Paddling pools can, unfortunately, harbour harmful germs if not kept clean enough, so it’s important to know how to keep them at their best. Not to mention, a paddling pool just looks so much more inviting when it’s fresh and clean!
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| Keep your paddling pool cleaner with these tips |
Here are some tips for how to clean a paddling pool:
How to clean a paddling pool after being in storage
If you’re getting your pool out of storage for the first time this year, then hopefully it won’t be in too bad condition. If you wish to invest in one, a pool vacuum can pick up any debris from inside the pool.
It’s worth using either washing up liquid or a homemade mixture of two parts white vinegar and one part water to clean the pool with, before hosing it down to rinse it off. You can also use a spritz of anti-bacterial household cleaner and then wipe any excess away. Once the pool has been thoroughly rinsed, it can be filled.
How to clean a paddling pool after use
If you’re looking to clean a paddling pool after use, and perhaps ready for it to be stored for the next year, it’s a similar method to that used above.
All that differs is that you should use a dry cloth or towel to remove any excess pool water prior to using the white vinegar solution and dry it thoroughly after rinsing it down. By drying the pool, you will prevent, or at least limit, any mould growth.
If you are going to be using your pool the next day, turn it upside down to ensure that there is no moisture laying in the pool. If it’s going away for the winter, make sure it’s thoroughly dry and store it in the box it came in if possible, in a clean, dry place within the home.
How to prevent dirty paddling pool water (as much as possible!):
Of course, as with anything, prevention is usually better than cure. If you can keep the water as clean as possible, this will make cleaning your paddling pool easier, and the experience more enjoyable for your little ones while they’re in the water itself.
Here are just a few ideas for keeping your paddling pool water as clean as possible while it’s in use:
- You might want to rinse and refill your pool each day, but this can use a lot of water so not ideal if you are on a water metre or if there is a water shortage. When you are emptying it you might want to use the water for your plants (but not if it has lots of suncream or sterilising fluid in).
- Using a ground sheet underneath the pool to limit the amount of dirt or grass being transferred from the area immediately around the pool. Just be careful that this doesn’t become too slippery if wet.
- Put a ‘foot rinsing bowl’ near to the pool for children to use before entering it. This could be something as simple as a washing up bowl.
- Keep a fishing net handy to scoop out any debris as it gets into the pool. Children will love fishing the leaves out.
- Tennis balls in the pool can pick up oils from sun cream.
- Use a paddling pool cover, ground sheet or other plastic sheeting to cover the pool up at night. This will help protect it from animals like foxes and keep insects out.
You can also purchase specialist sterilising fluid to limit bacterial growth, and if this is something you’re interested in, it’s worth researching this and, it goes without saying, following the manufacturer’s instructions for use. Similarly, larger, more permanent paddling pools should be used with the relevant cleaning chemicals and filters as suggested by the instructions.
I hope you’ll find these tips and tricks for keeping your paddling pool clean helpful. If you’ve tried any other paddling pool cleaning tricks that have worked, let me know in the comments below!
