A pool brush is a vital equipment in pool care. Scrubbing the pool surface and the walls help to remove algae and bacteria from the swimming pool.
Pool extension poles go hand in hand with pool brush as with them, you do not need to enter the pool when cleaning. In this article, we shall get through all the important things you should know about pool brushes.
The article will help on how to choose the best pool brush available in the market to help you make a right decision when buying one.
Do I Really Need a Pool Brush?
The best way to keep your pool clean from stains, dirt, and algae buildups is to regularly clean the walls and floor of your pool. The best way to clean these surfaces is by using a pool brush.
A pool brush will attach to a standard pool pole for you to reach all areas of your swimming pool. Pool brushes are a vital tool to use for both regular and special cleaning purposes.
What Kind of Bristles Should My Brush Have?
All pool walls and floor need to be treated differently. Choosing a pool brush with the wrong bristles can either damage the walls and floor of your pool or they can inadequately clean them.
Nylon brushes can be used on all surfaces, but their effectiveness can vary depending on the pool surface you have. If you have a vinyl or fiberglass pool, you will need to use a pool brush with nylon bristles. The nylon bristles will protect the vinyl or fiberglass from scratches and other damages that intense scrubbing may cause. If you have a concrete or gunite pool, a nylon-bristled brush may not provide the cleaning power you need. Additionally, using a pool brush with nylon bristles on a concrete or gunite pool may damage the brush, leaving you fatigued and having to have to purchase an adequate replacement.
Stainless steel brushes have hard, stainless steel wire bristles. These bristles are intended for hard, porous walls and floors, such as concrete and gunite. The stainless steel bristles will hold up against vigorous scrubbing on these dense surfaces. Stainless steel brushes can damage vinyl and fiberglass pools.
What Size Brush Do I Need?
Pool brushes can have wide heads to cover large areas, or small heads to clean precise grimy buildups.
If you need a brush to clean specific buildups of algae or dirt, purchasing a brush with a small head will help forcibly clean the designated area. Brushes that are less than 12-inches wide will provide optimal force to the area you are cleaning.
Large brush heads over 12-inches wide are useful for large, general cleaning applications. If you need to conduct routine cleaning to your pool, having a pool brush on hand with a large head will allow you to cover large areas of your pool for general cleaning.
It is optimal to have both styles of brushes on hand. As chemical balances can quickly change within a pool, algae buildups can show up unexpectedly. Having a small brush on hand will allow you to spot-clean those areas of buildup with ease and effectiveness.
Do I Need a Curved, Straight, or Round Brush?
The shape of your pool will determine if you should purchase a curved, straight, or round pool brush.
A rectangle pool, or a pool that has any corners, will benefit from a straight or curved brush. These brushes will allow you to place your brush inside the corner of the pool and follow the length of the corner of the wall to clean those crevices.
A pool with rounded walls or floors will be best cleaned with a round or curved brush. These curves will allow you to reach those corners that a straight brush cannot.
How Often Should I Brush My Pool?
Waiting until you can visibly see dirt or algae buildup will make cleaning the stains drastically more difficult. Don’t wait until you can see these stains before you decide to scrub. Regular pool cleaning and maintenance will keep your pool clean and enjoyable.
Make a cleaning schedule where you scrub the walls and floor of your pool at least once a week. This regular cleaning will remove any preliminary buildups of dirt or algae that may yet be visible.
If your pool is prone to quick dirt or algae buildups, adjust your schedule accordingly. Brushing your pool two or three times per week will not only keep your pool clean, but it will also keep you from having to strenuously clean your pool when the buildups have taken over.
To keep from scrubbing your brush multiple times a week, make sure you routinely check the chemical levels within your pool. An improperly balanced swimming pool can cause a quick algae bloom or discoloration to occur, requiring you to frequently scrub your pool.
Take Care of Your Pool Brush
To keep from having to purchase a replacement brush after a few cleanings, take care of your pool brush.
