HomeBrowseNewslettersContestsAskShare 
AllGuidesQuestionsVideosBy DateRecent Feedback My AccountAbout Us
Home and Garden > Cleaning > Miscellaneous on August 19, 2011

Cleaning an Above Ground Pool

A blue above ground swimming pool.Above ground pools do not always have all of the filters that in-ground pools do, so they can get quite dirty. It is important to clean your pool properly so that you don't damage the liner. This is a guide about cleaning an above ground pool.
     

Solutions

Share a solution for this guide today!

Questions

Here are questions related to Cleaning an Above Ground Pool.

Cleaning an Above Ground Pool

I cleaned my above ground pool 2 days ago. I refilled it and put a chlorine tablet in the dispenser. I also added a little algaecide now after filtering for 3 days I got in the pool and it felt like a greasy substance was on the bottom. Then I noticed where I stepped it turned black as did my feet and knees. I had to take a bath and use a brush and soap to remove it. What happened to the pool?

By daneed

SharePrintFollow1 Feedback

Most Recent Answer

By fuzzytufts 08/30/2011

U killed the algae but you have to vacuum it out of the bottom or put a particulate stuff that makes it rise to the top and filter it out. The particulate stuff I don't like but I use a vacuum that to the water hose and remove the dead algae.

You may think about using an algaecide that last for 3 months and put it in in 21/2 months. I live in south GA and that is what I do. I keep my pool with baking soda, 3month algaecide and chlorine 3inch tabs. It is above ground 12 foot x 4 foot.

Algae in Above Ground Swimming Pools

I have an above ground pool. Can I use household bleach to kill algae? My pool is overrun with green algae. Thanks.

By leveman3 from Lebanon, TN

SharePrintFollow3 Feedbacks

Most Recent Answer

By dbrt73 09/19/2010

I use regular laundry bleach for shocking the pool and the chlorine it needs. For the algae I use baking soda. About 8 boxes for the size 12' x 36". Works wonder.Might need a couple of more if it is real bad. Also keep a good rag mop on hand for the pool alone. I had this size pool up for 9 years. Come winter, I let out 1/3 of the water. Put beach balls in it and covered with a tarp tied to gallon milk jugs filled with water to corners of the tarp and it was good till next spring. You do not have to buy the expensive chlorine pills and algaecide. Unless you are a millionaire and just have money to burn.
Oh by the way the pool I had was the old fashion medal sided one with the liner and the little plastic rods that clipped on to keep the liner in place. They don't make any more. But I had it for 9 years till kids grew and flew.
Good Luck.
Donna

Cleaning an Above Ground Pool

What is your pump suppose to be on when you are vacuuming out your above ground pool?

By Dale from Hephzibah, GA

SharePrintFollowPost Feedback

Cleaning Algae in Above Ground Pool

My 17 x 48 foot above ground pool is still a lite green. What do I need to do next? What products are best and how much do I use?

By John

SharePrintFollow1 Feedback

Most Recent Answer

By j20832 07/01/2012

Bleach is cheap and effective (and safe). For more info go to www.troublefreepool.com

Cleaning an Above Ground Pool

I moved into a new house about two months ago and was told the Intex above-ground pool was a saltwater pool. And also that it was clean. There was a cover on it so I just trusted that it was clean. It's now hot outside, and yesterday I took the cover off. There is a layer of green on the bottom of the pool and it looks disgusting. I don't know what to do with it or how to clean it because I've never had a pool before. What chemicals do I need to buy? What all is needed to get it clean and running?

By Stacy N.

SharePrintFollowPost Feedback

Cleaning Above Ground Pool

I'm wondering how to successively clean my 16' by 32' above ground swimming pool? It's filled with algae and the water is completely green! Is there some simple way I can clean it without vacuuming it, as our vacuum for some reason isn't working?

By Gail B

SharePrintFollowPost Feedback

Cleaning an Uncovered Above Ground Pool

I have one of those pools that you can get from Kmart or Walmart and it was uncovered for the rest of the year after summer was over. Now it is very green in spots with dried leaves in it. I was wanting to know the best way to get it cleaned and ready for summer again. Can someone please help me?

By Terra from KY

SharePrintFollowPost Feedback

Cleaning an Above Ground Vinyl Pool

Our above ground vinyl pool sat uncovered and empty through the winter months. It is coated in green algae. What is the best way to begin to clean the pool and get it ready for summer?

By Delona from south FL

SharePrintFollowPost Feedback

Archives

Here are archived discussions related to this page.

Cleaning An Above Ground Pool

I have an above ground pool that has a terrible brownish ring/stain just about the water line. I've tried scrubbing it and using pool recommended cleaners, which haven't worked. Monsoon storms left a fine layer of dirt on the bottom that the vacuum is not picking up. It's a mess! Any ideas?

