Labor Day is the perfect excuse to squeeze in one more pool party before summer comes to an end. Whether you're planning a backyard barbecue, inviting friends and family over for an afternoon swim, or simply enjoying some quality me-time with your pool, a little preparation can make the day much easier.
To prepare your pool for a Labor Day party, clean the pool, check your equipment, test and balance the water, inspect your pool's safety equipment, and prepare the surrounding pool area. It's also a good idea to have a plan for keeping the pool clean and safe while your guests are swimming.
Use this Labor Day pool party checklist to prepare your pool in the days leading up to your party, get everything ready on the morning of the event, and take care of your pool afterwards.
You don't have to do everything the morning of your party. Spreading your preparation over several days can give you time to identify and fix problems before your guests arrive.
Start by checking your pool equipment. Make sure your pool pump is circulating water properly and that your filter is operating as expected. If you have a sand or DE filter, check whether it needs to be backwashed according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you have a cartridge filter, make sure it's cleaned and ready to handle the upcoming bathing load.
This is also a good time to inspect your pool ladder, steps, handrails, and other equipment that guests will use to enter and exit the pool.
Finding a problem several days before your party gives you more time to make repairs or replace equipment if necessary.
Give your pool a thorough cleaning. Use a skimmer net to remove leaves, insects, and other debris from the surface. Brush the walls, floor, steps, and other surfaces to remove any stuck-on debris or scum lines.
Then vacuum the pool to remove dirt and debris that has settled on the bottom. An automatic pool cleaner can also help reduce the amount of manual cleaning required.
Once the pool is clean, test the water and make any necessary adjustments based on your pool type, sanitizer system, chemical manufacturer's instructions, and normal maintenance routine.
Give the pool a final inspection before your guests arrive. Skim away any overnight debris, check the water level, empty baskets if necessary, and make sure your pump and filtration system are operating properly.
It's also a good idea to test your sanitizer and pH levels again, as pool water can change between tests. The CDC recommends checking sanitizer and pH levels at least twice a day, with more frequent testing when a pool is in heavy use.
Finally, make sure towels, pool toys, floats, games, food, sunscreen, and other party essentials are ready.
A clean pool is one of the most important parts of getting ready for a pool party.
Begin by skimming the surface of the water to remove leaves, bugs, grass, and other floating debris. Regular skimming in the days leading up to your party can make the final cleanup much easier.
Next, brush the pool walls, floor, steps, and other surfaces where dirt and debris can accumulate. Follow your pool manufacturer's recommendations for the appropriate brush and cleaning method.
Finally, vacuum the pool to remove debris that has settled on the bottom.
If you don't want to spend the day before your party manually cleaning, an automatic pool cleaner can handle routine maintenance.
PoolSupplies.com Tip:
Don't wait until the morning of your pool party to discover that your pool vacuum isn't working. Run your cleaning equipment a few days ahead of time so you have time to troubleshoot a problem or find a replacement if necessary.
Your pool equipment has been circulating and filtering the water throughout the swimming season, so make sure everything is operating properly before inviting a crowd over.
Your pool pump circulates water through your filtration and sanitation system. Before your party, check that it is running properly and that water is circulating as expected.
If you notice unusual noises, leaks, reduced flow, or another problem, address it before your guests arrive.
A properly functioning filter helps remove particles and debris from your pool water.
Check your filter and clean or backwash it when appropriate for your filter type and manufacturer's instructions. Avoid performing unnecessary maintenance simply because you're having a party; follow your normal maintenance procedure for your particular filter.
Your guests need a safe way to enter and exit your pool.
Inspect your pool ladder, steps, handrails, and other entry and exit equipment. Check for loose hardware, visible damage, instability, or other problems.
If something isn't secure, repair or replace it before the party, rather than waiting until guests arrive.
Testing your pool water should be part of your normal maintenance routine, but it becomes particularly important when you expect heavy pool use.
Test you pool according to your normal maintenance schedule and the instructions for your pool's sanitizer and testing products.
Pay particular attention to:
If your water chemistry is outside of the recommended range, make adjustments according to your chemical manufacturer's directions.
The CDC also recommends keeping pool chemicals secure, following product label instructions, and using appropriate protective equipment while handling them.
Getting the pool ready is only part of preparing for a Labor Day party. Don't forget about the area surrounding it.
