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Cleaning a Swimming Pool with a Pressure Washer: How to Do It
An empty or partly drained pool with tiled, concrete or fibreglass walls can be cleaned well with a pressure washer: work in sections, from the bottom up, using a wide fan spray. For a pool with a vinyl liner, use a soft brush and low pressure instead, because a hard jet can damage the liner. Always check the water balance after refilling and before anyone swims.
Cleaning a swimming pool with a pressure washer is mainly a spring job. The rest of the season, regular light maintenance keeps the water clear.
What will you learn in this article?
- When should you give a pool a thorough clean?
- Can you use a pressure washer on any pool?
- What do you need?
- How do you prepare the pool?
- How do you clean the floor and walls?
- Can you clean a pool without draining it?
- How do you use a pressure washer safely around a pool?
- What do you do after cleaning?
- How often should you clean a pool?
- How do you stop the pool getting dirty so quickly?
- Frequently asked questions about cleaning a swimming pool
- In short: cleaning a swimming pool
When should you give a pool a thorough clean?
The big clean usually happens in spring, when you bring the pool back into use after winter. That is when algae, leaf debris, limescale lines and staining are most obvious. During the season, keep the pool clean with weekly maintenance so a deep clean is rarely needed.
Can you use a pressure washer on any pool?
No. The type of pool decides how you clean it.
| Type of pool | Pressure washer | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Tiled or concrete | Suitable | Wide fan spray, do not get close to the grout |
| Fibreglass | Suitable with care | Low pressure, wide fan spray, keep your distance |
| Vinyl liner | Best avoided | Soft brush and garden hose |
| Above-ground pool | Not needed | Drain it, then clean with a brush and hose |
If in doubt, read the care instructions from your pool supplier. A damaged liner or gelcoat is expensive to repair.
What do you need?
- A pressure washer, such as the Batavia Nexxforce.
- A pool net for leaves and insects.
- A submersible pump or wet and dry vacuum for the last of the water.
- A pool brush with soft bristles.
- A pool cleaning product, if water alone is not enough.
- Rubber boots with non-slip soles, gloves and safety glasses.
How do you prepare the pool?
- Switch off the pump, filter and any heating. A filter pump must never run dry.
- Scoop out loose debris such as leaves and insects with a net.
- Lower the water level to the depth you want to clean. Stop adding chlorine a few days beforehand so the chlorine level can fall, and check with your local water company where you are allowed to discharge the water. Chlorinated water must not go into a stream, ditch or surface water drain.
- Do not fully drain an in-ground pool without advice. Where the groundwater is high, an empty pool can lift out of the ground or the walls can distort. Follow your pool supplier's advice.
How do you clean the floor and walls?
Floor
Divide the floor into sections and work through them one at a time. Move the pressure washer in even passes and keep a constant distance from the surface. Push the loosened dirt towards the lowest point or the main drain and vacuum it up there.
Walls
Start at the bottom and work upwards. That way you do not wash dirt over an area that is already clean. Pay extra attention to the waterline, where there is often a greasy ring or limescale. Remove a stubborn scale line with a pool descaler and a brush rather than bringing the jet in very close.
Corners, steps and skimmer
Corners and steps are awkward to reach. Use a narrower spray from further away, or a brush. Take out the skimmer basket and rinse it clean. Do not spray high pressure into pipes or the skimmer opening, as that can damage seals.
Can you clean a pool without draining it?
Yes. Day-to-day and weekly cleaning does not need the water taken out. Use:
- A net for floating debris.
- A pool brush for the walls and waterline.
- A pool vacuum, manual or robotic.
- The filter, which you backwash or clean regularly.
You do not use a pressure washer underwater. Keep it for dry areas only, such as the coping, the surrounding patio and steps above the waterline.
How do you use a pressure washer safely around a pool?
Water and electricity are a dangerous combination.
- With a mains pressure washer, always use a socket protected by an RCD. Keep the plug, extension lead and machine well away from the water and out of puddles.
- A cordless pressure washer removes the cable, but keep the battery dry and never stand the machine in water.
- Never point the jet at people, animals or yourself.
- Wear safety glasses. Loosened dirt and algae spray in every direction.
- A wet, algae-covered floor is slippery. Wear boots with non-slip soles and move carefully.
- Never mix cleaning products with chlorine. Some combinations give off toxic fumes.
What do you do after cleaning?
- Check for any remaining dirt or staining and rinse again.
- Vacuum up the last of the water and dirt.
- Refill the pool to the correct level.
- Switch the pump and filter back on and let the water circulate.
- Test the water balance with a test kit: pH, chlorine and, if needed, alkalinity. pH is usually kept between roughly 7.0 and 7.6. For chlorine, follow the values given by your test kit or supplier.
- Only swim once the readings are right.
Flush the pressure washer through with clean water after use, especially if you have run a cleaning product through it. Let the hoses and lance dry before you put them away.
How often should you clean a pool?
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Skim floating debris, empty the skimmer | Daily or every other day in season |
| Brush and vacuum the floor | Weekly |
| Test the water | Once or twice a week |
| Backwash or clean the filter | As advised for your filter |
| Deep clean | When opening the pool after winter |
With heavy use, hot weather or lots of falling leaves, you will need to do it more often.
How do you stop the pool getting dirty so quickly?
- Cover the pool when it is not in use. That keeps out leaves, dust and insects and reduces evaporation.
- Ask swimmers to shower first.
- Cut back trees and shrubs that overhang the pool.
- Keep the water balance right, so algae have less chance.
Frequently asked questions about cleaning a swimming pool
Can you use a pressure washer on a pool liner?
Best not. A hard jet can damage the liner, especially at the seams and on older vinyl. Use a soft brush, a suitable cleaning product and the garden hose.
How do you remove the scale line at the waterline?
Use a pool cleaner that dissolves limescale and a soft brush or sponge. Work in small sections and rinse thoroughly. Prevent a new line by keeping the water balance right.
Do you need to drain a pool every year?
No, that is usually not necessary. With good maintenance and a good filter, the water can often stay in. Never drain an in-ground pool completely without advice, because of the risk of it lifting due to groundwater.
How long should you wait to swim after cleaning?
Until the water balance is right again. Test the pH and chlorine once the water has circulated for a while, and only swim when the readings are within the range given by your test kit.
In short: cleaning a swimming pool
A tiled, concrete or fibreglass pool can be cleaned with a pressure washer on a wide fan spray, working in sections from the bottom up. Use a soft brush on vinyl liners, keep electrics away from the water and never fully drain an in-ground pool without advice. Refill, let the water circulate and check the pH and chlorine before anyone swims.