Swimming pools offer a great way to have some fun and keep fit at the same time. Many people go swimming at the beach or their local leisure centres. Others have their own private pools at home.
Anyone that knows me will tell you that I’m a keen swimmer. It’s one of my favourite pastimes, and I always go for a swim when I have the chance.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you will remember me talking about my DIY pool a few months ago. Yes, that’s right; you don’t have to be a millionaire to have a pool in your backyard!
Well, I’ve had a lot of emails about that article since then asking me about pool maintenance. It seems that a lot of folks aren’t too sure of the best ways to keep their pools in good condition. Pool owners can hire people to maintain them, of course. But, that usually involves spending lots of money!
The good news is that you can keep your swimming pool in tip-top condition by carrying out some DIY tasks. Check out my tried and tested time-saving tips below:
Skim and scrub
I don’t know about you, but I can think of more fun things to do than cleaning! Still, it’s an essential task that we must all carry out on a regular basis. As a pool owner, it’s your responsibility to keep it clean at all times.
Some people skim and scrub their pools each day, others do it on the weekends. When you do it is up to you; but you need to carry out the work like clockwork. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a smelly and yucky-looking swimming pool!
In case you weren’t sure, “skimming” refers to removing floating debris from the top of the water. I’m talking about things like leaves and such. And you also need to “scrub” the sides of the pool so that you prevent a buildup of algae.
To save time, you should consider buying a pool blanket. In a nutshell, it’s a cover for your pool to prevent debris from going inside of it. They aren’t expensive to buy, and will save you a lot of cleaning time – trust me!
Give your filter a clean
All swimming pools have a water filter. They are a bit like the kidneys in our bodies! Their job is to filter the water and remove any contaminants. You’ll find all sorts of things inside your filter: dirt, leaves and more!
Once a month, you should remove your filter and give it a good clean. The process involves removing the filter cap and basket. Make sure you turn the filter off first, of course! Be sure to also clean the pipework attached to your filter too.
Check your pool’s chemical composition
Last, but not least, you need to check the chemical levels in your pool are correct. You can buy testing kits online to help you find out.
And if your pool is full of bacteria, you can “shock” it away by applying lots of chlorine to the water. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t use the pool when you’re doing such techniques!
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