Why is it that in almost every movie with a swimming pool, the water looks unnaturally clear? Almost like liquid glass. You would think that to have a crystal clear swimming pool like that you’d have to clean it constantly, right? Never so much as getting a grain of dirt in the water. Well, not necessarily. In fact,
achieving that glass-like, Hollywood level of clarity in your pool water is much simpler than you might think. And if you’re reading this then you probably know what we’re about to tell you: The secret to a crystal clear swimming pool is keeping it clean. But every pool owner knows that pool maintenance is essential, that’s no secret at all. So if that’s the case, then why do so many of us struggle to achieve the glistening, crystal clear swimming
pools we dream of? Because the real secret to a crystal clear swimming pool has everything to do with how you clean your pool. Your approach: the chemicals you use, how you handle pool maintenance, and how consistent you are with it. So if you’re someone who wants swimming pool water so clear that you forget it’s even there, keep reading. In this post, we show you 7 secrets to keeping your swimming pool crystal
clear. Related: 21 Pool Care Hacks That Make Pool Maintenance Easy Test water and balance chemicals weekly, minimumImage via Leslie’s Pool SuppliesAll pool owners know that testing their water is just a regular part of owning a pool. But ask yourself: How often do I test and balance my pool water? Maybe you’re someone who squeezes it into your schedule once or twice a month. Or maybe you only do it when you expect to swim. And although either can work for a little while depending on how often you swim (and whether or not you cover the pool), one thing is certain: It’s not enough. It’s important to keep your pool properly sanitized and chemically balanced for a few reasons:
For the best results: test and balance your water 2 – 3 times a week Related: How To Manage Pool Chemicals Skim, brush, and vacuum weeklyThat handful of leaves and twigs sitting on the pool floor may seem harmless, but something major is happening in the background. Any debris that stays in your pool, no matter how big or small, eats away at your sanitizer and throws off your chemical levels. And the longer they stay there, the cloudier your water gets. That’s why making an effort to skim, brush, and vacuum your pool each week is essential. By staying on top of pool maintenance, you:
For the best results:
Related: Make The Perfect Pool Care Schedule Keep your filter clean for optimal filtering performanceThere are three major parts to keeping your pool clean:
When you have a pool filter, cleaning your pool is WAY easier. It cuts down on a lot of the time you’d normally spend skimming and vacuuming, which is always a plus. But in order for a filter to maintain peak performance, it needs to stay clean. Because over time, after weeks and weeks of filtering your water, your pool filter starts to clog up with debris. From visible strands of hair to microscopic grains of dirt, sand, and other contaminants. Point being, if you want to keep your physical pool cleaning duties to a minimum, the best strategy is keeping your pool filter clean. So whether you have a sand or cartridge filter, the important part is making sure you clean it out before it gets too dirty. For the best results:
Backwash your filter bi-weeklyWhile regularly cleaning your filter is a top priority, there’s one other thing you can do to keep it running at peak performance. Backwashing. It’s more of a quick fix for keeping things in order, but doing it regularly helps prevent debris buildup. And the less buildup, the longer your filter stays clean. When you backwash your filter, you’re essentially pumping your pool water backward into the filter. Think of it like rinsing your mouth with Listerine — the concept is pretty much the same. It’s a quick way to rinse off any loose debris in the filter media and prevent clogging/buildup. For the best results:
Shock the pool regularlyAs a pool owner, you’ve likely shocked your pool a number of times in the past. But exactly how often you shock your pool is important:
So what’s the magic number then? How often should you shock your pool? Shock your pool once per week. This keeps your sanitizer levels stable, which keeps your pool cleaner. It’s also wise to shock the water after heavy use, pool parties, or storms to prevent surprise algae takeovers. Use algaecide to prevent algae growthWhile pool shock helps you avoid the conditions that foster algae growth, it’s not the most effective prevention method. The most effective method is using an algaecide. Alagaecies are special chemicals that are designed to not only kill algae but inhibit any growth that could be occurring in the background. For the best results: use an algaecide at least twice a month; twice a month during the summer Related: How To Keep a Pool From Turning Green Maintain good water circulationImage via FlickrWhile the value of good filtration and chemical balance cant be stressed enough, there’s one other thing every pool owner needs to do if they don’t want all their hard work to go in vain. Maintain good water circulation Water that doesn’t circulate properly get’s poorly filtered, which mean more debris and cleaning. And when water doesn’t flow freely through the pool system, it doesn’t distribute chemicals evenly. When that happens, balancing your water becomes a lot harder. So how can you maintain the best water circulation possible? Here’s how:
Keeping that water clearAs long as you balance your water, clean it out, and circulate it regularly, having a crystal clear pool is easy. It’s all about keeping up with pool maintenance, which ensures that your water stays healthy and swimmable. The best strategy is making a pool care schedule, which makes pool maintenance A LOT simpler. Other, you might want to try these 21 pool care hacks that make pool maintenance easier. If you liked this post, you might also like:
Related posts:Can I use vodka to clean a pool?The short answer is (you may have guessed it): no. It's not the best idea to clean your pool with vodka. Michael Dean, Co-Founder at Pool Research (opens in new tab), a site that provides expert advice on all things related to pools, spends a lot of time advising people on how to clean their pools.
How do I clean my kiddie pool without draining?Vacuum the bottom of the pool
You can use the skimmer to scare up some of the sand and debris at the bottom of the kiddie pool, but you won't get all of it. The Aqua Broom is a fun little gadget that vacuums the bottom of the pool to help keep it cleaner longer.
How do I clean my pool without a pump?4 Ways to Keep the Pool Clear Without the Pump. 1) Remove Debris. It doesn't take long for organic material and debris to begin collecting in the pool. ... . 2) Sanitize. Chlorine keeps a pool clean, clear, sanitized and safe. ... . 3) Prevent Algae. ... . 4) Agitate and Circulate.. What can I put in a pool to clean the water?There are so many reasons why baking soda is the most common household product used when cleaning the pool, but mainly it's due to the fact it's simple to use. You only need to add 1.5 pounds of baking soda to 10,000 gallons of water to increase the alkalinity by 10 ppm.
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