How To Clean an Above Ground Pool After Draining

Having an above-ground pool comes with responsibilities to maintain it.

You should know how to clean an above-ground pool after draining to keep it good as new.

Maintaining an above-ground pool is not as easy as in-ground pools.

See, in-ground pools have built-in pool filters and cleaners that help you to make the job less hassle.

This is one way how to keep it clean naturally but it will be hard to keep a small pool clean without filters. That is why you also need to protect the pieces of equipment in the pool.

Above-ground pools are made for convenience, but it is not always like that.

See, above-ground pools make up a lot of space, but you can remove them as easily as installing them.

You just need to make sure that the pool is clean and maintained so it stays in great condition to not risk rupturing the lining or damaging the pool itself.

Besides damaging the pool, you might risk getting diseases if bacteria and molds build up in your pool.

If you want a clean pool, you need more attention than just simply scrubbing it.

You need to ensure that the clean pool stays that way as well, so that little to no bacteria build-up will happen.

Thus, making you and your family safer while you enjoy swimming.

 

Why Should You Keep Your Above Ground Pool Clean?

Swimming in your pool should come with no worries.

Therefore, you should always make sure that the water and the pool itself are clean.

There are so many benefits that you can get from a well-cleaned pool. Here are some:

1. Fewer Costly Repairs

Having a regularly cleaned pool can take your costs to a smaller price.

See, when you lean your above-ground pool, it is more likely to be destroyed, and so you would not have to worry about buying a new one.

2. Overall Aesthetic

None of us would want a pool that is not clean.

Part of enjoying a pool is not minding whether you are swimming in clean water or not.

3. Adds charm to your home

Having a clean pool is one thing but having a house with a clean pool means the other.

We do not need a clean house with a backyard pool entertainment that is not equal to or even cleaner than the house.

4. Prevent Diseases

Suppose you do not regularly properly clean your pool. In that case, it can easily turn into a huge breeding ground of various diseases from algae to bacteria, to whatever it is that may cause harm.

Mosquitoes can also breed in an uncleaned, stagnant pool, so if you regularly replace and clean the water in your pool, you do not risk that from happening.

5. Longer Entertainment for the Family

Since cleaning a pool is one of the most basic jobs to do to maintain a pool, you can be sure that the pool’s longevity will not disappoint you. So it starts with cleaning.

Cleaning An Above Ground Pool

Most people leave their above-ground pool outside in the winter. If you are lucky enough not to be destroyed by the cold, you might have to clean it up before using it after winter.

See, water could have built up on the cover of the pool after winter, so you might want to start from there.

If you do not know how to properly clean your pool, then worry not, for we have the guide for you:

Step 1. Remove the Cover

If the cover has gathered some water after winter or when it was not being used, make sure to siphon as much water off the cover before removing it.

Pools that have been sitting for two years can collect a lot of debris and they need the most attention.

Sometimes pool can freeze during winters, yes it is interesting!

If you left your pool sitting for two years, you need to consider checking the liner and other parts.

Taking the water off of the cover after winter is easier done while it is still in the pool.

This is because the entire cover still spreads wide, so you will see which parts need cleaning most.

You also prevent putting the water from the cover right into the pool water which may add to the dirt and bacteria or algae build-up.

It can be hard to get rid of algae if it has stuck to the liner.

 

Step 2. Remove Large Debris

Using your hand with gloves, remove the large debris that may be floating in the water. You can also use a skimmer for more coverage and, of course, a safer way to do it.

Removing the debris on the surface of the water should be very easy. Make sure that there is no dirt left that is large enough to clog the drainage.

Use a skimmer to stir up the water and get the remaining debris sunk at the bottom of the pool.

 

Step 3. Clean the Filter

First, you remove the sand filter canister and then clean it inside out. This is to make sure that you do not add damage to the drainage or to wherever you are going to empty the pool or the water.

It should not be hard to clean the filter; you can do this just by spraying it with water and make sure that there is no dirt left on the filter.

If the filter is dirty beyond cleaning, then you might want to consider buying a new one. Reconnect the filter into the pool and then proceed to the next step.

You can also backwash your sand filter after cleaning the pool like how I would with my Intex filter and make sure that the hose and other parts are clean and are not leaking.

 

Step 4. Start the Cleaning

Before you drain or empty the water, you should start scrubbing the bottom and the pool walls to loosen up the dirt.

The canister shall filter the dirt from this initial scrubbing, so you do not have to worry about it going to the drainage.

 

Step 5. Drain Your Pool

This might be the longest step in this procedure. Draining your pool with a hose usually takes a day or more.

Sometimes, draining the pool could be the first step to cleaning an above-ground pool, so you can jump right here and start cleaning your pool.

If you empty your pool properly, then the rest of the steps in this procedure shall run smoothly, and you would not have to worry about too much hassle.

So the first step in draining your pool is to submerge the hose to the bottom of your pool.

You can keep it in the middle of the water but having more pressure on the hose is better.

Make sure that the hose is filled up with water to create suction.

Then place the other end of the pool far from the pool and in an area where the local ordinance in water disposal agrees.

