How to Get Slime out of a Swimming Pool

Manual cleaning is an effective method of removing pool slime.

Pool slime is composed of potentially harmful bacteria that can make anyone who uses your swimming pool sick. This nasty living sludge forms when pool bottoms, equipment and toys are left in dark, wet areas for a long time. Keeping swimming pools clean and properly pH balanced will help keep slime from forming in the first place. If slime has already formed in your pool, there are several ways to get rid of it.

Things You'll Need

• Scrub brush
• Pool vacuum
• Chemical shock
• Enzymes or sphagnum moss

Instructions

1. Scrub the pool walls and floor with a thick scrub brush to physically remove slime. Follow up the scrubbing with a pool vacuum to suck up slime. Clean the pool filter to keep slime from spreading back into the pool.

2. Apply regular pool shock chemicals to the pool to kill slime-producing bacteria in areas you cannot reach with cleaning tools. Chemical treatment is necessary because the insides of pipes and filtration units never see slime-killing sunlight.

3. Treat the pool periodically with natural compounds containing bacteria-dissolving enzymes or sphagnum moss. While the scrubbing removed it from the pool sides and the chemicals killed the slime, a biological compound will dissolve the slime from the water completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Maintain a regular cleaning regimen to prevent future slime outbreaks in your swimming pool. If this is your first time treating the pool for slime, consider replacing the filter with a new one to help contain the bacteria.

• Obtain chemical shock, enzymes and sphagnum moss from a pool supply store.

References

• Par Pool and Spa: Biofilm Brochure
• Par Pool and Spa: Slime in Pool
• CDC: Your Disinfection Team--Chlorine and pH

Resources

• CDC: Healthy Swimming