Throwing a backyard pool party is the ultimate summer event. But before you start inflating your flamingo floats and firing up the grill, you will need to make sure that your water is not only crystal clear and safe for a crowd, but stays that way no matter what.
If a dozen people jump into your pool at once, they bring their sunscreen, sweat, and body oils with them. This sudden spike in contaminants can quickly turn a pristine pool cloudy or unsanitary.
Here is your step-by-step guide to preparing your pool for a party so it stays sparkling until every guest has left.
A week before your party, inspect your pool equipment to ensure it's all in working order. This gives you time to repair or replace any broken equipment.
You shouldn't be waiting until the morning of the party to check your water chemistry. If you need to adjust your chemicals, the water needs time to circulate and stabilize.
Test the Water: Aim for a pH between 7.4 and 7.6, and an alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm (parts per million). If either chemical is off, your chlorine won't work as efficiently. Use a reliable testing kit - we recommend the Rx Clear® 7-in-1 Test Strips.
Shock the Pool: Give your pool a heavy dose of pool shock 24 to 48 hours before the party. This destroys any existing contaminants and builds up a “chlorine bank” to handle the incoming guest load.
Run the Filter: Keep your pump and filter running continuously for 24 hours after shocking to circulate your chemicals and clear out any dead algae or debris.
Clean your Filter: In order to maximize filtration, clean or backwash your filter to allow for top efficiency.
A clean pool looks much more inviting to your guests. Dedicate the day before the party to the physical maintenance of your pool.
Skim and Brush: Skim the surface for leaves and bugs. Brush the walls and steps to loosen any hidden film or debris. We recommend the Aqua Select® 360 Pool Brush.
Vacuum the Floor: Manually Vacuum or let your robotic pool cleaner do a thorough pass across the floor.
Add a Clarifier: If your water looks a little dull, add a dose of pool clarifier 24 hours before your guests arrive. Clarifiers bind tiny particles together so your filter can catch them, giving your water a sparkle.
On the morning of your party, your main goals are safety and setting up your equipment to handle a high volume of swimmers.
Empty the Baskets: Clean out your skimmer and pump baskets. They need maximum water flow to catch hair, sunscreen film, and debris during the party.
Test Chlorine Levels: Ensure that your free chlorine is safely between 1.0 - 3.0 ppm.
Check Water Levels: Cannonballs, splashing, and kids playing can cause a surprising amount of water loss. Make sure that the pool starts at a proper operating level, or preferably slightly higher to account for water loss during the party.
Set the Filter to Run Turn on your pool pump before guests arrive and leave it running throughout the entire party.
Final Checks: Right before your guests arrive, do one last pass with your skimmer net. If there’s a visible scum line along the tiles, wipe it with a pool safe tile cleaner.
Once your guests leave, you will need some immediate TLC to prevent your pool turning green overnight.
Skim Again: Remove any leftover party debris, stray cups, or bugs. Take any pool toys out of the water, clean them with multi purpose cleaner, and allow them to air dry before storing them.
Test and Re-Shock: Check the chlorine level; it will likely be close to zero. Shock the pool immediately after the party to eliminate all of the organic contaminants left behind by swimmers.
Brush Your Pool: Brushing the pool helps to circulate chemicals and prevents anything from settling onto surfaces.
Wash or Backwash the Filter: The sunscreen and sweat from your partygoers can quickly clog your filter. Give it a good rinse, or backwash, the next morning to keep your system running smoothly.
