What Not to Put in Pool Water: Essential Tips for Safe Swimming

Maintaining safe pool water doesn’t require a degree in chemistry. But most new pool owners need a little help learning how to keep the water clean and sanitary. Knowing what not to put in pool water helps you ensure your swimming area is always ready to keep you and your loved ones cool.

Learn How to Use Pool Chemicals Properly

Chlorine and other pool care products play a critical role in keeping bacteria and algae out of the water. However, there can sometimes be too much of a good thing. You’ll want to learn how to perform basic pool water tests that reveal chemical and pH levels. You can also hire a pool care service to handle routine water treatments. If you opt to do it yourself, learn how to use pool shock and other treatments properly to avoid issues such as irritated skin or premature wear of the pool components.

Enjoy Food and Beverages Outside the Water

You may see people enjoying beverages and snacks on floating pool trays in movies, but you’ll want to avoid this temptation at home. No one enjoys swimming with floating food crumbs, and even a small spill can disrupt the water’s chemical balance. You can absolutely enjoy serving food and drinks to guests at your pool party. Just remember to set up defined eating areas on the deck or away from the water.

Technically, it’s better for sunscreen to never enter the water. But you’ll need to balance the need for sun safety with the preference for clean pool water. The good news is following the best practices for sunscreen application can also prevent too much of it from getting into the pool. Most sunscreens recommend applying them within a specific time frame before you go swimming. Waiting the allotted time gives the sunscreen time to soak into your skin and dry so less of it goes into the pool.

Minimize the Use of Other Personal Care Products

Party guests may naturally arrive at your celebration wearing perfume, deodorant, and other personal care products. While everyone wants to smell great as they mingle, many personal care products are hard on water. To keep unwanted chemicals out of the pool, consider adding an outdoor shower or sprayer near the pool area. Ask your pool builder about available solutions that can reduce the risk of contaminants entering the water.

Change Out of Your Street Clothes

Swimwear is designed to have minimal strings that can cause fabric pieces to get into the water. You’ll also want to note street clothes often have detergent residue that can alter the pool water chemistry. Depending on your lifestyle, your daily wear could also be contaminated by dirt and other chemicals you don’t want in the water. Encouraging everyone to wear swimsuits in your pool can prevent filter clogs and lead to better pH levels.

If you take care to keep excess chemicals and other harmful materials out of your pool, you can prevent damage to the mechanical systems, keep it clean, and ensure your family will be able to enjoy it safely for many years to come. If you haven’t yet built your pool, reach out to San Diego Pools, the pros with decades of experience. We’re one of the premier San Diego pool companies, and our pool design and construction experts are dedicated to building exactly the pool you want and providing you with the highest-quality service in the industry. To get started on building the pool of your dreams, call us today.