Learn how to clean chlorine pools and keep your own outdoor pool clean for less! The cost of chemicals is far less than the cost of hiring a professional pool cleaner.
In order to keep your swimming pool full of sparkling water that's free from harmful bacteria and slimy green algae,
a professional pool cleaner should be hired, or you can learn to clean it yourself (or hire your teenager for a reduced rate!). Chlorine pools need to be cleaned using three methods: chemical additives, ongoing filtration, and some manual cleaning.
Adding Chemicals to Kill Bacteria
Chlorine is one of the most popular chemicals used in nine out of every ten residential pools today. But chlorine comes with a multitude of side effects like red eyes, itchy skin and bleached hair. These effects are especially noticed by those who swim every day. Baquacil provides a second option which is a little less harsh on the swimmers' eyes. Another popular option is a salt water system. The salt water is actually beneficial for hair and skin, and much less irritating to the eyes.
In addition to chemicals, you'll need to regulate the pH levels of your pool water and use additives that help to keep the pH at optimum levels so the chemicals can do their job of cleaning and sanitizing the water.
One option for those who absolutely refuse to use chemicals of any kind is the natural pool which utilizes aquatic plants and fish to clean the pool water. If your pool is primarily for aesthetic purposes or you don't mind swimming with aquatic life, this may be the perfect option for you!
Efficient Filtration to Remove Debris
As water runs through a large filter cartridge stuffed with diatomaceous earth or zeolite sand, any debris that happens to be in the water will be caught while the clean water is cycled back into the pool. Cleaning experts say that your filter should run from six to eight hours every day in order to effectively clean all the water in your pool.
Besides filtering, salt water pools also uses electrolysis to keep the water clean. Basically, the salt is turned to a mild form of chlorine.
Cleaning the Hard Spots by Hand
Even if you use all the right chemicals and you have the most efficient water filtration system, you'll still need to manually clean some areas of your pool. A pool net should be used to skim leaves, bugs and other floating debris from the surface. Any algae that may have formed on the walls can be taken off with the pool brush or vacuum. And the floor should be vacuumed regularly as leaves and other debris tend to settle on the bottom.
A Note about Salt Water Pools
A salt water swimming pool eliminates the need for storing harmful chemicals, since the salt itself is used to generate enough chlorine to self-clean the water. The only work you'll need to do is occasionally check the salt level in the pool, possibly add more salt, and clean out any debris like leaves or dirt that make their way into the water. You can skim these off the top with a net, or occasionally vacuum the floor when the debris settles.
