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Everyone knows brushing teeth twice a day is a good dental practice. But not many know brushing the swimming pool is as important. You read that right. Pool brushing is as significant as brushing your teeth and you need to gear up for the consequences if you are least aware of it. This article is for you if you are concerned about your pool health and want tips on pool maintenance.
Understanding pool brushing
Pool brushing, we agree is a tedious job. It is time-consuming and requires a lot of effort. Many a time you cannot even make out the brushed pool portion from the non-brushed area.
This is discouraging for many pool owners, so they tend to invest their time on something else, where they could easily see the results. In other words, people love to put in their efforts where they can bring about visible difference.
But wait, pool brushing is integral to pool maintenance! To put it in simpler terms, pool brushing helps you protect the health of the swimmers as well your pool!
Brushing your pool helps in:
· Keeping the surfaces clean
· Preventing algae and biofilm from building on the surfaces
· Blending the disinfectant into the uncirculated portions of the pool
· Preventing accidents
Let’s get into the details.
Brush your pool to keep it tidy
Brushing your pool removes the dirt and debris from the pool floor and walls. This debris gets to the bottom and moves toward the suction line and skimmers and then into the circulation system. You can later remove it from the filter. Your pool looks cleaner because it will actually be cleaner and tidier.
If you cannot brush your pool regularly but are very concerned about pool hygiene, look out for local pool services. Professional pool firms offer pool cleaning services at reasonable cost and help you maintain the look and health of your swimming pool.
Prevention of algae and biofilm
Regularly brushing your pool prevents the algae spores from building and attaching on to the surfaces. In fact, pool brushing prevents algae growth in the first place. You should note that prevention of algae growth is always better than treating after they have deeply attached to the pool surfaces.
However, if your pool already has algae stain, ensure to brush and remove it right away. If left ignored, the stain gets deeper and stubborn, making it extremely hard to get rid of.
Biofilm is a scum line like film that can form over your entire pool. As a pool owner, you should be aware of this and make sure there is no formation of this film. It is difficult to remove it after it takes over your pool. Make it a routine to brush your pool’s floor and walls and ensure to keep the swimming pool free of this unwanted guest.
Blending chlorine into the pool water
The return lines in the pool don’t deliver chlorine or any disinfectant for that matter, uniformly throughout the pool. Brushing the pool churns up the pool water, distributing the disinfectant effectively. So, brush your pool often to blend the disinfectant efficiently.
Stay safe from accidents
When algae and dirt get accumulated on the surface of the pool, the steps and floor get slippery which may cause injury or accidents. Brush your pool regularly to avoid getting hurt from possible slips and falls.
Regular pool brushing helps in enhancing your pool’s lifespan. Most importantly, it helps you save costs on deep pool cleaning. Further, this will allow you to maintain swim-safe clean and hygienic water in your pool. Swimming in clean water prevents skin issues commonly found in people who swim in dirty pools.
Brushes for pool brushing
It is a good idea to have a couple of brushes to clean your pool. A nylon bristled brush for instance is gentle on the surfaces while it can serve the everyday cleaning purpose. A steel bristled brush on the other hand attacks tough algae stains and minerals.
If you have a fiberglass pool, we recommend using nylon bristled brush for your pool brushing. Steel is hard and abrasive and may damage the surfaces.
Now arises the question, how often should a pool be brushed.
Well, generally speaking, we advise pool owners to brush one wall a day or a wall on alternate days and complete brushing the entire pool within a week. You can do this alternate weeks too if your pool usage is less.
During the peak season however you need to brush twice a week to keep your pool stain-free and clean from dirt and debris. If you are inviting family and friends to enjoy pool time at your home, don’t hesitate to ask them for help. Continuous pool brushing can be cumbersome, particularly if you have a large and deep pool.
Which part of the pool can you skip brushing?
If you have a skimmer with a tail, you can skip brushing the pool surfaces since it does the job of scrubbing. If you however have a pool cleaner without a tail, you need to manually do the brushing.
If you can’t take on hard tasks, we suggest you hire professional pool cleaning services, at least twice a year.
Final Word
Every pool owner should maintain his swimming pool to keep himself and his family members safe. This can be best done by regular pool brushing. The activity also ensures the pool water stays healthy for a longer time while keeping the surfaces glowing and clean.
As pool experts, we recommend you brushing your pool once or twice a week, even if you don’t use it frequently. This is because dirt can accumulate and algae can grow even if you don’t swim in the pool.
You have invested considerable money and time in building your swimming pool. Don’t let your efforts go in vain. Plan a cleaning or brushing schedule and always stick to it. Have a clean and tidy pool and experience the ultimate swimming feel.
How do you clean a fibreglass pool? Are you ready to make the difference?