Saying goodbye to summer is always a little bit sad because you know that the cold weather will soon be fast approaching. But if you leave your pool dirty before you close it down, you will face a significant disaster when it comes time to open it again. All that organic matter will linger in the water for months, staining your pool and its components in the worst way. Getting rid of those stains will be nearly impossible. Even with the best bleach solution on the market, the stains may not entirely disappear, leaving your pool looking like an enormous eyesore. What’s more, algae will have a buffet to feast on and thrive, which will make cleaning your pool even more difficult once spring arrives. To avoid these headaches in the first place, it is critical that you thoroughly prep your pool for winter.

Scrubbing the Waterline for a Fresh Start

The area where the water meets the tile or vinyl is usually the dirtiest part of the entire pool. This “bathtub ring” is a sticky mixture of body oils, pollen, and dust that hardens over time. It can become nearly impossible to remove if you allow it to sit all winter. Grab a soft sponge and a pool-safe surface cleaner to wipe down the entire pool perimeter. If you ignore this step when closing down your pool, the winter water level might drop, leaving that oily residue exposed to the air, where it can bake into the surface. If you are worried about scratching the tiles, you can apply a paste made from baking soda and vinegar and let it sit for some time to eat away at the grime.

The Importance of a Deep Vacuum Session

A quick skim of the surface is never enough to remove all the debris from your pool. The real trouble is hiding at the bottom of the deep end. You must vacuum the entire floor. When doing this, pay extra attention to the corners where debris tends to accumulate. If you leave even a small pile of acorns or wet leaves on the floor, the tannins in the wood will leach out and dye your pool floor an ugly brown. Oak leaves are notorious for leaving tea-colored stains that require expensive chemicals to remove once the weather warms up again.

Cleaning the Filtration System Internals

Before you turn off the power for the year, you need to backwash your system or soak your cartridges in a cleaning solution. If you leave old oils and minerals in the filter tank over the winter, they can harden into a cement-like substance that can ruin the components in your filter. A clean filter ensures that the winterizing chemicals you add later can circulate evenly through every gallon of water.

Before you close your pool for the winter, have a professional give it one final look. They can make sure your pool is in the best position to survive the cold weather ahead so that you can start off reopening in the spring with a bang. Reach out to Hydrocare so that you can get your final pool cleaning and inspection before the Torrington, CT, winter really gets underway.