Getting Your Pool Ready for a Party
May 26, 2015 at 04:42 PM
With summer very quickly approaching, it's time to start thinking about pool parties. Backyard swimming pools bring family and friends together, and having a pool party gives you an excuse to invite everyone you know over to enjoy your pool.
So, pick a date, blow up the floats, and strike up the grill, because it’s time to have a party! Here's how to get your pool party-ready:
Getting Ready Before the Party
Before you invite everyone you know, or at least the people you want enjoying your pool, you need to do a little bit of maintenance to prepare for all these swimmers. Your guests don’t want to swim in a pool that isn’t clean. Follow these steps to spiffy-up your pool before the big day.
1. Brush your pool. Attach a pool brush to your telescopic pole and brush the floor, walls, and other hard-to-reach places in your pool, including behind ladders and pool steps.
Brushing the pool will help get the dirt and debris out in the open so that your filter or cleaner can get rid of it.
2. Vacuum your pool. You want your pool to look its best, so you’ll need to vacuum your pool thoroughly to ensure there is no dirt and debris hanging around before your guests arrive. You can use your manual vacuum or automatic pool cleaner to get the job done. I suggest using your automatic pool cleaner to make the job a whole lot easier.
3. Test your pool. It’s important to check your pool water at least once a week with a home test kit or test strips. However, it’s best to get the water professionally checked before a huge party. You want to make sure your pool water is in the best condition.
4. Treat your pool. Once you’ve gotten your water checked, you may need to add some chemicals to achieve the proper levels in your water. The most important chemical readings are your pool’s pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer (i.e. chlorine) levels. Make sure that your pH is balanced at 7.4 to 7.6, your alkalinity reads 100 - 150 ppm (parts per million), and your sanitation level is correct. If, for example, you use chlorine to sanitize your pool, make sure your chlorine level is at least 3.0 ppm.
5. Shock your pool. Now that you’ve balanced and sanitized your water, there is only one more thing you need to do. It’s a good idea to shock your pool the night before a big party. This will super-chlorinate the water and oxidize any dead chlorine particles that have done their job, making your pool clean and ready to be enjoyed.
After the Party
Taking care of your pool after a party is just as important as getting it ready.
Your pool just had a bunch of people swimming in it for hours, leaving behind all sorts of dirt and debris (yes, humans are dirty). We, as swimmers, contribute all types of unwanted debris in swimming pools, including body oils, lotions, and makeup.
It’s a good idea to shock your pool after a big party, or before you swim in it again. Keep your filter running and make sure you get your water checked.
Following these steps will ensure you have a clean and happy swimming pool before and after a giant backyard bash.
Happy pool-partying!
This is a guest post from Matt Giovanisci, the creator of Swim University, an online guide to swimming pool care. He has over 15 years of experience in the swimming pool and hot tub industry. He is also an award-winning web designer and has been featured on "Martha Stewart Radio" as a pool and spa expert.