To ask if you have a large paddling pool how you keep it clean

[Somethingsosimple]

My husband has bought a 12ft pool for the kids as a surprise. Obviously we will need to keep it up for a few weeks once full so looking at kits to keep clean. I’m not keen on lots of chemicals and have looked at salt pools too but not sure how this works. Any advice massively appreciated.

[Somethingsosimple]

Also should we invest in a heater?

[Somethingsosimple]

Anyone?

[PumpkinP]

This is what put me off the big pools, all the maintenance, think you need chlorine tablets, tests strips,
Pump Filter etc

[soupmaker]

A cover? A net? Milton tablets?

[Minimamame]

Sorry I’ve no advice but I’m following as would like an answer to this too! X

[Foxglovesandprimroses]

Get a cover for when it's not in use. 27 g chlorine every day in hot weather, every other day when it's cooler. I know you said you don;'t like chemicals but it's by far the easiest way to keep it clear of gunk.

[altiara]

Chlorine tablets and a filter.

[MyOtherProfile]

@altiara

Chlorine tablets and a filter.

This. I'm afraid there's no other option. It's worth it for the fun and games though.

[Siameasy]

You can get floating devices which you fill with chlorine tablets. A filter would be better for a large pool.

[Omgnamechange]

As above, we also got a heater to work with the pump which heats up nicely. The solar heater mats didn’t work that well

[TAKESNOSHITSHIRLEY]

we have a 14 ft one we use floating thing off amazon with chlorine tablets and have a cover over it at night to keep it clean

we also found little plastic flowers that get hot in the sun and then heat up the pool

doesnt work amazingly as in wales so not a lot of sun but every time they do go in it we top it up with hot water

[chickadeedeedee]

As others said, chlorine and a filter. We have ours set up from May-Sept, and the filter runs constantly. We cover it every evening plus we have a pool net. The kids are happy to chip in with keeping it clean. It's well worth the ten mins a day for us

[Arnoldthecat]

Can i just add a cautionary tale about paddling pools of this nature? make sure NO ONE EVER jumps into it feet first. Step in carefully.

[Carandi]

We use chlorine tablets in a float, and a filter. At night we put a cover over to stop leaves falling in (and to make it safer for small animals that might get curious). During the day we use a fine net to regularly sweep out any bugs because you'll be surprised how many flies land in it and drown.

[SvenandSven]

We have had ours out since end of April. We use test strips and chlorine daily, pH balance when needed and a algaecide once a week to stop the water turning green/ cloudy. Very easy to do.
We have a pool cover, vacuum cleaner and net so can keep the pool clean.
We also have a solar heater which is not that great, a solar blanket and a heater. The heater we used a few times early on. But the sun heats it to 28-30 degrees when it's hot all day. Recently though it's been 24/26 degrees.
The pool will be out for the rest of the summer.
Dh built a decked area for it to go on and we have foam mats between the pool and decking. So no dead grass/mud to worry about.

[NooneElseIsSingingMySong]

We have one. We monitor the chlorine levels and adjust/top up. It has a cover too, we keep it in place with sun lounger towel clips. We have a filter and solar panels, so the pump filters and sends the water through the solar panel so it cleans and warms the water at the same time.

[bungleZippy12]

I agree with everyone saying chlorine tablets and a filter. If you don’t use these the water will very quickly turn green and murky.

I use algaecide once a week and keep it covered when not in use.
It’s very easy to manage. Barely 5 mins a day to check with PH strips and add chemicals.

[Dilbertian]

You must have a pump to circulate the water and filter out fine debris. Get the biggest one rated for that size of pool. Cover it with a secure strap-down cover when it is not in use, and skim out as much grass, leaves and other rubbish as you can every evening with a proper pool skimmer net. If you keep a bucket of pool water (fresh ever day) by the pool and encourage people to enter the pool via the 'footbath', you will have much less rubbish in the water.

Our first 2 years I used the chlorine tablets in the floating dispenser, but I found it tricky to keep the water clear and correctly balanced, especially if we went away for a few days.

Ever since then I have used only household bleach (1% sodium hypochlorite) and had no problems whatsoever. I simply pour in about 400ml of bleach every evening after I finish skimming, put the cover on and leave the pump running for a couple of hours. The following day I test the water with the testing strips before I let the dc use it. The chlorine is usually at a comfortably safe level about an hour after the sun hits the pool.

[Dilbertian]

400ml bleach is for an 8' pool.

[Blankscreen]

We've got a 4m.x 2.1 m one.

We have a filter and chlorine.

We didn't invest in a heater but on a hot day we put black bin liners on the top and it definitely heats up.

We also bought the children wet suits and they went in today with them on.

Really good purchase especially as we aren't going away on holiday this year.

[TimeWastingButFun]

We have the same size pool, we have a floating chlorine tablet dispenser which we keep topped up, also algae away tablets, and once a week we empty it, then I use a soft brush and washing up liquid to scrub it before refilling. We have a filter but in all honesty for the faff of clearing it land needing an electrical supply (it's right at the bottom of the garden) I just use a pool strainer to clear it every day. Plus one of those bubble wrap type covers to keep any other rubbish out. Never thought abo7r a heater, as they only use it when it's hot and the cover helps to keep it warm anyway.

[TimeWastingButFun]

@Arnoldthecat why not feet first? They know not to dive in, obviously, but they always take a running jump into it.

[Doodar]

F

[YardleyX]

We looked into all this for our pool.

We decided that it was easier to just empty it and refill when needed.

We only use it on mega hot days though.

I suppose if you went in regularly, regardless of the weather, then all the cleaning would be worth it.

[shazshaz]

We have a 10 ft pool. We use chorine every day or every other day and algicide once per week. Every fortnight we double dose the chlorine to "shock" the water. We have a net on a handle to scoop out leaves and we cover it every night with a giant bubble wrap cover. We just have the standard pump that came with the pool. It has been up since the end of April and the water is still sparkling and has warmed up nicely. It really only takes 5 minutes to dose the pool and another 5 to scoop out any leaves or insects. I don't think there is any way to escape using chemicals otherwise the water wouldn't be safe to swim in. Salt water pools do still use chemicals.