How Do I Clean a Green Pool Fast?

Shock the pool with a high dose of chlorine, brush the surfaces, and run the filter continuously. Use our AquaDoc Pool Algaecide to prevent regrowth.

What Causes a Pool to Turn Green?

Understanding why your pool turned green in the first place is key to preventing it from happening again and properly cleaning it.

1. Algae Growth

Algae is the most common cause of a green pool. When chlorine levels drop too low, algae spores can multiply quickly in warm, stagnant water.

• How It Happens: Algae thrive in unbalanced water, particularly in warm and low-chlorine environments. Without proper sanitization, algae spores can grow exponentially, turning your pool water green.

• Solution: To eliminate algae, you’ll need to shock your pool with a high dose of chlorine and scrub the walls to dislodge algae that’s stuck to the surfaces.

2. Low Chlorine Levels

Chlorine plays a vital role in sanitizing your pool and keeping the water clear. Low chlorine levels are one of the main reasons for green pool water.

• How It Happens: If you haven’t been maintaining the correct chlorine levels, bacteria, algae, and other contaminants can take over the pool water, turning it green and cloudy.

• Solution: Increasing chlorine levels by shocking the pool can help restore the clarity of the water and eliminate algae and bacteria.

3. Poor Filtration

An inefficient or clogged pool filter can make it difficult to clean your pool, especially after algae blooms or high debris levels.

• How It Happens: If the filtration system is not circulating the water properly, algae and debris can remain in the pool. Without proper filtration, the shock treatment won’t be as effective in clearing up the water.

• Solution: Cleaning or replacing the filter, as well as running the filtration system continuously for 24-48 hours, is crucial to removing contaminants.

How to Clean a Green Pool Fast

Cleaning a green pool involves several essential steps that need to be followed in order for the water to clear up efficiently. By focusing on water chemistry, filtration, and debris removal, you can get your pool back to a sparkling state in no time.

1. Test the Water Chemistry

Before you start the cleaning process, it’s important to test the pool water to determine its chemical levels.

• Why It’s Important: Testing your pool water gives you a clear picture of the current state of the water. It will help you understand if the pH, alkalinity, and chlorine levels need to be adjusted before shocking.

• How to Test: Use a pool testing kit to check the pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and chlorine levels. The pH should be between 7.4 and 7.6, the alkalinity between 80-120 ppm, and the chlorine levels should ideally be between 1-3 ppm.

2. Shock the Pool

Shocking your pool is a critical step in clearing green water. Pool shock is a highly concentrated dose of chlorine or another oxidizer that will break down and eliminate contaminants in the water.

• Choose the Right Shock: For green pool water, calcium hypochlorite shock is usually the best option, but be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct dosage based on your pool’s size.

• How to Apply: Pour the shock treatment evenly around the pool, starting at the deep end. If necessary, dilute the shock in a bucket of pool water before adding it to the pool to avoid damage to the surface.

• Run the Pump: Turn on the pump and filtration system to allow the shock treatment to circulate and distribute evenly throughout the water. This helps to ensure that the shock is effective at killing algae and bacteria.

• Let the Shock Work: Let the shock treatment sit for at least 24 hours (or as instructed by the manufacturer) for best results.

3. Brush the Pool

Brushing the pool is essential to dislodge algae from the pool’s surfaces, including the walls, steps, and corners.

• Why It’s Important: Brushing the pool walls will break up algae that is clinging to surfaces, making it easier for the shock treatment and filter to clear it out of the water.

• How to Brush: Use a pool brush with stiff bristles to scrub the pool walls, tile lines, and floor. Make sure to brush the areas where algae tend to accumulate, such as the pool steps and corners.

4. Vacuum the Pool

Once the pool has been brushed, vacuuming the pool is the next essential step to remove the debris and dead algae from the bottom of the pool.

• Manual or Automatic Vacuum: You can use a manual vacuum or an automatic pool cleaner to remove debris. Manual vacuums allow for more precise cleaning, but automatic vacuums are convenient for larger pools.

• Why Vacuuming Is Important: Vacuuming removes the particles that have settled at the bottom of the pool, preventing them from getting back into the water and causing it to remain cloudy.

• Repeat Vacuuming: You may need to vacuum several times, especially if there is a lot of debris in the pool. Be sure to check and clean the filter basket regularly while vacuuming.

5. Clean or Replace the Filter

A clogged or dirty filter can impede the cleaning process, making it harder to clear up the water after shocking.

• Backwash the Filter: If you have a sand or DE filter, backwash it to remove any debris it’s collected during the cleaning process. This will help the filter work more effectively.

• Clean the Cartridge Filter: If you use a cartridge filter, remove it from the filter housing and rinse it with a hose to clear out debris. You may need to soak it in a filter cleaner if it’s particularly dirty.

• Replace the Filter: If the filter is old or damaged, replacing it may be necessary to ensure proper water circulation.

6. Use a Pool Clarifier

If your pool is still cloudy after shocking, using a pool clarifier can help clear up small particles that the shock treatment and filtration system may have missed.

• How a Clarifier Works: Pool clarifiers work by binding small particles together, making them large enough for the filter to remove. This can help clear up fine particles, such as dirt and dead algae, that make the water look murky.

• How to Apply: Follow the instructions on the clarifier bottle, and add it to your pool while the pump is running to ensure proper circulation.

7. Maintain Sanitizer Levels

After shocking and cleaning the pool, it’s important to maintain the proper sanitizer levels throughout the swimming season.

• Test the Water Again: After the pool has cleared up, test the chlorine or bromine levels again to ensure they’re within the recommended range of 1-3 ppm.

• Add More Sanitizer if Necessary: If the chlorine levels are low, add more chlorine to the pool to ensure it stays sanitized and algae-free.

8. Monitor the Pool

Once your pool has been cleaned and the water is starting to clear, continue to monitor the pool’s water quality over the next few days.

• Keep the Filter Running: Run the filter for at least 24-48 hours after cleaning to ensure that all remaining particles are filtered out of the water.

• Test Water Regularly: Test the pool water regularly to ensure the pH, alkalinity, and chlorine levels are balanced. Keep an eye on the clarity of the water, and take action if it starts to cloud up again.

When to Call a Professional

While you can clean a green pool yourself, sometimes professional help is necessary.

1. Persistent Algae

If the algae problem persists despite shocking and applying algaecides, a pool professional may be able to identify the root cause of the algae growth and offer more specialized treatment.

2. Equipment Issues

If your filtration system is malfunctioning or your pool equipment isn’t working correctly, it’s best to call in a professional to inspect and repair the equipment.

3. Large Debris or Severe Staining

In cases where there is excessive debris or staining that cannot be cleared with regular cleaning methods, a professional may be needed for thorough cleaning and treatment.