There is nothing better than having a pool in your backyard. However, keeping it in good condition might be a hassle. This is especially true if you’re a busy homeowner and don’t have the time to do it regularly. Moreover, this investment might be a complete waste if you don’t keep an eye on its condition.
The pool water must be kept clean and clear at all times to ensure the safety of you and your family. However, learning about the best pool chemicals and the proper filtration system might seem intimidating. Nevertheless, remember that everything requires adequate care.
If you want to make your life simpler, check out this cheat sheet that will guide you in maintaining your pool.
Balance Your Pool Water Regularly
One of the most critical aspects of pool maintenance is monitoring the chemical levels in the water. Improperly balanced water is murky, irritating eyes and skin, and may lead to the growth of microorganisms in your swimming pool. For that reason, it’s best if you check the water at least once a week.
Conduct a water test by simply purchasing a few testing kits from your neighborhood pool shop. Then, fill it up with some water from your pool. After a few seconds, the color of your sample will change because of the reaction of the water to the solution.
You should identify the present chemical levels by comparing the sample to the colors given on the test kit. After the test, add the chemicals into your pool to modify the levels as necessary. Water should be clear, have no odor, and leave minimal residue on your skin when all chemicals are correctly balanced.
Furthermore, make sure to shock the pool weekly. Pool ‘shocking’ is the act of adding chlorine or any pool chemicals to the water to enhance the amount of ‘free chlorine.’ Overall, the ultimate objective is to boost the levels where pollutants such as algae, chloramines, and bacteria are eliminated from the environment. Remember always to wear gloves and glasses to ensure safety when working with chemicals.
Remove Calcium Scaling With Vinegar
Calcium scaling is a coating of grayish-white dirt that forms along the pool’s waterline. An imbalance in the pH of the water might create this problem. Hence, this problem must be addressed immediately.
There are several methods for removing calcium scaling from the surface of your pool. One of which is using vinegar instead of using a pumice stone to scrape the edge of your pool. This is a hassle-free solution since you can easily find vinegar in your cupboard. Moreover, it works well as a natural cleanser for swimming pools.
Use A Pool Cover
Using a pool cover may greatly decrease the amount of money spent on pool heating. In addition to keeping leaves out of your pool, coverings increase the efficiency and retention of heat in your pool. This is because pool coverings help keep evaporation from pools to a minimum.
Besides, by utilizing a pool cover, you may reduce the quantity of make-up water you require by up to 50% compared to pool owners who leave their pool unattended. Additionally, pool coverings may cut chemical use by 35%–60% while also reducing cleaning time since they keep dirt and other debris out of the water.
Make A Pool Maintenance Schedule
Perhaps creating a pool maintenance schedule is the most simple yet most effective pool care hack. Moreover, keeping a pool care routine compels you to develop the habit of checking and cleaning the water regularly. Likewise, it’s important to remember that the longer you wait to do pool care, the worse it will become.
A pool maintenance plan simplifies chemical management, saves time, and minimizes the amount of time spent making decisions. Most importantly, it ensures that your pool never gets to a point where it can no longer be repaired or restored.
In addition, you should have a pool care specialist come out at least once a year to inspect your equipment. There are instances when you need to rely on a professional when it comes to maintaining your swimming pool’s mechanical equipment, such as pumps and filters, especially if you lack the necessary expertise.
Use Tennis Balls To Remove Oils From The Pool
Swimmers may leave natural or manufactured oils from sunscreen, hair treatments, and lotions when they get out of the water, especially if they don’t shower before going into the pool. As a result, dirt will build upon the walls of your pool over time.
One way to address this is by throwing tennis balls into the pool. Tennis balls with a velvety texture will absorb oils such as sunscreen, sweat, and sebum. It will also attract pet fur. Moreover, to help maintain your pool oil-free, you may even leave a tennis ball in your skimmer for some time.
Use Pantyhose To Get Rid Of Debris
Cleaning your pool of fine material like dog hair, grime, and grass may be a hassle if you’re using a standard skimmer basket. Pantyhose may be quite effective in removing the majority of particles from the water before it reaches your filtration system.
An old pair of pantyhose is all you need. Wrap it around your skimmer baskets. Subsequently, these will make a significant difference in the effectiveness of your filtration systems.
Debris will be collected in this manner, reducing the workload on your filter. Furthermore, it may be useful in situations when your skimmer net has been damaged or has deteriorated during the winter holiday break.
Keep Insects Away Using Dryer Sheets And Lemongrass
Insects in your swimming pool may often disturb a relaxing time in the water. One solution would be to submerge yourself in water, although you can’t do so for an extended period. It’s for this reason that dryer sheets and lemongrass might be useful in these types of circumstances.
Insects such as wasps will avoid dryer sheets because they believe it is a nest belonging to other wasps. On the other hand, lemongrass is an efficient insect repellent. To make the dryer sheets appear more attractive, you might creatively arrange them rather than simply scattering them over the pool area.
With this all-natural repellent, you should notice a significant decrease in the number of bee and other insect visits. With this, you may use your pool without fear of unwanted insects and without harming any bees.
Final Note
Sometimes a busy schedule can get in the way of maintaining certain areas at home, including the pool. Luckily, this cheat sheet gave you all of these new pool care techniques. Now, it’s time to get to work. Most importantly, you don’t need the use of specialized instruments or procedures, which implies that you should be able to do them without difficulty.
Using this cheat sheet, you should be able to reduce the amount of time, money, effort, and worry you spend on pool maintenance. Now that you already have the knowledge and motivation to do it get started.
