When Credible Pools opens your pool at the beginning of the season, we spray off dirt and debris off of your cover before we remove it. If you want to scrub it before leaving it to dry and storing it away, we have some tips to help you do that.
After we have finished removing your cover and opening your pool, we will leave your cover in the location of your choosing so you can clean it. We will have removed the big debris from the cover before removing it to ensure that everything you have been protecting your pool from over the winter doesn’t fall into your pool.
It is not entirely uncommon to see mold on your pool cover. A mesh pool cover allows air and water to pass through, so they do not collect a great deal of mold. (Which is why we love GLI ProMesh safety covers.)
Cleaning
To clean the cover, it is best that you lay it out as flat as possible in a clean section of your yard. To clean your cover, you could use a mild detergent diluted with water or a spray-on pool cover cleaner.
If your cover is full of dirt and grime, you will need to scrub it with a pool cover brush or something similar, like a push broom. Never use any type of metal brush on your cover.
Be sure to rinse your cover thoroughly and be sure that all of the detergent, soapy water or cover cleaner has been removed completely. You do not want these cleaning agents sitting in the fibers of your cover.
Drying
Once clean, it needs to dry. Your cover must dry completely before you can put it into storage. This will prevent any mold or mildew from growing on your cover as it is locked away over the Spring and Summer months.
Move your cover into the sun. Laying it flat in your driveway or hanging it over a clothesline are the two best ways to make sure the entire cover can drain and dry. Leaving your cover to dry on the grass will take much longer and may potentially harm your lawn and kill your grass. You want people to notice your pool, not the giant patch of dead grass in your yard.
Storing
To store your cover, it is best to fold it in half over and over again, or a “fan fold,” until it is small enough to fit inside the storage bag that came with it. You may need a second set of hands for this task.
We recommend a secondary storage step; one step further than just the bag, but this is optional. It’s a good thought to either hang the bagged cover up high or to put it in a large container and lid. A large Rubbermaid container or a large trash can with a lid will do. This is to make sure that no creatures find their way into your cover and burrow there over the next few months.
All of this will help keep your cover in good shape and is ready to go at the end of the pool season when it’s time to reinstall it. If cared for properly, we’ve seen pool covers last nearly 20 years.
Are you considering replacing your current cover? Now is a good time to put that plan into action. Ordering a new winter cover early in the season will get you ahead of the rush and ensure that you will be prepared when pool season comes to an end.