Quick & Effective Ways to Get Rid of Algae in Your Pool

Tips for Eliminating Algae Growth in Your Pool

Maintaining your pool to prevent algae growth is a critical part of keeping your pool clean and safe for swimming. To get rid of existing algae colonies, there are several solutions that can help you to quickly and effectively remove unwanted algae from your pool.

1. Maintain Proper Chemical Levels

The most important way to prevent and control algae growth is to maintain the proper chemical levels in your pool. The ideal pH level for most pools should be between 7.2 and 7.8. It’s also important to ensure the total alkalinity and the levels of chlorine and other chemicals remain consistently within the optimal range.

2. Make Sure Pool Water is Circulating Properly

If the water in your pool isn't circulating properly, it will create an ideal environment for algae growth. Make sure the water is moving properly, by ensuring the pump and filter are in good working order and the pool is equipped with an efficient circulation system.

3. Clean Pool Walls and Floors

Surfaces of your pool are an ideal spot for algae to collect and grow. To prevent this from happening, make sure to regularly clean the interior walls and floors of your pool. You can also consider adding pool sanitizers or algaecides to help keep it clean.

4. Scrub Pool Walls

Using a pool brush or a handheld scrubber, manufacturers sometimes recommend using diluted chlorine or a non-chlorine bleach solution is a good way to scrub away excess algae from pool walls. Make sure to scrub all of the sides and corners of your pool to loosen and remove any stubborn algae colonies.

5. Vacuum Pool Floors

Using a manually operated or an automatic vacuum cleaner, you can vacuum the floors of your pool to remove any free-floating algae particles. Be sure to vacuum thoroughly to ensure any excess algae is removed.

6. Shock the Pool with Chlorine

Once you have cleaned your pool, a good way to prevent algae from growing back is to “shock” the pool. This process involves adding large amounts of chlorine to your pool to kill any remaining algae and bacteria. It’s best to do this at night, so the chlorine has enough time to kill the algae before anyone goes in the pool again.