Keep your brush out direct sun exposure. Excessive sun exposure after your brush has been used can oxidize the bristles on your brush and cause them to weaken. If you have a pool house or a shaded area near your pool, store your brush in this area to keep your brush strong and maintained.
Your pool brush will eventually have to be replaced, but proper maintenance can lengthen the time it takes to need a replacement.
How Offen And Why Brush Your Pool?
When you build a new swimming pool, it is important to brush it up to 3 times per day for the first two weeks.
No matter how your pool surface is, whether it is an exposed aggregate finish like Diamond Brite or pebble tech or a normal plaster, it continues to cure even after you have added water to your pool.
Added water contains calcium and other minerals that adhere to the surface and prevents it from curing properly.
In case the calcium and the other minerals are not eliminated, the finish may become discolored which may cause small pieces of plaster to be loose.
To extend the life of your swimming pool and to prevent algae, you should clean your pool weekly.
Even if you have an automatic pool cleaner, you should still brush your pool. If you do not brush, calcium and other minerals may collect on the surface which may cause pitting, and this shortens the lifespan of your pool.
A thorough weekly brushing of your pool prevents algae and extends the life of your pool surface.
Algae usually forms on the walls of your pool no matter some chemicals used.
Methods of Cleaning Your Swimming Pool
This is the cheapest method you can use, but it requires a lot of time.
You will just need the basic tools and equipment such as a manual pool instruction, pool skimmer, brush and a long pool pole.
It is good to skim your pool daily to get rid of debris, bugs and leaves which build-up on the water.
You should brush the walls of your pool first before cleaning the bottom so as to remove debris and dirt.
After that, you can now move towards shutting off the filter so that you can start vacuuming the floor of the pool.
This method is almost the same with the manual method but requires minimum intervention.
There are different types of pool cleaners you can choose from such as suction poolside cleaner and pressure side cleaners.
Suction side and pressure side pool cleaners are usually connected either to the pump or a booster pump.
Robotic pool cleaners are the latest. They come with their motor and are very effective in cleaning the entire pool. You will only need to spend about 5 minutes a week on brushing the steps and skimming debris off the surface.
It is one of the easiest options but can turn to be a bit expensive in the long run. You may have to spend $300 to $600 at one time with an expert. But if you don’t have time, this is a not bad solution.
What To Remember When Brushing Your Pool?
A swimming pool should be cleaned at least twice a week. If you are doing it yourself without the use of an automatic pool cleaner, the first step would be to brush the walls and steps before cleaning the bottom of the pool.
via: westrockpools.com
Apart from brushing it regularly, you should also check the PH levels and add chemicals to your pool.
Brushing minimizes the buildup of algae and calcium deposits which ensure that they do not cause massive pools chemical imbalance.
There are three types of pool filters, that is: cartridge, sand, and diatomaceous earth filters. All these requires regular cleanup according to their type.
The increase in the flow between the pressure gauge and flow meter should tell you that it is time for cleaning. This is when the filter difference is at 10 to 15 pounds per square inch.
What Do You Have To Consider When Choosing A Brush For Your Pool?
Pools have different shapes and sizes. Concrete surfaces are rough and attract plenty of bacteria and algae.
That means they can thoroughly be scrubbed by stainless steel brushes or brushes which are made from a combination of nylon and stainless steel bristles.
If your pool is made of resin or fiberglass a wire or stainless steel brush may not be ideal as it will only leave scratches on the pool surface.
Nylon brushes are good because they do not leave scratches and do a thorough job when cleaning. They are soft and can be utilized for concrete or vinyl surfaces pools.
No matter how good your brush is, it will certainly leave bristles on the pool surface. Wire or stainless steel brushes does a good job when cleaning, but they leave sharper bristles as compared to nylon brushes.
You should replace your brush if you realize that it is shedding bristles as this implies that it is at the end of its service life.
