Your swimming pool cover does a good job of taking care of your pool. It keeps out debris and animals, conserves heat, saves energy, reduces evaporation in the summer and protects against frost in winter. It may also stop people and pets falling into the pool depending on the type! No home swimming pool should be without a high quality swimming pool cover. For it to do its job, the pool cover needs taking care of regularly, which involves paying attention to keeping it clean.

Cleaning your pool cover is fairly straightforward and fast, with many pool owners feeling able to do this themselves. You will need a different approach depending on the type of pool cover you own. Here is a summary:

Traditional Safety Covers

A traditional safety swimming pool cover is a durable polyethylene or vinyl cover that guards your pool against wind, rain and debris. It is also great to stop evaporation and safety.

Daily Tasks

Remove Heavy Debris: Unlike a mesh cover, nothing falls through a traditional safety swimming pool cover. Instead, everything accumulates on the surface. Snow, twigs etc quickly build up and place a strain on your cover that can cause damage if you’re not careful. Remove heavy debris from the cover on a daily basis.

Ensure the pool cover pump is removing rain water from the surface of the pool cover.

Weekly Tasks

• Check for mould growth. If you see any signs, clean the cover thoroughly with a diluted bleach solution and hose down.
• Inspect cover for holes and tears. Address minor damage immediately with a patch kit, which can be bought for as little as a few pounds. Consult a professional to repair major rips.

Every 3-6 Months

Carry out a thorough clean!

• Clean the cover with a mild detergent.
• Scrub the cover with a pool brush, taking care to remove stains and bacterial/algal growth.
• Rinse clean with a garden hose (use a spray setting to avoid putting too much pressure on the cover).
• Jet wash out tracks that the cover runs on to remove any debris
• If the cover is an in-ground system, remove the roller pit covers and clean the pit out.
• Pump away surface water.

Thermal / Heat Retention Covers

A thermal pool cover captures and retains sunlight to maintain a comfortable water temperature, reduce your heating bill and prevent freezing in winter.

• The same general principles apply as to solid covers. Check regularly for debris and mould, and clean thoroughly every 3 to 6 months.
• Thermal covers are delicate. Clean using a soft brush and avoid abrasive cleaning chemicals.
• Use a protective cover to shield your thermal pool cover from the sun when not in use. Its solar cells will continue to absorb sunlight when rolled by the side of the pool – generating excess heat that can reduce its working life.

Winter Swimming Pool Covers

Winter swimming pool covers are made of a netting material that prevents accidents and blocks large debris.

• Follow the same general cleaning principles as other types of cover.
• Mesh covers are well ventilated and are less prone to mould and mildew, but still need to be cleaned regularly with mild bleach to remove dirt. Remove your cover before cleaning and allow it to completely dry before replacing on the pool.

Every 3 To 6 Months

After its regular clean, carry out these additional checks:

• Check that the spring tension is at least half compression. Tighten springs if necessary, as a loose cover will not drain effectively and will accumulate surface water and debris.
• Remove cover and clean anchor sockets.

Slatted Swimming Pool Covers

These motorised slatted swimming pool covers are extremely convenient and require minimal additional care to keep them in great condition.

Carry out the usual daily, weekly and periodic checks, plus…

Weekly Tasks

• Check that the waterline level is at the correct hight. Should the water level be to high or to low there is a risk of damaging the slats or putting additional strain on the motor.

Every 3-6 Months

• Clean your swimming pool cover in sections; reeling out one at a time, then cleaning, scrubbing, rinsing and pumping away excess water.

Annual / Seasonal Tasks

• Clean your motor housing if the motor in not housed within the roller.
• If the cover is an in-ground system, remove the roller pit covers and clean the pit out.

General Tips

These general housekeeping tips apply to all types of swimming pool cover.

• When storing a pool cover, make sure it is completely dry to avoid the mould and mildew growth.
• Fresh chemicals can damage your pool cover. Avoid recovering your pool for one hour after topping up chemicals.
• Rinse your pool cover of all chemical residues before putting it into storage.

We have plenty of help and advice for people who want to maintain their swimming pool covers themselves. We also offer convenient maintenance plans that look after your pool throughout the year and take care of maintenance issues as they come up. It is important to choose the right type of pool cover for your property. Call one of our friendly advisers on 01536 646007 for more information.

Our free Home Swimming Pool Maintenance & Safety Guide is full of useful information for people investing in a private swimming pool for the first time! Click here to claim your copy today.