How to Make Green Pool Water Clear Again
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My kid’s inflatable pool after too many days of stress-avoiding it.
Now you've done it! You let the kiddie pool maintenance slide, and now it's full of sickly green, stagnant water, and you're stress-avoiding it like the plague. Because surely turning icky green pool water crystal clear again requires draining the pool and filling it back up with clean water, right?
Wrong — the best way to remove algae from the pool is to use a magical little thing called pool shock.
What is pool shock?
Pool shock is a super-concentrated form of chlorine that you pour into the pool in very high doses to kill microorganisms dead in their tracks — including the stinky, slimy algae that's turning the water green. Once the shock has done its job, the kiddie pool water will be crystal clear and good as new. Pool shock will clear a green pool overnight.
Same pool, 24 hours later!
How often should you shock the kiddie pool?
Even if you use chlorine and other pool chemicals to keep the pool water clean — here’s how to maintain your kiddie pool with chlorine — and even if you maintain the chlorine levels perfectly at all times all summer long, you should shock your kiddie pool every two weeks to “recharge” the chlorine and keep the water clean and clear.
If you don’t use pool chemicals, it’s best to drain, scrub, and refill the pool every week or so — but in a pinch (or if you just can’t face that monumental task), shocking the pool back to clear is a great option.
What type of pool shock should you use in the kiddie pool?
There are two types of chlorine shock: calcium hypochlorite and sodium dichlor. Only sodium dichlor shock is appropriate for a kiddie pool — calcium hypochlorite is waaay too strong for smaller pools.
SpaGuard chlorinating concentrate is a sodium dichlor shock that's perfect for the kiddie pool. It dissolves very quickly, and since it's stabilized, you can use it during the day, when the sun is out — but definitely put the pool cover on while the shock does its job.
Unlike adding regular chlorine to your pool, the amount of shock you use doesn't need to be exact. The point is to raise the chlorine level in the water to around 10 to 20 times the normal amount. So there’s some leeway there — but follow the directions on the shock package for the best results.
How long after you shock a pool can you swim?
Shocking a pool involves adding a very large amount of chlorine to the water, which makes it unsafe to swim in until the chlorine levels dissipate. If you’re going to shock the pool, you need to have water testing strips on hand, which will analyze the chlorine level. These easy-to-use water testing strips are inexpensive and easy to use. Once the pool water is clear, start testing it. When the chlorine level is between 2.0 and 4.0, it’s safe to swim!
How to shock a pool with a filter pump
While a filter pump is optional, shocking a pool that has one is considerably easier than shocking one that doesn’t. Filter pumps are pretty simple to use (even if your pool doesn’t have built-in holes for one), and they make it much easier to keep your pool clean without having to drain it.
Step 1: Clean and rinse the filter, then turn it on.
Step 2: Add the recommended amount of shock evenly around the edges of the pool, and give it a good stir with the pool net.
Step 3: Let the pump run for at least six hours. If the water is green, let it run overnight, or until the water is clear again.
Step 4: Check the water with your test kit. Keep everyone out of the pool until the chlorine level drops to between 2.0 and 4.0.
Step 5: Clean out the filter again to remove any particles it caught.
How to shock a pool without a filter pump
If your pool doesn't have a filter pump, you can still shock it, but it won't be as easy. For the shock to work properly — and to prevent chemical hotspots in the pool — it needs to be very thoroughly mixed into the water. Here's how to shock a pool without a pump and filter:
Step 1: Add the shock evenly around the edges of the pool.
Step 2: Add a dose of flocculant, like In The Swim Super Floc Out. The flocculant binds together the particles that would normally get trapped in the filter, causing them to sink to the bottom of the pool so you can remove them with a pool vacuum or (less easily) with the net.
Step 3: Stir the water. Stir, stir, stir, stir, stir, and stir some more until you feel like the shock must surely be evenly and fully distributed throughout the pool.
Step 4: Give the shock 12 to 24 hours to do its job. If you can, give it a good stirring every few hours.
Step 5: Once the water is clear, remove the debris that collected on the bottom of the pool, and start testing the chlorine level. The kids can swim again once it's back down to between 2.0 and 4.0.
Tips to keep the pool water cleaner, longer
Keeping the kiddie pool water clean ‘n’ clear requires regular maintenance. If you aren’t using chlorine to maintain the water, here are a few ways to make the water last longer:
Cover the pool when it’s not in use. An inexpensive pool cover keeps debris out, and it blocks sunlight, which is a major factor for the growth of algae that turns the water green.
Keep a foot bath nearby. Fill a bucket with water, and have the kids step in it to rinse off their feet before they get in the pool.
Skim the pool daily. Use a pool net to remove leaves, grass, and other debris from the pool water to help keep it clean.
For more tips, tricks, and gadgets that’ll help you keep the kiddie pool clean, check out our guide to keeping the pool water clean — naturally.