How to clean a liner pool properly

The tools you need

• A telescopic pole, which all the other attachments clip onto.
• A surface skimmer net for leaves and insects, and a deep leaf net with a bag for whatever has already sunk.
• A brush with soft synthetic bristles. Wire-bristle brushes are meant for other surfaces and scratch PVC.
• A pool vacuum with a spiral hose that connects to the vacuum point or the skimmer, or a robotic pool cleaner.
• A soft sponge and a cleaner suitable for PVC, for the waterline.

The right order of tasks

1. Skim the surface. Collect whatever is floating before it sinks and becomes a stain on the floor.
2. Skimmer baskets. Empty them so suction works at full strength while you clean.
3. Brushing. Brush the walls, steps and corners toward the floor. Pay attention to spots with little circulation, behind the ladder, under the steps and in the corners, where algae appear first.
4. Vacuuming. Give whatever you stirred up a little time to settle, then vacuum the floor with slow, overlapping passes.
5. Pump strainer and pressure gauge. Clean the pump basket and check the pressure. If it has risen, backwash the filter.
6. Testing. Check pH and chlorine at the end, once the water has mixed well.

Manual vacuuming: details that make a difference

Before connecting the vacuum hose, fill it with water, either by lowering it in slowly or by holding its end in front of a return inlet. If air gets into the pump, it loses suction and can overheat.

Move slowly. Quick movements stir up the dirt, which then settles again a little further on. If there is a lot of dirt, for example after Saharan dust, ask your technician to show you how to vacuum with the valve set to "Waste": the silt goes out without passing through the filter, but the water level drops and needs topping up. More on what to do in your pool after a storm.

The waterline and the liner

Sunscreen, skin oils and dust gather at the waterline and form a slippery, dark band. Clean it regularly with a soft sponge and a product suitable for PVC. Avoid scouring powders, solvents and household cleaners, which dull or damage the membrane's lacquer.

On textured anti-slip membranes such as SOPREMAPOOL 3D, dirt catches more easily in the texture of the steps and bench, so brushing there needs a little more persistence. For stubborn marks see stains on the liner and, for green or black spots, the guide to algae.

Best time of day, and how to cut down the work

• Early morning or late afternoon: the water is calm, the dirt has settled on the floor and is easier to see.
• Before adjusting the chemistry: clean water uses less chlorine, and test results are more reliable.
• With circulation running: whatever the brush stirs up is caught by the skimmers and the filter.
• After using a flocculant: wait for the sediment to settle for as long as the product specifies, then vacuum straight to waste.

The least dirt is the dirt that never gets into the water. A cover at night, a strip of paving between the lawn and the edge, and a shower before swimming noticeably cut the time you spend with the net and the vacuum.

Don't throw chlorine granules in to "burn off" dirt on the floor: wherever they settle, they bleach the liner.

Questions

See also