If you own a pool then we’re sure you’re familiar with the usual routine when it comes to keeping it clean. Things like vacuuming, skimming, maintaining water and pH levels are all things that are very familiar to people who own swimming pools. And you’re probably well acquainted with the fact that keeping up with routine maintenance isn’t easy – especially when all you really want to do is relax and enjoy your pool.
Today, we’re going to give away some unconventional swimming pool hacks that you can use to keep your pool clean while making your time with your pool significantly more relaxing. Now as a disclaimer – these can’t be used for every pool – but they DO work and will help you spend a little bit more time enjoying your pool and a little less time maintaining it. Let’s jump right in!
Supercharged skimmers
Everyone knows that skimmer baskets can do a great job at filtering out all the bad stuff in your swimming pool. They also leave some stuff behind. So if you want to get a little bit more out of your basket then we have an unorthodox trick: pantyhose. Take an old pair and wrap them around the baskets and watch the show. Things like hair, sand and dirt are no match for pantyhose and so long as you clean your baskets once a week and keep up with your usual skimming you’ll notice a big difference in the quality of your pool water. Pantyhose have obviously small holes all over and they’ll be able to strain out a lot of things a regular skimmer basket won’t. Just be aware – they WILL catch everything so just make sure you take a quick peak every day to check on the accumulation.
Bug busting
We’ve all been there. You’re hanging out at the pool late at night and wham-o; you and your friends are accosted by hordes of mosquitoes and other bugs. There are things like Tiki Torches and bug spray, but the reality is there’s a great trick you can pull off – and that’s simply planting lemon grass in the vicinity of your pool. It looks great, it’s a durable grass but more importantly, they contain high levels of citronella – which naturally wards off mosquitos. We’re not suggesting you need to uproot your entire yard, but a nice, long strip of citronella will reduce bug traffic by well over 75%.
Tennis balls
Even though pools have a swath of chemicals that can help keep things clean, there’s still a lot of gross stuff that ends up in a pool – from sunscreen and makeup runoff to hair products and body oil. Grime inevitably builds up in the pool as a result and that grime can turn into some pretty gross stuff. But if you toss a half dozen tennis balls into the pool, they’ll actually absorb the oil, leaving you with crystal-clear water. If you don’t want to look at them floating around your pool, stick them in the skimmers so they’re out of sight. Now mind you – don’t overload your skimmer with a basket full of Tennis balls. A few should do the trick. But this will help gather up some of that excess film that tends to build up over time.
Hopefully these tips can inspire you to think a little bit more outside the box when it comes to saving time without compromising quality when it comes to maintaining your pool. And of course, if you have questions, give us a call and we’ll be happy to share some other tips with you. Until then, good luck!
