How To Keep A Small Pool Clean Without A Filter

Having a pool in your backyard can be fun, but you still need to keep an eye so that no bacteria build-up will happen. You need to know how to keep a small pool clean without a filter to prevent infections and diseases.

See, owning a small pool in your backyard is a lot of fun. The children can play in the gleaming water during the summer, and having a clean pool will lessen the risks of getting diseases.

When a pool is installed in the backyard, it is most likely that it is near plants. Having a pool near vegetation is not a good thing since it will most likely build up algae.

A small pool can be easily cleaned because it has less surface area. However, one of the most efficient ways to clean a small pool is to replace the water now and then.

An average small pool contains over 2,000 to 5,000 liters of water, and dumping it regularly in your backyard might result in more mess than the benefits.

 

See, your backyard might turn into a mud pool, or even worse, you might create a sinkhole right underneath your house, which can never be a good thing.

So the best way to clean a small pool is to have a filter installed in it. However, a small pool with a filter which is usually expensive, is most of the time not worth it.

If you think that investing in a filtration system in your pool is too much, then do not worry because we have a list of how you can clean your small pool without a filter.

The key to most of these techniques is to prevent any build-up of algae and bacteria, so you do not have to replace the water now and then.

Cleaning A Small Pool Without A Filter

 

Method 1: Draining Your Pool

This is obviously the most common way to clean a pool without the use of too many chemicals. All you need is to drain, clean, and then refill the pool.

However, it is not practical to dump that much water regularly. So draining and refilling your pool should be done monthly, at least.

But if you still choose to do this procedure, here are some step-by-step guides and tips on how to do it properly:

 

Draining

1. First, you should use an electric pump for faster results.

2. If you do not have a pump, you can use a garden hose.

3. First, you need to submerge the hose in your pool until it fills up with water. This is done to create suction inside the hose.

4. Then, cover one end of the hose with your finger, so the water stays inside it. Quickly pull that end of the hose out of the pool, leaving the rest of the hose in the water.

5. Bring the end you are holding to the drainage area. Make sure that your local water disposal ordinances approve the area you are draining the water into.

6. Let the water drain by itself. This might take a long time, so you need to check on the hose regularly to make sure that there is no clogging.

7. Then, you can use a wet vacuum once all the water that the hose can suck up is gone. Or you can leave some damp areas on the pool and use them later for cleaning.

 

Cleaning

1. Make a mixture of one part chlorine bleach and 2 parts water. This will dissolve most stains on your pool while preventing any damage to the pool liner.

2. Use a soft sponge and soak it in the solution. Use the sponge to damp up the areas where there are stains. 

3. The solution should easily dissolve stains without any scrubbing. You will see the stains starting to come off from the liner.

4. If there are any stains left after putting the solution, you can use the sponge or a soft cloth to scrub off the stains.

5. If somehow there are still stains after scrubbing, you can start using a pool brush. Make sure not to use any stiffer brush to avoid damaging your pool liner.

6. Those stubborn stains should have come off after brushing. You can now rinse the pool and make sure that there are zero marks of the solution you have put in the pool.

 

Refill

1. Pull out your hose and start filling up your pool. Ensure that you use some filter, such as a soft cloth, to prevent dirt from inside the hose from getting into your pool.

2. Wait for your pool to fill up to the desired amount, and then add the chemicals to keep the water clean for a long time.

 

Method 2. Use of Chemicals

Preventing the build-up of algae and bacteria is way easier than cleaning your pool. All you need is to add mixtures of chemicals that repel bacteria and algae.

 

Chlorine

This is the most common chemical that is added to pools. Its main function is not to prevent bacteria but to disinfect pool water with bacteria already in it.

It is cheap, and it effectively removes more than bacteria. Chlorine eliminates fungi and many water microorganisms.

The standard amount of chlorine for its disinfecting capability to work is around 55% to 62% active strength for every 1,000 gallons of pool water.

Chlorine is usually sold as granules, but now you can buy them in different forms. They produce chlorine as tablets, liquid, and other forms to adapt to the kind of pool that you have.

 

Algaecide

Pools set up in the backyard are more prone to algae build-up since they are near plant life. 

Algae are microorganisms found in plants and are very quick in spreading. Especially during the summer, when the water is warm and calm, algae builds up fast.

When the water reaches a certain temperature (and not even that high), algae can build up and even house other build-ups of fungi and other bacteria.

