help you keep the chemicals balanced.
Don’t Neglect the Filter System
Your swimming pool’s filtration system works in conjunction with your chemical levels and cleaning efforts to maintain the perfect harmony you need to enjoy a sparkling pool day after day. Think of it as both the circulatory system and the kidneys of the pool. Not only does the filter keep out visible trash and junk, but it also gets rid of bad stuff you can’t see. Be sure to clean out your filter’s basket every day to remove any debris it catches. It won’t do any good to use a great filter that you rarely clean.