Keeping Your Pool Clean: When, Why, and How
Can you recall when was the last time your pool got some love from you? It might be because it’s been a while since the last time you cleaned it. If you will go out and check its condition right now, you may probably wish to go back a few months ago when the pool water sparkles as it kisses the sun’s rays.
Don’t feel too nostalgic about it since there is a faster way to bring that clear water back. With the right cleaning tools and procedure, you can enjoy swimming in your pool again without feeling the dirt beneath your feet.
When to Clean Your Pool
Pool care should be done consistently every week. This is crucial to make sure that you nip things in the bud as soon as they arise. Don’t wait until you see the pool water change into murky to a greenish color. Cleaning your pool weekly using a robotic pool cleaner plus other tools can help prevent problems before they happen.
Your weekly maintenance routine should include:
- Test the pH level of the water. The proper pH level is somewhere between 7.4 to 7.6.
- If the pH level is off, adjust it accordingly. There are alkaline tablets that you can use to either increase or decrease the pool’s pH level.
- Test for chlorine levels, which should be between 1.0 to 3.0 parts per million. If the chlorine level is lower than this, add the right amount of chlorine tablets. If it exceeds 3.0, remove the cover to let the sunshine in. Add a chlorine neutralizer to stabilize the chlorine level.
- Skim your pool regularly to remove fallen leaves, insects, and other foreign materials.
- Use a robotic pool cleaner to remove debris from mixed-in to water or settle to the floor. Empty the bot’s skimmer basket after use.
Aside from this checklist, there are other steps that you can do on a monthly/ quarterly basis to keep your pool clean. Every two-three months, use a filter cleaner to take out dirt and grease on your pool filters. Within this time-frame, you can also dose your pool with a metal remover. Let the dose sit in for two to three days before you thoroughly vacuum your pool. Finally, cover the pool if you’re not going to use it for a long time.
Why Clean Your Pool
You know the apparent reason you need to clean your pool – because you don’t like swimming in dirty water. Well, that’s a straightforward answer, but there are other good reasons why cleaning your pool is necessary.
First, the pool needs the right chemical level to be safe for swimming. A significant proportion of contaminants can alter the water’s pH, chlorine, and bromine levels. Also, dried leaves, dead bugs, and bird poops can increase water pollution. When this happens, your pool is a giant breeding ground for harmful microorganisms that can cause various medical conditions.
What illnesses can you get when you get in contact with or accidentally drink unsanitized water? There are many, but the most common health risks include dysentery, cholera, Hepa A, and eye and ear irritation. Swimmers itch is also common when the pool is infested with bacteria from blue-green algae. When these microorganisms get inside your body or even get in contact with your skin, they can pose serious health risks.
Sometimes, even if the water looks clean, it still has a concentration of harmful bacteria swimming in it. The best way to determine if the water is safe is to do a chlorine and pH test weekly. Cleaning your pool once a week is the only way to get safe and sanitized pool water.
How to Clean Your Pool
Before you get started, make sure you have the following equipment:
Telescopic pole: This pole is where you can attach other cleaning tools such as skimmer nets, brushes, and vacuum heads. Most telescopic pools are extendable – an 8 ft pole that extends twice its length is enough to reach different areas like walls and floor.
Skimmer nets: Skimmer nets can collect debris, twigs, leaves, and other objects in the water. There are two types of skimmer nets: bag-type and flat-type. Between these two, the flat style is easier to use.
Pool brush: Use a pool brush to scrub the walls, floor, poolsides, and accessories. It is very effective in removing algae from these surfaces.
Manual pool vacuum: You can attach the vacuum to the pole to reach every part of the pool. A pool vacuum can suck dirt and algae after scrubbing.
Once you have the essential tools above, you can start by skimming the surface with a flat skimmer attached to the pole. This step removed solid, foreign objects.
Once the surface is clear of debris, use the brush to clean the sides, floors, stairs, and ladders. Then, use a vacuum to take out dirt from the surface to the floor. The general rule is to vacuum after brushing so that the vacuum can suck the dirt off right after. Lastly, test the water’s pH and chlorine level and make adjustments as necessary.
Cleaning Your Pool with a Robotic Pool Cleaner
Sure, you can do all the steps above if you have all the time in the world. But if you’re looking for a way to clean the pool with the same result for less effort and time, consider using a robotic pool cleaner. This tool cleans the pool while you do something else – making your day more productive and less stressful.
An automatic cleaner takes a tedious and repetitive job off your hands. All you have to do is to submerge the robot into the pool, turn it on, and let it do its thing. Once you come back after an hour or two, you’ll notice that the pool is cleaner than before. This innovative machine does its job diligently without the need for your constant intervention.
Today, many pool cleaners have intelligent features that allow the bot to optimize its path around the pool for maximum coverage. It looks like an expensive investment at first, but it’s a practical choice in the long run. It gives you the following benefits:
- Power saver: a robotic pool cleaner has its own filtration system and doesn’t rely on the pool’s filtration system; thus, it doesn’t need to pump water by the pool’s pump, saving energy.
- Water saver: since you’re not using the pool filtration system, you don’t need to backwash it often. Most eco-friendly pool robots allow you to conserve more water with their unique features.
- Chemical saver: the robot takes out dirt directly using the device’s filter, so you don’t need chemicals to clean the pool’s filtration system.
Robotic pool cleaners can handle any debris and guide them directly into the device’s filters. They are equipped with smart technology to help it “remember” the pool’s shape and size. Aside from cleaning pool water, it also aids in water circulation to give you a fresher swim each time.
