Did you know that a contaminated swimming pool can lead to sickness and even death in people? In fact, from 2015 to 2019, there were more than 3,000 infections related to pools and hot tubs.
Just because you have chlorine in your pool doesn’t mean that it won’t get dirty or contaminated. Through education and proper maintenance, however, you can successfully take care of your pool.
By knowing how pools and pool tiles get dirty, you can keep your pool clean and your family safe. So keep on reading to learn more!
Wind Blown Dirt and Debris
If you live in a desert environment then your pool may very well be contaminated by dust. Even building walls and fences around your pool won’t do much to stop dust from getting into your pool.
The best way to make sure that dust doesn’t get into your pool is by using a pool cover. And when you take off the pool cover, you want to make sure that you have someone else to help you. This way, you can lift off the cover without spilling dirt into the pool.
If the pool is built near a garden then dust can become a problem there too. When it’s dry outside, particles from the dirt in the garden beds can get picked up by the wind and land in the pool. You want to make sure that your garden beds are planted with ground covers to trap dust.
You can also cover them in mulch to keep the soil moist and heavy.
Leaves and Grass Clippings
If you live in a hot and tropical climate, then there’s a good chance that your pool is surrounded by trees. Trees give a nice aesthetic and also provide plenty of shade.
However, when leaves fall, they more than likely will end up in the pool. Also, leaves are great at collecting dust. While this can stop dust from blowing into your pool, it can have the opposite effect when dusty leaves fall into your pool.
Some homeowners will put mesh cloths to catch the leaves before they get into the pool. However, if too many leaves get collected, they can become too heavy and break through the cloth.
Also, if your pool isn’t covered when it rains then the rain will wash the dust off of the leaves and into the pool.
Many pool owners in tropical areas prefer to put up palm trees. Fronds are bigger than the little leaves on most trees. It’s easier to remove the fronds from the tree before it rains or before something like a hurricane.
If your pool is by your lawn, then you need to watch out for grass clippings. These can also be covered in dirt and dust. Rake up your grass clippings as soon as possible so they don’t blow into the pool.
This is even more important if you use chemical fertilizers on your lawn. When your pool is near the lawn, you want to only use natural and organic fertilizers. You don’t want your family to swim through all of these chemicals that are in your fertilizers.
You also might want to have a footbath next to the pool. This way, people can’t accidentally take dirt and grass clipping into the pool with their feet.
Calcium Buildup
You may spot calcium buildup right as it starts to take over your pool. It will leave a white stain along the sides of the pool. After going in the pool, your skin will start to itch and your eyes might feel like they’re itching or burning.
You can end up with too much calcium due to altered calcium and pH levels. In the United States, most homes use hard water. This can leave calcium deposits.
Calcium buildup happens when the hardness of water is between 400pm and 800pm.
The higher your level is, the more calcium you have in your water.
You can also get water hardness by using solutions to clean water. You usually want to keep your water hardness between 200pm and 400pm.
Along with calcium deposits, you can find other mineral deposits clinging to your pool tiles. Grime on tiles can also come from the buildup of things like sunscreen and body soil.
Look around your home. If you notice stains or hard water deposits in your tub or sinks then you’ll probably have the same issue with your pool.
As water evaporates, scaling happens when mineral deposits cling to the tiles. It’s not easy to remove scum and you’ll probably want to hire a professional.
Tips
When it comes to cleaning pool tiles, your waterline tiles should be cleaned whenever you see discoloration. You usually want to do this every week or month.
It’s a lot easier to clean a little bit of buildup at the waterline than waiting for a lot of grime to buildup on your tiles. At the very least, you want to make sure that your tiles are clean at the beginning and end of the pool season.
The Importance of Knowing What Makes Pool Tiles and Pools Dirty
Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now understand the importance of regular swimming pool maintenance. By knowing what makes pool tiles and pools dirty, you’ll be able to better protect your pool and take care of small problems as they arise.
Of course, if a problem seems out of your control then you should contact a professional pool cleaner and have them help you.
Are you looking for other useful articles about how to clean a swimming pool? If so, then check out the rest of our site today for more!