Then just let the water flow out of the pool. This technique will take longer than you expect, so if you want a faster way, then you can use an electric pump but make sure that you do not have a dirty pool pump.

Make sure that your hands are clean and dry when using an electric pump to ensure safety.

Place the pump beside the pool and with the same cautions, place the hose in the drain valve.

Turn the pump on, and do not leave it until you see that the water in your pool is decreasing. \You can leave the pump working for some time as it is.

Check on the process regularly to see that there are no malfunctions with the machine.

Turn the pump off when it can no longer reach the water level and is too low for pumping alone.

You can leave some damp areas on the pool lining and optimize it for cleaning the pool

Step 6. Take out the Dirty Pool Liner

Once you empty as much water as you can, follow the pool’s manual on how to safely remove the pool liner and remove it from the frame. Be careful with more sensitive liners like vinyl.

Spread the pool liner in an area large enough for it to lay entirely flat. Make sure that there are no stones or branches that might puncture the vinyl liner.

 

Step 7. Mix the Cleaning Solution

The most common solution in cleaning the lining of an above-ground pool is chlorine bleach and water. The amount of water should double the chlorine that you put into the mixture.

Soak a sponge in the solution until it has absorbed enough solution, and then place the sponge on the spots where dirt is prominent.

Most of the time, the dirt and stains will start to come off by rubbing the sponge over them.

 There are also homemade liner cleaners where you can mix chemicals but these homemade liner cleaners can damage the liner if you are not careful with the mixture of chemicals. 

Step 8. Scrub! Scrub! Scrub!

The vinyl pool liner, when it is lying flat, is not a small area. You might need a large brush so you can clean large areas in just one scrub.

Once you see the stains and dirt dissolving, you can start scrubbing with the sponge, remove the light dirt, and then use a brush for stains that are harder to remove.

Make sure that you are using a pool scrub to prevent any damage to the vinyl pool liner. Use only light pressure in scrubbing; it is not the force but the repetition that gets the job done.

 

Step 9. Dry the Pool Liner

Make sure you rinse the pool liner with water and then drain it once again.

Using a soft, absorbent cloth, wipe off all the excess water from the pool liner and leave it to wind dry.

Use the cloth to wipe off bleach tracks from the liner and let it evaporate.

You can use a stronger bleach if the stains persist; just make sure that the bleach you are using does not damage than cleaning.

Lastly, reinstall the pool liner after it has completely dried and then start filling it up with water. 

 

The BBB Method

If you need a stronger solution than the Chlorine Bleach and Water, the BBB method should do the job.

The BBB stands for Bleach, Baking Soda, and Borax. It is a common solution used for cleaning a pool liner safely.

This solution is the one commonly used by professional cleaners. It is a cheap solution, and of course, it is effective. You do not have to worry about the bleach irritating your skin.

The active ingredient in bleach is sodium hypochlorite which is the same active ingredient in chlorine, so your safety is guaranteed.

The bleach is more concentrated, so it is better to clean stains off your pool liner. Just make sure that you rinse off the solution after cleaning.

 This is the homemade liner cleaner that I have briefly talked about and you can use this homemade liner cleaner as long as you balance the right amount of chemicals.

What Will Happen If You Did not Clean Your Pool?

We have mentioned the general reasons for what will happen if you neglected your above-ground pool and did not clean it for a while.

Here are some iterations of what will possibly happen if you leave your above ground pool unattended for some time:

1. Clogging

If you leave your above-ground pool outside for quite some time, it will inevitably collect dirt from trees in your backyard.

Even the microscopic specks of dust that pass through your pool every second will create a huge mess if left unattended.

The dirt accumulated by your pool may cause clogging in the pipes that connect your pool to your water source. 

When the time comes that you decide to fill it up again with water, there is a possibility that the pipe’s clogged. So make sure that you clean your above-ground pool even if you are not using it.

2. Algae Build Up

This would be one of the obvious effects if you did not clean your pool. The stagnant water in your pool is a great place for algae to form and you will have a green pool water.

You can get rid of algae by adding chemicals to your water, but it is still best to get rid of the algae by cleaning the pool yourself.

3. Diseases

Any dirty surface is a place for the breeding of bacteria and other diseases. You would not want to risk giving your family any illness or diseases with a dirty pool.

 

Conclusion

Cleaning your above-ground pool seems to be very hard work.

But as the saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure,” and cleaning your pool would be better than treating diseases.

If you follow the simple steps above, then you would not have to worry about the hassle.

Moreover, cleaning your pool is very satisfying and fun to do.

Think of it as an investment so that you can still use it in the upcoming summer and enjoy swimming with your friends and family without worrying about dirt.

You can also find nice storage for the pool.

Having a storage area for the pool to prevent dirt from getting to it, an example of good storage is a clean small area that has a roof.

As much as possible, do not leave the pool sitting for two years unused in your backyard.

A pool that was left sitting for two years in the backyard will most likely have degraded and can sometimes be beyond repair, let alone cleaning.

If there are any other ways of cleaning a pool that we have missed in the post, then do mention them in the comments below to help our readers.

Also, if you liked the post, then do not forget to share it on social media!

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