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.

[Loopylooni]

@Dilbertian tbh I've been poor with the chlorine so only using it to shock the pool and even then I just diluted a cupful of the powder rather than measuring it. My ex purchased a big powder container so i didnt realise there was an easier option. In my mind I thought it was more 'natural' but then spotted the bugs! It's covered at night too but just a flimsy pool cover from ebay.

From reading this, it sounds like I need the tablets and maybe an algaecide?

Also, how do people drain the last amounts as it drains only to a certain level where the side hole is? The part I absolutely hate is bucketing the water out.

[Dilbertian]

Possibly mosquito larvae? You're not using enough chlorine. Are you covering it at night?

[Loopylooni]

We have one and ive only ever used chlorine. Im now having issues with those little tadpole type things. How can i get rid of these?

[eatsleepread]

I got a really big paddling pool for the first time this summer. Absolutely never again. It's a complete pain.

[Laiste]

We had a big one.
Never.again.
Too much faff and JESUS the smell of the rotted grass underneath when we finally moved it.

(Yes, we were daft enough to have put the thing straight onto grass)

[George441]

Do these following steps to keep your pool clean,

1. Always measure the pH value in your Intex pool
2. Think carefully about where you place your pool
3. Cover your Intex pool when it is not in use
4. Only use tap water to fill the pool
5. Measuring is knowing: be careful with chlorine
6. Watch out for dead algae

You may use those Chemicals - Algaecides, Clarifiers, Enzymes.

[MyOtherProfile]

But you know that the point of putting stuff in the water is to keep it clean so you don't have to empty it and replace the water for ages, right?

[TimeWastingButFun]

@Shopping I used to empty it every 2-3 days, but since I put the tablets and algaecide in I'm only refilling it once a week. It's saving a lot of water compared to before, and I'm happy that it's completely clean. My question was whether it was safe for the lawn to have algaecide run on to it, so I'm using probably using less than the recommended dose.

[CherryPavlova]

Ours is technically a swimming pool but it’s not a very big swimming pool. Not quite 5 ft deep, so more dipping than serious swimming.

We have a hoover and a skimming net to catch fallen leaves.
It’s covered with a thermal cover when not in use.
It’s got a very basic filter.
We test the water and just throw in a couple of chlorine tablets occasionally, if needed. We’ve never had to adjust the pH or add clarifier. It’s not used excessively though and we’re careful about not using it with creams or similar.

It won’t be emptied until October time. Our hot tub is emptied for servicing once a year. It’s never been anything but sparkling. We are very fussy about who uses it and have a strict no lotions or potions rule.

[MayfliesX]

@Arnoldthecat what a sad story

[Dilbertian]

If you're emptying it out every week you certainly don't need to use any algaecide.

But why empty it every week?

[MyOtherProfile]

I wondered the same. Ours has been filled once and I'm not planning to empty it all summer. That's why we put chlorine in and why we test the water.

[Shoppingwithmother]

@TimeWastingButFun

Why do you empty out a 12 foot pool once a week, if you are using chlorine tablets? That uses a massive amount of water. If you are using the tablets the water lasts much longer. But if you are set on throwing all the water away every week there’s not much point in bothering to put the chlorine in.

[TimeWastingButFun]

For the people that use algaecide, is it OK on lawn/plants? We empty ours every week and it empties onto shrubs one side and lawn the other (it's on a patio). But I'm using less algaecide than recommended as I'm worried about damaging the plants.

[Runnerduck34]

Just tried to post and include a photo but doesn't seem to want to work! Anyway the best thing that worked for us is a long life copper algaecide, its pricey but its the only thing that kept the water clean all summer, also use floating chlorine tablet dispenser and sometimes chlorine shock but its the copper algaecide thats made the difference, Cover pool when not us use,remove any leaves etc, need a pump and yes a heater and a solar bubble cover take the chill off

[YardleyX]

Dilbertian - I wouldn’t use cold water to fill it up. We attach the hose to the laundry room sink so that we can fill with warm water.

[Arnoldthecat]

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

I know of a sad story of a family all playing in the back garden one summer. They had a big paddling pool of the type people describe on here. Father jumped in feet first and his feet slipped from under him. He flipped backward breaking his neck,,dead.

[Rainbowsparkle]

We have a 14ft one. Chlorine tablets in a floater and cover. Make sure you get test strips.
We have a pool net to get rid of debris and a pool vacuum to clean the bottom. Get yourself a decent filter we have a sand one and worth every penny. Heater wise we have a solar covet but to be honest my kids appreciate the cold water on a hot day as do I!

[sohypnotic]

I have an 8.7ft paddling pool, been up since end of the Easter hols and only completely changed the water once. I have a cover over it and use a pool skimmer to get other debris out - no filter. I have a floating chlorine dispenser with a slow release tablet in, and add a new tablet once a week. You also need an algaecide though (learnt that the hard way!) as the chlorine alone won't stop algae especially when it stands unused for any time. I used these algaecide sachets for convince, which has kept the water clean for 2 weeks as advertised and are faff free, but will try a larger bottle next as cheaper.


Relax 4 x 50ml KIDDY-SAFE PADDLING POOL WATER TREATMENT (CHLORINE FREE) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DJRRQVN/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_xfh8EbRJ83BHT

[Wouldyoudoit2]

You could use Bromine, filter, non chlorine shock.
It’s not as overpowered as chlorine.

[makingmammaries]

You need to chlorinate and filter as PP have said. The first year we had ours the DC got skin infections and stomach upsets because we didn’t treat the water properly.

[Dilbertian]

We calculated that to fill our 8' pool takes about as much water as a household of 5 people uses in one week. Emptying and refilling would be wasteful. Besides, without a heater it takes a week of hot sunshine for the water to warm up, so changing the water keep it cold.

Plain, thin, unfragranced bleach degrades to salty water after several hours exposure to sunlight, leaving no harmful additional chemicals in the water. Bc

[Leglump]

Filter, pump, floater and solar cover. It’s a faff. But well worth it - the kids are in it for hours every day.

[Waveysnail]

floater with chlorine tablets and a cover

[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.