In the United States, there are about 10.4 million residential pools.

If you own one of those pools or are thinking about getting one, you might be wondering what pool supplies you need to have a clean pool. Remember, there’s no shame in admitting you can’t keep up with maintenance, or maybe you’re unable to do it yourself, or don’t have time. Whatever the reason, sometimes it can help to hire a Plano pool service and cleaning company (or one elsewhere more relevant for you) in order to give you a hand from time to time. Knowing what you need to clean your pool yourself will come in handy at some point however.

Thankfully, we have the best list of pool cleaning supplies that you’ll need, so make sure you keep reading!

1. Water Test Strips

You should test your water at least once a week with water test strips. This will let you know if you need to add more chemicals to your pool in order to stop algae or bacteria from growing in it. It can also tell you if you put too many chemicals in it. 

You can also go and get your pool water tested by bringing it to a pool supply store, but that will cost you more time and money. Instead, you can just buy some test strips.

However, these aren’t as accurate as liquid test kits. But they’re so much easier to use, and they’ll cover all of the basics. They’ll rank things like free chlorine, total chlorine, and bromine. It’ll also tell you the total alkalinity, pH, and cyanuric acid levels.

To use these, you just have to hold the strip under the water for a few seconds. When you pull it out, compare it to the chart graduation scale, and you’ll be able to have a good idea of what chemicals are in your pool. 

2. Shock

The chlorine in the pool will take care of most of the bacteria, but the shock will give it a little extra boost. It will kill all of the bacteria that the chlorine wasn’t able to which makes it healthy to swim in.

If your water is cloudy, this will make it more clear. You can also use it to treat some problems with algae. 

However, you’ll have to shock your pool frequently, especially if you live somewhere that rains a lot. 

3. Skimmer

A skimmer is a great way to catch all kinds of stuff that floats in your pool. Instead of trying to fish for it with a net, it will make sure that the surface of the water is clean.

This means that it can clear off things like leaves, bugs, or any dirt that is just floating around. 

You can buy some for an in-ground or above-ground pool as well. A normal pool skimmer should work if you don’t constantly have debris falling into your pool. 

However, if your pool is under large trees or you have a lot of windy days, you’ll need a larger one so that you don’t have to empty the skimmer net instead. You can also buy different nets to hold more debris!

4. Algae Brush

If algae does manage to grow in your pool, you’ll need a special brush to scrub it off the surface.

An algae brush is made with stainless steel bristles. The algae will cling onto the wall, so you need to make sure that you can scrub it all off. 

However, the steel brush is only meant for gunite or concrete pool. If you have a vinyl liner, you might want to get a nylon bristle brush.

5. Vacuum

Small debris will float to the bottom of the pool, and using a net can just be a hassle. Investing in a vacuum is a great way to vacuum an in-ground pool, especially when it’s deep. 

Depending on the size of your pool, the vacuum may only need to run for twenty to thirty minutes. They’re also really easy to use. Some of them will just need to be set in the pool, and they’ll vacuum the bottom on their own like a Roomba would in your house.  

If you’re interested more in knowing more about how to keep the walls and floors of your pool clean, read this guide.

6. Telescoping Pole

The telescoping pole will extend to reach the depths of the pool that you can’t get to. It collapses and expands so it doesn’t have to take up much storage when you aren’t using it.

This pole is very versatile, and you can attach all kinds of pool accessories to the end of it. You can use a manual vacuum, a pool skimmer, brush, or a net on the end of this. 

7. Filter Cleaner

If you have a filter that’s working to help keep your pool clean, you should make sure that you have cleaner to rinse it out regularly.

Since it’s going through all of the dirt and grime in your pool, it’ll get worn down as time goes on. However, the filter can get too dirty that it isn’t filtering anything out. 

You may need to replace the filter, but you might also just need to get a cleaner to rinse it out. Filter cleaners also have added benefits like preventing cloudy water, removing dirt and residue, and improving how efficient your filter works.

How often you put in filter cleaner should depend on what type of filter you have. You should keep an eye on your pressure gauge and how clear the water is. This will let you know when it’s time to clean the filter again. 

Discover More of the Essential Pool Supplies

These are only a few of the essential pool supplies you’ll need to do pool maintenance, but there are a few more things you’ll need as well.

Maintaining a pool can be a big job and can get stressful, but we’re here to help you out!

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