How should you clean your pool cover?
The pool cover, or protective cover or tarp, a can't-do-without accessory to protect your pool from dirt, from the development of algae that are harmful to the quality of your pool water, and from water evaporating, must be cleaned regularly. Its effectiveness and service life depend on this.
Why and when should you clean your pool cover?
If you are the owner of a small or large, oval, round, rectangular or bespoke-shaped in-ground, partially in-ground or above-ground pool, you probably use a pool tarp or cover for the many benefits it brings: easy to install, it protects your pool water from impurities and pollution (dust and dead leaves falling, insects drowning, development of algae) and ensures your pool space is safe. Cleaning a cover, highly-recommended in all seasons, is one of the must-do tasks to ensure you can take full advantage of this pool equipment and optimize its service life. A pool cover that's never cleaned may actually no longer act as a protective barrier and, as such, will let pollution through and/or will become damaged, meaning it becomes useless or less effective to use after just a few years. Generally-speaking, a pool cover should be cleaned:
- every week, just basic cleaning (removing dead leaves and impurities);
- before and/or after your pool season, where you will clean it thoroughly based on the type of cover (wintering cover, summer cover, 4-season cover, etc.).
Weekly tasks when your pool's in use
At least once a week, and even on a daily basis if required (bad weather that could cause a lot of dirt and debris for example), you should clean your pool cover by:
- removing the dead leaves that have gathered on your pool cover, especially during autumn;
- clean your pool cover with water, a brush and sponge.
You don't need to use any chemical products when cleaning. The main aim of these two cleaning tasks is to prevent impurities from stagnating on your pool cover and decomposing. They also mean you can install and remove your pool cover without any of these impurities falling into the water. Just like with any equipment, the more your cleaning sessions are spaced out, the more difficult it will be to clean your pool cover.
Cleaning your pool cover thoroughly
This is something that every pool owner has to do and it often signals the start of your pool season. After several months without regular cleaning (wintering cover) or stored in an enclosure/shed (cover for above-ground inflatable pool, for example), your pool protective cover really needs thorough cleaning to continue to be effective and resistant. There are a few basic products you'll need to do this:
- diluted bleach;
- gloves;
- a brush;
- clean water.
Of course, you don't need to use chemical products.
In practical terms, cleaning a pool cover thoroughly at the start of your pool season means scrubbing your cover with bleach (with a sponge or brush) then rinsing it with a hose or jet with clean water. If need be, you can repeat the process several times until you get a perfectly-clean, disinfected pool cover.
Major cleaning before storing your pool cover
Do you tend to switch between a summer pool cover and a winter one? Well, when the season change and, as such, when you change your cover, it's highly-advisable to clean the cover that's going to be stored meticulously. The process is similar to the one presented above. You need to clean your pool cover thoroughly with bleach and clean water. Make sure your pool cover is completely dry before rolling it up or folding it and storing in its protective bag. When storing, it's highly-advisable to store your cover in a dry place that's well ventilated. You should also avoid places where there may be rodents.
A few tips for cleaning your pool cover
Here are a few simple tips that will help you look after your pool cover and optimize its service life, in addition to cleaning it. Anyone that has a pool cover and wishes to keep their equipment for as long as possible, should:
- remove the wintering cover when outdoor temperatures hit 28°C;
- avoid walking on the pool cover, which could damage it;
- remove water and snow that may accumulate on the pool cover and that can impair the cover's waterproofness over the medium or long term;
- avoid leaving the pool cover on the ground where it could be tread on and/or ripped.
It's worth noting that a wide array of products exist on the market, intended specifically for cleaning and looking after pool covers. More often than not, you should refer to the instructions for use delivered by your pool cover manufacturer. To optimize pool cover or tarp cleaning, many people say that it's better to install a manual or motorized cover roller system. As well as being highly-practical, a cover roller system will ensure the pool cover's rolled correctly and, as such, will ensure you avoid problems caused by recurrent incorrect rolling or folding.
