Having a swimming pool at home is a luxury, but if you want to enjoy clean, crystal-clear water all summer long it’s essential to follow a proper cleaning and maintenance plan. Below, we show you how to clean your pool effectively, covering everything from physical cleaning to environmental protection and water-saving strategies.
Before you start: Consider leaving your pool in professional hands
We know pool maintenance can seem simple, but in reality it requires knowledge and experience if you want the water to stay in perfect condition all year round.
At Guijarro Jardines, we offer a comprehensive swimming pool maintenance service in Alicante, covering everything from deep cleaning to checking filtration systems and controlling chemical products. If you’d rather avoid complications and be sure everything is done professionally, contact us so we can take care of your pool and you can enjoy it without worries. Our team is ready to adapt to your needs and offer tailored solutions.
If you want to know everything about how to clean a pool, keep reading.
Preparation: Equipment and products you’ll need
Before you start cleaning, make sure you have the following equipment and products:
- Leaf or flat skimmer net
- Brush for walls and floor
- Pool vacuum cleaner (manual or automatic)
- Flocculant (if the water is green)
- pH and chlorine test kit
- Algaecide and shock treatment products
- Personal protective equipment for handling chemicals
Step-by-step pool cleaning
Here’s how to clean your pool step by step:
Step 1: Remove debris from the surface
Using a net or skimmer, remove leaves, insects and any other solid debris that may have fallen into the pool. This step is essential to prevent waste from sinking and making later cleaning more difficult.
Step 2: Brush the walls and floor of the pool
Thoroughly brush the walls and floor to remove adhered dirt and prevent algae growth. This process is key if the water is green or cloudy. At this stage you can also apply a flocculant product to bind suspended particles and make them easier to remove later.
Step 3: Vacuum the bottom of the pool
Use a manual or automatic pool vacuum to remove debris that has collected on the bottom. If you’ve used flocculant, you’ll see that the particles have settled on the floor, which makes cleaning easier.
Step 4: Clean accessories and filters
It’s essential to clean the filters and accessories such as skimmers, inlets and grates. Make sure the circulation pump and sand filter are in good condition. Remember that automatic filtration systems should run between 5 and 7 hours a day to keep the water clean.
Step 5: Check pH and chlorine levels
Once the physical cleaning is complete, use a test kit to measure pH levels (they should be between 7.2 and 7.6) and chlorine (between 0.5 and 1.5 g/l). Adjusting these values is crucial to prevent algae growth and keep the water safe for swimming.
Preventive maintenance: How to avoid future problems
Regular water testing: Check pH and chlorine levels regularly to prevent algae growth or cloudy water. Use products such as algaecides and anti-scale treatments as part of your weekly or fortnightly maintenance.
Cleaning and checking filters: Make sure you clean or replace filters regularly, especially if you notice a drop in filtration efficiency.
Shock treatment: Carry out a shock chlorine treatment at least twice a year to thoroughly disinfect the pool. This process temporarily raises chlorine levels to eliminate resistant micro-organisms. Remember to avoid swimming for 48 hours after treatment to ensure safety.
Leak prevention: Regularly inspect the pool structure to detect possible leaks. Leaks affect not only the water level but also the chemical balance, which can lead to bigger problems if not dealt with in time.
Environmental impact and water saving
If you need to empty the pool, make sure that chemically treated water is not discharged in unsuitable places, such as gardens or into drainage systems without authorisation. Responsible water management is key to protecting the environment.
Avoid emptying the pool frequently by managing pH, chlorine and filtration correctly. If you need to change the water, consider reusing it for garden irrigation, as long as the chemical treatment allows it. If it contains a lot of chlorine, leave the water to stand for a few days until the chlorine evaporates.
Maintenance in extreme weather
Weather conditions such as heatwaves or heavy rain affect water quality. In these cases you should check pH and chlorine levels more frequently. In very hot areas, covering the pool also helps to prevent debris building up and reduces evaporation.