If your pool water already has chlorine, then algaecide is most effective. The combination of chlorine as a disinfectant and algaecide to prevent build-ups is great.

Algaecide is also more effective when there are no algae in the pool water yet. If you have algae build-up in your pool already, then you might want to manually clean that first before adding algaecide.

The safe and standard concentration for small pools is 60% strength algaecide. Algaecide is used when chlorine is not enough or when the chlorine alone cannot kill certain bacteria.

 

Combining Chlorine With A Flocculant Chemical

When combined with chlorine, flocculant chemicals are great in isolating dirt for you to clean up later.

They gather all the particles in the water that are invisible to the naked eye. Flocculant chemicals group the impurities in your pool water and then sink them at the bottom of the pool.

Using a wet vacuum, you can easily remove them later on. The cloudy or murky aspect of pool water is sometimes annoying, and people will assume it is dirty.

That is true, so Flocculant Chemicals help make the water clear by removing the small particles and sinking them for ease of manual cleaning.

 

Baking Soda

This is a common household item that you can use to clean your pool. It is non-aggressive and cannot damage your pool liner.

Baking soda also helps maintain the alkalinity of the pool water. It is a cheap and safe way to clean your pool, but sometimes it is not enough, and you will need something stronger.

 

Borax

This is another common household item often used in laundry supplies. Borax mainly removes sticky parts and stains from your pool liner.

You can mix borax with water and remove all the residues you see on your pool liner, especially those slippery areas.

 

White Vinegar

White vinegar helps in removing calcium residues. Calcium residues are usually what make the water white and murky.

Make a mixture with water to remove spots on your pool. Just make sure to wash your pool liner and rinse it with water and some mixture to remove the smell.

 

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol, also known as Isopropyl alcohol, can be used just like borax. It removes stains effectively, as well as the sticky and slippery parts of the pool liner.

You can use 100% alcohol and dilute it with water, so it reaches 60% concentration. This will be enough to remove stains and diluted enough to avoid damaging your pool liner.

 

Method 3. Preventing Dirt From Entering Your Pool

You can reduce the build-up of algae and bacteria in your pool by protecting your pool water from bacteria entering it.

 

Using Pool Covers

Using Pool Covers is much less expensive and requires a lot less effort. Preventing dirt, specks of dust, and bacteria from entering your pool prevents diseases from forming in it.

Covering your pool also reduces the frequency of cleaning your pool. Most small above-ground pools come in with covers, so using that every time your pool is not in use, it can make it cleaner for a longer time.

However, most of those covers that come with the pool are not enough to protect your pool from natural forces. The covers are most effective in keeping large debris and dust from entering your pool.

If the rain comes in, the water usually seeps in and enters the pool through some openings. You should look for covers that will protect the entire surface of your pool as well as the sides.

This is to prevent the water from the rain from entering and bringing dangerous substances into your pool. Most covers that can do this include locks on the side and cords for sealing the pool.

 

Using Skimming Nets

Skimming nets can be used in both large and small pools. It is basically a net with a long handle that helps in removing larger debris.

Even the kids can do this, so regularly skimming your pool should not be that hard of a job to do.

These are some of the most common ways to keep your small pool clean without a filter. If some circumstances happen then, you might want to change the techniques.

For example, if you and your kids use soap and shampoo while dipping in the pool, you are going to need something more than just skimming or covering the pool.

Scumbugs are something that you can use in removing soap or shampoo from your pool. They are sponges that are developed to suck up to 40 times their weight.

All you need to do is dip the sponge in the pool and then run it around the pool. It will effectively absorb the bubbles and residues from the soap and shampoo.

Running the sponge around your pool at least ten times will do the trick and remove most if not all the soap and shampoo residues from your pool water.

 

Conclusion

Having a small pool in your backyard can be fun. It is one way to get the kids out of the house once in a while and enjoy the sun.

Cleaning a pool, however, can be a tedious job. Flipping a pool to get the water out is not that easy and buying a filter for a small pool is not that practical.

So these methods can help keep your small pool clean without a filter and without having to drain the water from it every time you need to clean it up.

The best procedure is to prevent the build-up of harmful bacteria, algae, and possible diseases that might harm your family.

The last thing we would want is always to worry that your family might get sick while enjoying your time in the summer in your pool.

So make sure to check out these procedures mentioned above and see what fits you and your pool best!

If you want to add something to this, then do leave your suggestions in the comments below!

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