How to Clean Children's Pools

Children’s pools are a fun way for kids to cool off in the summer. Plastic and inflatable children’s pools will get dirty and need to be cleaned 3⭐

. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, small children’s pools have been linked to the spread of recreational water illnesses 3⭐ 4⭐ . Germs are spread by kids coming into contact with contaminated water, which can cause a range of illnesses such as respiratory, ear, skin and gastrointestinal infections. Children’s pools will also need to be cleaned to rid the surface of dirt, mildew and other debris that may form. Clean children’s pools properly and daily after use to help keep your children safe during water play.

Empty all the water from the pool. Use a garden hose to rinse out the pool to remove loose debris such grass clippings, bugs and dirt.

Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of warm water. Add 1/4 cup of household bleach.

Dip a nylon scrub brush into the water. Scrub the entire inside surface of the pool with the brush and bleach mixture. Rinse the brush often in the bucket of bleach water and replace the water as it becomes dirty, if necessary.

Rinse the pool thoroughly with clean water from the garden hose. Store the pool upside down to prevent dirt and debris from collecting inside.

Tips

Small inflatable pools can be washed in the washing machine. Drain the pool, then squeeze out all the air. Close the valves and place the pool in the washer with a couple of bath towels. Add 1/4 cup of bleach to the wash water. Let the pool run through the wash cycle, but stop it before it gets to the spin cycle. Hang the pool outside to drip-dry.

Warnings

Wear rubber gloves when cleaning with bleach.