6/18/2010 Scrubbing the Pool
Scrubbing the Pool
During the warm summer months, there are few better places to hang out than your backyard swimming pool. Unfortunately, there are few domestic cleaning services or maids that are willing to take the plunge to remove algae and other imperfections from your personal oasis. Instead of hiring a costly pool cleaning professional, why not give the clean-up a shot yourself first?
It goes without saying: never tinker with the chemicals in your pool without first consulting an expert. Even a minor difference in pH can transform a slightly murky pool into a spotless—but dangerous—swimming disaster. Never take a guess with pool chemicals; they can destroy the liner, filter or other components of a pool and cause skin irritations if added incorrectly.
Start your pool cleaning with an assessment of what needs to be done. If there is debris floating on top or selecting chunks on the bottom, but the water is clear and the walls are not green or slimy, a simple skimming and vacuuming will do. Bugs breeding in the water, swampy smells and murky appearances generally call for a shock treatment to rapidly cleanse the water in the filtration system. Algae along the walls can be wiped off, but if other stains such as rust do not disappear after a scrubbing, a citric acid treatment might just do the trick for the rest of the season.
When vacuuming your pool, start by skimming the top so you have a clear view of the bottom. Work in a circular motion starting near one ladder before making your way around the entire structure. Keep an eye on your filter cups so you can drain them periodically during the cleaning. Consider purchasing an automated vacuum cleaner that runs overnight, a great timesaver for large in-ground pools.
If you need to shock your pool, be sure to measure chemicals in a well ventilated area. Use rubber gloves to prevent chemical burns to your hand, and wear goggles and a mask to avoid noxious fumes. Mix the chemicals in a cleaned chlorine tablet bucket using a sturdy plastic stirring rod, and use the chemicals promptly as they usually heat up during the mixing process and can melt even strong plastic if allowed to sit. Promptly clean the bucket by dipping it in the pool and rinsing it three times with pool water before spraying it with a garden hose.
For other stains such as rust, rub the discolored areas with a rag in a circular motion. Apply only enough pressure to remove the residue without scraping or puncturing the liner. Promptly apply regular chlorination chemicals to the pool after this initial cleaning. If the stains return, ask your pool professional if a citric acid treatment is right for you. This will remove those pesky stains but will also cause your pool’s pH to fall off balance, which can be adjusted a day or two after the treatment with chlorine. Use your pH kit to ensure that the water’s pH remains within the range of 7.2 to 7.6.
If you keep your pool clean during the warm summer months, it will be a great personal resort for your family to use during the hottest days of the year. Keep up with your regular scrubbings and soon, you might just be able to moonlight as a cleaning service for swimming pools!
Maid for Mommy is central New Jersey’s premier cleaning services company. We are dedicated to taking care of all the cleaning chores around your home so you have more time to spend doing what you like. Relax with your family while our expert maid service scrubs your kitchen and bathrooms to perfection. Sit back and enjoy a movie as we vacuum your carpets and polish your furniture. After you host the perfect party for friends, leave the cleaning to us—we’ll have your house spotless in no time. Visit MaidForMommy.com or call 1-877-466-6697 for a free estimate and come home to a house that truly sparkles!