It’s hard to think about swimming outdoors when you have four-foot snowdrifts sitting in front of your garage. Still, spring is only a few short weeks away, and if you plan to make the most of your backyard oasis, now is the time to start planning your cleaning attack.
If you live in a climate that allows you to swim year-round, then you won’t have to do much in the way of deep-cleaning this spring, provided you have done regular maintenance of your pool on a weekly or monthly basis. Daily maintenance is simple. Just use your pool net and remove any debris from the surface of the water. Next, submerge the net into the water and run it along the bottom and sides to capture any debris under the surface. Finally, use a pool brush on the sides of the pool to eliminate or discourage algae growth. After all, nothing makes a pool less appealing than seeing green gunk floating in it.
You can cut down on cleaning time if you have a pool pump that you use on a regular basis. Let the pump run for approximately one hour at a time and then vacuum out the dirt and debris. Pool vacuums are saving graces, but if you don’t have one, then use a traditional brush.
If you live in an area of the world that is conducive to algae growth, then you may consider using two times the amount of pool chemical that you normally would. This will help keep your pool algae-free. Simply pour the chemicals in the deep end of the pool and swish some over to the sides with a net. Finally, use a brush on the edges of the pool so the chemicals don’t cling to the walls. Ideally, you want the chemicals to circulate through the entire pool.