Keeping your swimming pool clean can be challenging if you’re doing it for the first time. Even looking at a pool filter can have you wondering about pool water maintenance, but don’t fret because we’ll share some helpful tips to keep your pool clean.
With this guide, you’ll learn how to get dirt from the bottom of your pool without going through a hassle.
If you see how professionals clean swimming pools, you learn that they first use a stiff brush to move all the debris and fine particles to the bottom of the pool. Then, cleaning the dirt from the floor becomes easier.
Let’s start with how pool vacuum cleaners are used to clean out swimming pools step-by-step.
How to Clean the Bottom of a Pool with a Vacuum Cleaner?
Do you keep your pool clean? Seeing no signs of dirt at the bottom of a pool doesn’t necessarily mean that the pool’s water is free from dirt, sand, and debris. Swimming pools become a nightmare when you constantly have to get debris and sand stains off your feet.
Before you enter a pool, it’s important that you remove dirt, debris, and other things that can lead to a dirty pool. One of the best pool cleaning methods includes the use of a pool vac. It’s a vacuum cleaner designed specifically for pool maintenance.
Furthermore, you can use a diatomaceous earth filter instead of a sand filter to remove harmful fine particles and keep your pool’s water clean. It’s also important to consider the type of dirt and debris you’re trying to remove from the bottom of a pool.
For instance, is it leaves and similar debris that the wind blew into your pool? Is your diatomaceous earth filter not working properly? There could be many reasons behind dirt collecting at the bottom of a pool or even at the surface.
Let’s go over it step-by-step.
Step 1: Skimming the Pool Water
When the pool floor is too dirty, it’s not necessary that you start with the bottom of the pool. Instead, you can try a simpler method that doesn’t require reaching the bottom of your pool.
You can use a leaf rake or pool skimmer if you don’t have access to a pool net. You have to take all the floating debris out of the pool. You can gently sweep the pool surface and collect bigger waste materials, such as leaves.
Make sure you leave the pool pump running. The pool pump will ensure an active water flow in the filter.
Step 2: Use Brush on Swimming Pool
The next step is also relatively simpler than the last. Using a stiff brush, scrape off any dirt that accumulates on the sides of your swimming pool. This causes the dirt to fall at the bottom of the pool, allowing easy cleaning by using a vacuum hose later.
Step 3: Use a Pool Net
The only reason you’ll need to use a pool net is to remove bigger debris such as large sand particles, stones, and so on from the bottom of a pool. Remember: pool ownership brings with it the hefty task of maintenance, which can be quite a burden for some.
To get it done quickly, some people will simply crank up the water pump, install an automatic pool cleaner and skimmer basket, and keep the filter running. While it’s all advisable, do you think that the hair-catching skimmer net and the precise filter will catch stones and debris?
To prevent damage to your vacuum hose as well, try removing the large stones from the bottom of your pool using a net.
Step 4: Selecting Pool Filter Mode
If your pool isn’t super dirty, then the chances are that your pool maintenance task may not be as hectic as you thought it would be. For instance, you may not have to use a remote-controlled vacuum cleaner to get rid of the dirt!
After scrubbing the sides, so dirt falls at the bottom of the pool and removing leaves and stones, you can just crank up the filter valve settings.
You can set it to “filter” mode when there’s only a little dirt at the bottom of the pool. However, if there’s too much dirt at the bottom of your pool, you can crank the filter to the “waste-removal” setting.
Step 5: Insert a the Hose
It’s best to insert the water hose at the beginning of the pool cleaning process. That’s because a vacuum will suck up the water from the pool quite quickly. Plus, you don’t want to have to stop halfway to top the pool before you continue using the vacuum.
So, make sure you insert the hose into your pool. This way, it’s filling up as you’re pumping out water along with the waste material accumulated at the bottom of the pool.
Step 6: Connect the Vacuum
Make sure you turn off the water pump beforehand. Otherwise, it will interfere with sucking up the dirt in your pool, especially the dirt that’s near the filter. Turn off the pump/filter, and connect the vacuum head to the hose to remove air from it (i.e., hose).
When you remove air from the vacuum hose, connect it to the skimmer outlet or use the skimmer vacuum plate that is usually at the side of a pool.
Also, you will have the “waste removal” setting on your filter while the pump is turned off. So, make sure you open the waste outlet valve to let the filter do its work. Once you open that valve, turn the pump on.
Step 7: Start Using the Pool Vacuum
Using the brush on the sides will make sure the dust and sand fall to the bottom and collects in a pile that’s easier to clean up. Make sure you use the brush according to the surface of your pool’s floor.
