How to Clean a Swimming Pool With a Brush

A swimming pool that is tended to with TLC will rarely develop severe cases of algae and dirt buildup along the inside surfaces. However, swimming pools that are not properly maintained and lack the proper chemical balances can become infested with dark green algae that will require a heavy dose of shock and heavy duty scrubbing. If your pool is in need of a deep cleaning, having the right brushes to get the job done is important.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Algae brush
• Floor and wall brush
• Tile brush
• Tile soap
• Telescopic pole

Types of Brushes

1. Use an algae brush to clean a pool that has plaster walls. The metal bristles on an algae brush are strong and abrasive and can tackle the tough job of scrubbing away dark green algae that accumulates along the side walls and bottom of the pool.

2. Invest in a sturdy floor and wall brush to clean swimming pools that have vinyl liners, or fiberglass walls. These brushes have nylon bristles that are less abrasive than the metal algae brushes and can scrub away dirt and algae without the worry of tearing your liner.

3. Clean tiled, in-ground swimming pools with a tile brush. For most pool owners, keeping the grout in between the tiles free of stains caused by chemicals, dirt and algae, is a challenge. The tile brush is a narrower brush that has bristles that are strong enough to scrub away calcium deposits that commonly develop on grout.

Scrubbing Procedures

4. Make contact with the pool sides on the way down, when using the algae brush or the wall brush. If you are using a telescopic pole attached to the scrub brush, stand along the outside of the pool and press the brush against the pool side. Use a down stroke to remove the debris. Remove the brush from the side when you touch the bottom and pull it out of the water. Continue the procedure all around the pool. Vacuum after the debris settles to the bottom of the pool.

5. Use the tile brush to scrub any tile that is above and below the water line. This type of cleaning is usually done by hand, and will often require the application of "tile soap" to the brush in order to remove stubborn grout stains. Scrub in between each tile with the tile soap and tile brush until the stains are removed. A vacuum afterward will remove any leftover dirt and residue.

6. Clean the bottom of the pool with the designated brush attached to a telescopic pole. Allow all of the debris that has been stirred up to settle, then vacuum it up.

Tips & Warnings

• For tough grout staining, a pumice stone is suggested.
• Aside from using the tile soap specifically designed for cleaning tile and grout, once your pool has been properly shocked and contains the proper levels of chlorine, you should not need to use any additional chemical cleaners for scrubbing the sides. The chemicals in the water should be all that is necessary. If you take the time to give your pool a gentle scrubbing, even when it does not look dirty, you will find that you rarely (if ever) will have to do a deep cleaning. Never, completely empty an above ground pool of all of its water in order to clean it, unless you are instructed by the manufacturer. Lack of water can be catastrophic, causing the pool sides to collapse.

Resources

• Swimming pool cleaning
• Swimming pool brushes