Cleaning a pool that has been sitting for years is not easy work. You’re looking at your pool and it has been overrun with dirt, debris, algae, and other contaminants, and it seems like a project that’s going to take forever. Fortunately, with the proper tools and a little elbow grease, you can return your pool to a shining state. One of the most useful tools for this task is a dependable pool cleaner, from a manual pool vacuum and/or a sophisticated swimming pool robot cleaner. In this guide, we will run you through how to clean a pool that hasn’t been serviced in years by following the best methods for cleaning available.
Cleaning a Dirty Pool: Why It Matters
Before going through the steps, it’s important to note why cleaning a dirty pool is so important. An untreated pool for a long will result in the following:
Algae Growth: Algae love stagnant, untreated water, and any pool that’s sat for years will have a thick carpet of it.
Debris Accumulation: Leaves, twigs, and dirt can also build up in the pool, rendering the water murky and arduous to clean.
Filtration Problems: The pool’s filtration system may be blocked or broken, resulting in poor cleaning and water circulation.
Stains — Long-term neglect can lead to stains on the surface of the pool that require professional cleaning to remove.
Now that we covered the challenges, let’s dive into how you can clean an overgrown pool that has not been maintained in years.
Prepare for the Clean-Up
Now, before you panic, the initial stage of restoring a pool that’s been left alone is to analyze the condition and equipment necessary. You will need:
Pool Cleaner: If there is a lot of debris in the pool, a pool cleaning robot or robotic pool cleaner such as Beatbot AquaSense is perfect for cleaning the pool floor and walls.
Pool Vacuum: A pool vacuum (manual or automatic) will help remove large debris from the pool.
Skimmer: You will want to have a skimmer or skimmer net for removing floating debris such as leaves and twigs.
Filtration System: Make sure that your filtration system is working properly. If the filter has been sitting for a long time, you may have to clean or replace it.
Pool Chemicals: Chlorine, PH balancers, and algaecides will be needed to rebalance the chemicals in water.
Remove Large Debris
To do so, begin by manually cleaning away large debris, like leaves, twigs, and dirt that has floated to the top of the pool. This can be accomplished with a skimmer or skimmer net. Be extra diligent in the corners and on the steps where debris seems to collect.
If you have a larger pool or extra debris, you will want a vacuum cleaner for a pool. If your pool doesn’t have an automatic pool vacuum, you can use a manual vacuum attached to a long pole to suck up debris from the bottom of the pool.
Inspect and Clean the Filtration System
After clearing away all the debris on the surface, it is time to inspect your pool’s filtration system. If your pool is neglected, it may have debris on the walls, or there could be some blockage in the filter, meaning the water can’t properly circulate. Inspect the pipes for blockages, clean the filter, and replace it, if necessary. If your pool has a robotic pool cleaner, check to make sure it’s working properly before running it.
Ensure the pump is functioning well. This first step was to help circulate it, so run it for several hours before the next step.
Get the Balance Right and Shock the Pool
The water chemistry will likely be imbalanced for a pool, which hasn’t been cleaned in years. Test the pool’s water for pH, alkalinity, chlorine, and calcium hardness. You will have to regulate these levels before the water can be deemed safe for swimming.
Then, shock the pool with either a high dose of chlorine or a pool shock treatment. Shock treating the pool is going to kill off dirt, algae, bacteria, and other contaminants that have built up over the years. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for how much shock treatment to add based on the size of your pool.
Let the shock percolate for at least 24 hours before proceeding onward.
Fit a Pool Robotic Automatic Cleaner
After balancing the water and removing the big debris, now it’s time to bring in the big guns: the pool robotic pool cleaner. Use the robotic vehicles If you choose one advanced model, like the Beatbot AquaSense Pro or Beatbot iSkim Ultra, let the robot do the work for you. These robots are built to scrub the floor and walls of the pool, picking up smaller debris that manual cleaning methods might not capture, and they are great for removing fine dirt and dust particles that settle in the pool.
For best results, let the robotic cleaner operate for several hours or overnight, depending on your pool size and level of contamination.
Scrub the Walls and Floor of the Pool
While your pool cleaner robot or swimming pool robot cleaner will take care of most of the cleaning for you, it is still wise to brush the walls and floor of the pool yourself. This helps remove any remaining algae or dirt that’s stuck to the surfaces, which the cleaner finds easier to pick up.
Scrub the walls, floor, and steps with a stiff-bristled pool brush. The parts that haven’t been serviced in quite some time will need extra attention, as the dirt or algae will be more persistent there.
Run the Filtration System
Once your pool has been cleaned and the levels of chemicals balanced, don’t forget to run the—hopefully filtered—water through the filtration system for 24 hours or longer to help eliminate any remaining cloudiness. Check that the system is filtering the water properly and that the pump is running smoothly. The longer you can have that water circulate, the more quickly it will clear up.”
Check the Water Quality
Once the filtration system has had the opportunity to process, have the water re-tested to make sure the chemical levels are balanced. The water should be clear and debris-free, and pH and chlorine levels should be in the recommended range for safe swimming.
Regularly Cleaning Your Pool
After cleaning your pool and making sure the water is safe, ongoing maintenance will be key. Regular cleaning of the swimming pool regularly using a pool cleaning robot or vacuum cleaner will help keep large debris and algae from building up in the future. Test the chemical balance weekly, and run the filtration system constantly to keep the water clean and safe.
If you prefer not to spend many hours cleaning manually, an automatic swimming pool robot cleaner will save you hours of work. With easy-to-use robots like the Beatbot AquaSense, you can get the cleaning done automatically so you can have the pool of your dreams without a hassle.
Conclusion
Cleaning a neglected pool that hasn’t been maintained in a few years is slow work, but it has its rewards. With the correct equipment, including a robot pool cleaner, pool vacuum, and appropriate filtration, what was once a swamp can be reverted to the gleaming pool it once was. With the right robotic pool cleaner by your side, regular maintenance will mean that you never have to repeat this awful process. Don’t allow neglect to destroy your pool — with the right tools, you can have clean, clear water all year round.