Nothing ruins a sunny Saturday afternoon faster than stepping into your swimming pool and feeling a slick, slimy film beneath your toes. You expect the water to be crisp and refreshing. However, that slippery texture on the floor and walls suggests that something else is living in the water with you. This film is more than an annoyance because it can make the floor as dangerous as an ice rink for children and adults alike. Dealing with a slimy pool requires detective work to find out why your cleaning routine is less effective than you thought.

The Green Invader Known as Algae

Algae are the most common culprits for pool slime. They love sunlight and warm water. When there isn’t enough chlorine in your pool, these organisms multiply quickly and cause a layer of slime to form. While slime is usually green, it can be yellow when mustard algae is involved. Stagnant water also helps algae thrive, so you must make sure your pump runs long enough. When you remove the slime, make sure you get in the crevices where your ladder and railings sit.

Biofilm and the Armor of Bacteria

Sometimes that slippery feeling is not actually algae at all. Rather, it is a complex colony of bacteria known as biofilm. These bacteria create a protective slime-like coating that acts as a shield against the chlorine you put in the water. This means you could have balanced chemical readings on your test strips while the walls still feel greasy to the touch. Biofilm often builds up in the plumbing lines or inside the filter where you cannot see it. It slowly releases more bacteria back into the main pool area. If you find that your water stays cloudy no matter how much shock you add, you are likely fighting a biofilm that has anchored itself to your pool floor.

Physical Scrubbing and Balancing Chemicals

Removing the slime requires you to perform two important tasks. You need to use some good old-fashioned elbow grease, and you must make sure you have the proper chemicals. Scrub your pool using a stiff brush so that the slime is loose enough to go through the filter. Then, properly balance your chemicals. When all is said and done, run your filter continuously until the chemicals become stable and the water clears.

You should also schedule a professional pool cleaning from time to time to ensure that the slime will not return. Call Hydrocare Pools & Spas for pool cleaning services in Torrington, CT, and look forward to summer fun in the pool with family and friends.