Start vacuuming the pool but take it slow and steady to avoid agitating the dirt. If you are too fast or agitate the water, the dirt will spread beyond the pile and remain suspended in the water.
In that case, you can either wait for the dirt to pile up at the bottom again or completely refill the pool with fresh water. Try not to resist and not disturb the dirt, as this makes the task even more challenging.
Note that if you’ve activated the “filter” setting for vacuuming the pool, you may notice a reduction in suction power. One of the main reasons behind that could be the buildup of dirt in the filter. Consequently, you may have to invest more time to unclog the filter.
Step 8: Completing the Task
Next, you must turn the pump off again once you’ve removed the dirt from the pool. Set the mode of the filter valve back to “filter” and take out the vacuum head along with the vacuum hose. And finally, turn the pump back on.
How to Remove Dirt from the Bottom of the Pool without a Vacuum Cleaner?
Even if you don’t have a vacuum cleaner like the ones professionals use for most pools, you can still clean your pool. The only difference is that you will be removing the dirt and debris manually, but this can add physical strain.
If you don’t have an automatic pool cleaner, you should be extra careful, so you don’t agitate the dirt, which leads to it being suspended in the water.
Here are some of the steps you must follow to remove dirt from the bottom of your pool without a vacuum cleaner:
Step 1: Brush the Pool Sides
You have to begin by brushing the sides of the pool to ensure all dirt and sand collects at the bottom of your pool. Consider using a stiff brush for a concrete or tile pool floor.
For a pool floor with vinyl liner, you can use a soft brush. Use a brush to clean the sides of the pool from the inside and let the pile form at a spot.
Step 2: Stick with Slow Movement
Even when you’re brushing the pool sides, make sure you don’t move too fast. Doing so will increase the chances of sand and dirt suspending back in the water. To avoid demeaning your own progress, stick to slow brush movements.
Due to fast movement, the dirt will start moving across the water again and settle elsewhere. Besides, the settlement of a pile of dirt inside the water can take a few minutes. So, try to avoid it.
Step 3: Get a Long Dustpan
You can use a long dustpan to avoid getting inside the water, which could agitate the dirt. Using a long dustpan, you can gently sweep the dirt off the pool’s floor.
Try to get as much dirt as you can in the first few sweeps and gently lift the dustpan out of the pool. Quickly transfer the wet dirt to a container.
Make sure you completely remove the dirt from the dustpan before putting it back into the water. Otherwise, you’re just adding back some of the dirt you take out.
How to Get Rid of Brown Dust on the Bottom of the Pool?
Brown dust in a swimming pool usually refers to brown algae, which is extremely chlorine-resistant. Leaving such matter inside the pool where you and your children swim could increase the risk of experiencing skin problems and even lung issues.
So, make sure you follow the steps below and remove the brown sand/ brown algae at the bottom of your pool:
Step 1: Use Algaecide
Using algaecide or shock will help you get rid of the brown algae (brown sand) infestation in your pool. You can begin by pouring in the recommended amount of algaecide into the pool, regardless of the chlorine content in there.
Once you start pouring, you will have to wait for the recommended amount of time before moving to step 2. The wait time is so that the brown dust dislodges from the pool’s floor.
Step 2: Use Brush Constantly
You can wear protective gear and start brushing the brown spots to dislodge the algae from the bottom of the pool. Brushing consistently after mixing the chemicals (i.e., algaecide) in the pool will make this step more effective.
Step 3: Get a Clarifier
Using a clarifier will help you remove cloudy water in the pool. Cloudy water is the result of chemicals removing algae from its source and scraping the floor clean.
Step 4: Rinse Frequently
You can turn the filter valve setting to “rinse” and try rinsing the pool filter twice a day. You don’t necessarily have to do it all the time. However, when treating your pool for brown sand, make sure you spread the time evenly between each step to catch as much dislodged brown sand as possible.
Wrap-Up
Whether it’s small particles, dirty water, or a small pile of brown dust at the bottom of your pool, the abovementioned cleaning methods will work.
To clean dirt from the bottom of a pool, you must select the right equipment for use. You can also consult pool cleaning services in case you can’t handle the dirt at the bottom of your pool on your own.
Contacting professional swimming pool cleaners will help you clean the dirt and improve the overall quality of your swimming pool. Make sure your pool vacuum head is stiff and in good condition to remove dirt from the pool’s floor.
Pool maintenance is necessary to ensure that you and your family can swim comfortably without any health risks or physical damage. Besides, if you follow the abovementioned instructions carefully and opt for regular cleanings, it won’t take as much time.