Tips on Keeping Your Pool Cover Clear During the Winter Months

Leaves, branches, and other debris will most likely fall on your inground pool cover over the winter months. Inclement weather will also make the cover dirty. Follow these tips to keep your cover clear and clean all winter long!

Although all LOOP-LOC safety pool covers meet the ASTM guidelines for safety covers, which state that in the event of an emergency they will easily support the weight of a child or adult, it is not recommended that anyone walk on the cover. To clean or clear debris from any cover, use a long-handled broom, skimmer, leaf blower, or simply hose down the cover. You could also use a leaf rake to sweep off leaves. To make the leaf rake longer, attach it to the pool pole, then scoop across the cover. You should be able to collect leaves, acorns, and sticks. Another option is to use a leaf net or catcher. Place it on top of the pool cover and once the leaves have fallen, simply remove the leaf catcher. You should do this several times over the course of the winter. And, you could also use it toward the end of swimming pool season, when the leaves first begin to fall, to reduce the time you have to spend skimming the pool.

If your safety pool cover is solid rather than mesh, remove any standing water with the automatic pump that came with the cover. Mesh covers allow rain and melting snow to easily drain through. And, our Aqua Xtreme Virtually solid mesh cover is the best of both worlds—it blocks light and still drains lightning quick—up to 80 gallons a minute without clogging.

This is also a great time to check the cover for signs of U.V. deterioration, which can happen as a cover ages, and affect the safety features of a cover. If you are unsure of what to look for, contact a swimming pool professional.

To clean the cover, you can use a pool cover cleaner or even a mild detergent mixed with water. If the cover is extremely dirty, use a pool brush to clean it.

Make sure you don’t neglect your LOOP-LOC inground pool cover when it comes time to remove it. Hose it off or remove any standing water with a pump, clean it, and let it dry. Take care not to leave it out on the lawn for an extended period—as it may brown the grass. Once the cover is dry, fold in halves as many times as possible until the cover can fit into the storage bag provided. You will need two people to perform this task. It is also important to not store the cover on the floor—especially when storing it in a shed, garage, or attic. Hang the storage bag high and make sure it is not touching the floor. Or, put it in an airtight storage bin so that rodents cannot gain access to it and damage it.