LeAnne


RE: Cleaning An Above Ground Pool

I don't know if it is recommended by the pool companies but I used Clorox clean up spray on mine and it came out really nice. My pool is about 16 years old and I'm only on second liner. Friends tell me that is really good. (07/22/2005)

By Carol

RE: Cleaning An Above Ground Pool

My mother in law had the same problem. Use Soft Scrub with bleach and scrub, this works well. (07/23/2005)

By brandi

RE: Cleaning An Above Ground Pool

Your stain is probably iron, but there is a chance it could also be bacterial. There are many products for pools, but an above ground pool has its own parameters. I suggest you contact the company that installed your pool and ask them. Most likely, they have products that they will be happy to sell you that will not harm the liner. Good luck. : ) (07/24/2005)

By Guest

RE: Cleaning An Above Ground Pool

Try baking soda, that worked for a friend of mine. (07/25/2005)

By TC in MO


Cleaning an Above Ground Pool

I have an Intex pool holding 3700 gallons. All the green algae collects on the bottom in clumps when I treat it. Then, I cannot get it up without it spreading into the water again. The pool came with one of those hose attachment vacs. What can I do to finally get all the junk off the bottom? I have tried everything, shocking it, etc., including letting the filter run continuously.

By suze-e from Lake City, FL


RE: Cleaning an Above Ground Pool

I had the same problem. Get one of those pool vacuums that attaches to your garden hose. The bag that comes with it has too loose a weave to catch the small particles so you'll need to make one yourself out of different material. I cut up a filter cartridge to make my own bag and discovered it was very similar to interfacing fabric (used when sewing collars, etc.) and ended up using that instead. Making the bag is easy, use the one that came with it as your example. I actually made mine much bigger and it seemed to work better. When vacuuming, don't have the hose on full pressure and go very slowly. It's the only thing that got my Intex clean (it went from gross to gorgeous). Couldn't have survived without it. Good luck. (06/23/2009)

By brenz64

RE: Cleaning an Above Ground Pool

I found a great solution for my algae clean up problem. It's simple and easy to have an above ground pool clean and clear in hours. I had an algae bloom while I was away for a weekend and my guard was down. I came home and the pool looked terrible. I shocked, used an algaecide, and vacuumed.

The trouble was that the sand filter would not pull the fine particles and it was just going back into the water to cloud it up and settle again. I vacuumed for two days and back washed, but it still came through the filter and back into the pool. This is what I did and then kicked myself for not thinking of it before.

First make sure your chlorine is at the proper levels as well as the PH. If you have had an algae problem and have shocked the pool an also been using an algaecide, but can't seem to get rid of the fine particles that settle to the bottom, this will work for you. If you have followed directions the algae should be dead. This is assuming that you have a vacuum hose that attaches to your skimmer or filter system for cleaning the bottom of your pool. If you do this works great.

Go to Lowes, Home Depot, or any place where you can pick up a cheap spa filter. The one I have is eight inches long and about 4 inches wide with a threaded bottom and closed or sealed top. It's designed to screw into a spa filter housing. It has a regular corrugated paper filter around it.

I then vacuumed the pool again and scrubbed the bottom as best I could since I could hardly see it as the water clouded. Then for good measure I added to the pool a clarifier, in my case I use 1 ounce for 6,000 gallons. My pool is 5,600 gallons.

After I was done stirring it up and getting it lose from the bottom I took the spa filter and attached it to my vacuum hose (pump off at that point) with some electrical tape to hold it in place. I intend on making a better fitting later, but I was desperate to give it a try and the tape was just to hold it in place.

Then I sunk the filter to the bottom and tried to get it in the center as best I could. Then turned on the pump as if I was going to vacuum and let the filter do it's job. I also pointed my return to the side and slightly downward to allow the water to circulate around the pool in a circle. With the filter in the middle it acts like a center drain and helps draw everything towards it. After the first few minutes the filter was green.

After one hour it was dark green and the pool was noticeably cleaner. I then shut off the pump and carefully lifted the filter to the surface and while still submerged used a bucket to slip the filter in and pull it out of the pool so as not to lose anything I had collected. After hosing it clean I did it again for two hours. By then the pool had become clear and looked great. I also used my brush while it was gathering to keep the bottom clear of the settling particles and brushed toward the filter every once in a while.

Finally I left the filter on over night for good measure and in the morning removed it. My pool was spotless. I'm getting in now. So a cheap filter on the end of a vacuum hose did the trick in just a few hours. I hope this helps. (07/15/2009)

By indoorable

Follow ThriftyFun