3 Rules for a Cleaner, Safer Pool
At the end of a long day, you might look forward to heading home, getting into your bathing suit and swimming a few crisp laps in your backyard pool. Unfortunately, if your pool water is cloudy or riddled with foreign objects, your afternoon might become more stressful than relaxing.
Here are three rules you should make now for a cleaner, safer pool this summer.
1. Vacuum the Pool Weekly
Whether leaves from your yard are constantly blowing into your pool or your plaster liner is starting to chip apart, you never want to step on something foreign when you walk into your pool. Additionally, because some pool chemicals kill pests on contact, you might notice dead insects floating in your water, which can make the entire space unappealing.
To eliminate these kinds of issues, vacuum your pool at least once a week or use a pool vacuum that operates continuously during pool season. In addition to helping pool chemicals to stay at the right levels, vacuuming your pool also has the added bonus of giving you inside knowledge of what might be hurting your water quality.
For example, if you notice large chunks of loose plaster during your weekly vacuuming, your pool interior might need to be refinished. Damaged liners should be replaced to prevent problems with water leakage, which can also alter chemical levels. Repeated run-ins with dead insects might prompt better preventative pest control actions, and loads of extra leaves could indicate a tree or shrub that needs to be removed.
2. Put Away Pool Toys After Each Use
An outdoor pool and spa teeming with neon pool toys can be unappealing to adult guests. Ask your kids to stash toys after each use.
Unattended pool toys can also be incredibly dangerous, especially if you have small children or pets. When pool toys are left out, they can become tempting for kids and pets to pounce on, especially if the toys are shaped like oversized doughnuts or children's toys. A few out-of-place pool toys could be the lure your child into a dangerous situation if you’re not there to supervise.
Unattended pool toys can also become trip and fall hazards when left out, putting your family members at risk for unintentional spills. Also, because pool toys might be more likely to pop when they are tripped over or tossed suddenly, putting them away after use could help your family to enjoy them for longer.
To make pool toy cleanup fast and easy, create dedicated areas for pool toys to go after they have been used. Make sure the area can drain easily so that standing water doesn't attract pests.
3. Shower First
You never know who will decide to slather glittery suntan lotion all over their body before your next pool party. The chemicals present on your guests' bodies can hurt the balance of your pool chemistry, causing cloudy, unappealing water. If the pH of your pool becomes too low, it could damage the lining of the pool and prompt algae growth. If the pH gets too high, the water is more likely to form scale around the perimeter.
Fortunately, you can protect the delicate balance of your pool water by asking guests to shower quickly before they enter your pool. Consider installing an outdoor shower near your pool and having guests take a turn rinsing off before they jump in.