Before guests arrive:
Keeping walkways clear is particularly important when people will be walking between the pool, seating areas, food, and bathrooms.
Pool games and floats can make a Labor Day pool party more entertaining for guests of different ages.
Consider setting up a combination of activities, such as:
Don't put every float and toy into the pool at once. Too many objects in the water can make it more difficult for swimmers to move around, and make it harder to see what is happening in the pool.
Inspect inflatables and other pool toys before using them. Remove anything that is damaged or no longer safe to use.
A pool party and backyard barbecue can make a great combination, but it's best to create a designated area for food and drinks away from the water.
Set up a table or serving station where guests can grab food without carrying it around the pool deck.
Consider providing:
Keeping food away from the pool can help reduce the amount of debris that ends up in the water.
If you're serving food outdoors, follow appropriate food-safety practices, including keeping raw and cooked foods separate and maintaining appropriate temperatures for hot and cold foods.
A busy pool requires extra attention to safety.
Before your Labor Day party begins, make sure everyone who will be supervising swimmers understands the pool rules.
The CDC recommends continuous, close supervision of swimmers and emphasizes preventing children from accessing backyard pools without supervision. It also recommends appropriate swimming and water safety skills and the use of U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets where appropriate.
Consider these pool safety measures:
Your guests can help keep the pool cleaner and healthier by following a few simple swimming habits.
Encourage swimmers to:
The CDC recommends showering for at least a minute before entering the pool and staying out of the water if you are sick. It also recommends regular bathroom breaks and changing water-safe diapers away from the pool area.
These habits can help reduce the amount of dirt, sweat, and other contaminants introduced to your pool.
A busy pool can accumulate debris quicker than usual.
Throughout the party, keep an eye on the water and remove leaves, grass, insects, and other floating debris with a skimmer when necessary.
You should also keep an eye on your skimmer and pump baskets if your pool's normal maintenance routine requires it.
If your pool is receiving significantly heavier use than normal, remember that water chemistry will change more quickly. The CDC recommends checking disinfectant and pH levels more frequently when a pool is in heavy use.
Once the last guest has gone home, your pool maintenance hasn't quite finished.
Start by removing floats, toys, and other equipment from the water. Then skim out any leaves, grass, food, or other debris that may have entered the pool during the party.
Check your pump and skimmer baskets and clean them according to your normal maintenance routine.
Test your pool water again and make any necessary adjustments based on your test results and product instructions
If the pool needs additional cleaning, brush, and vacuum as appropriate.
For a more detailed guide, see our article on Pool Maintenance Before and After a Party
Use this quick checklist to make sure your pool and backyard are ready for guests.
Start preparing your pool three to seven days before the party. Use this time to check your pump, filter, ladders, and steps. Clean the pool one to two days before the party and test the water again on the day of the event.
Starting early gives you time to identify and resolve equipment or water-quality problems before your guests arrive.
The day before a pool party, thoroughly clean the pool, skim away debris, brush the pool surfaces, and vacuum the floor. Check your pool equipment and test the water, making any necessary adjustments in accordance with your normal maintenance routine and the chemical manufacturer's instructions.
Skim floating debris from the surface, monitor your skimmer and pump baskets, and keep food and drinks away from the pool. Encourage guests to shower before swimming, and stay out of the pool if they are sick. For heavy pool use, monitor water chemistry more frequently.
Provide continuous, close supervision of swimmers, particularly children. Check that pool ladders, steps, handrails, gates, and barriers are secure, and keep rescue and first-aid equipment accessible. Children should not be allowed to enter a pool without supervision.
Essential pool party supplies include towels, pool floats, pool games, drinking water, sunscreen, outdoor seating, trash and recycling bins, and appropriate safety equipment. For the pool itself, make sure you have the supplies needed for routine cleaning, testing, and water maintenance.
Pool volleyball, basketball, floating games, dive toys, goggles, swim masks, and inflatable floats are all options for a Labor Day pool party. Choose activities appropriate for your guests' ages and swimming abilities, and avoid crowding the pool with too many toys or inflatables.
A successful Labor Day pool party starts with preparation. Cleaning your pool, checking equipment, testing your water, preparing the pool area, and reviewing safety procedures can help you spend less time dealing with problems and more time enjoying the last big pool day of the summer.
Once everything is ready, grab your favorite pool floats, invite your friends and family, and make the most of Labor Day weekend!
