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What Is the Best Way To Clean a Pool? | The Ultimate Guide

Keeping your swimming pool sparkling clean doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re a first-time owner or a seasoned pro looking for a more efficient routine, this guide answers the question every pool owner eventually asks: what is the best way to clean a pool?

The short answer is a consistent combination of debris removal, chemical balancing, and proper filtration. But each of those steps involves the right technique, the right pool equipment, and the right schedule.

Below, we break it all down so you can keep your pool clean year round with minimal hassle. For a quick-reference overview of the full process, visit Hy-Clor’s Pool Maintenance Smart Steps.

Step 1: Remove Debris from the Surface and Floor

The first and most visible part of pool maintenance is physical debris removal. Leaves, insects, pollen, body oils, and windblown dirt all accumulate on the water’s surface and settle on the pool floor. Left untreated, this organic matter feeds algae growth and throws off your pool chemistry. During periods of high winds or heavy tree canopy cover, you may need to skim daily.

Use a leaf skimmer or rake attached to a telescopic pole to scoop floating debris before it sinks. Hy-Clor’s rakes, shovels, and scoops range includes purpose-built tools for every pool shape. Skim your pool at least every second day or daily during autumn and storm season to save time on deeper cleaning later. For a complete list of essential hand tools, see our Pool Maintenance Kit Must-Haves guide.
Scrubbing the walls and floors with a pool brush dislodges algae, calcium deposits, and biofilm that cling to surfaces. For concrete and plaster pools, a stainless-steel algae brush provides a thorough cleaning. For fibreglass or vinyl liners, use a soft-bristle brush from Hy-Clor’s brushes and brooms range to avoid scratching. Brush once a week, paying extra attention to steps, corners, and behind ladders where algae tends to take hold.
After brushing, vacuuming removes the loosened sediment from the pool floor. You have two main options: a manual vacuum head attached to a telescopic pole and hose, or a robotic pool cleaner that does the work for you. Busy pool owners looking to save time will appreciate a robotic or automatic suction cleaner—explore the full range of Hy-Clor pool cleaners to find the right fit. Our detailed comparison guide, Discovering the Best Pool Cleaner for Your Needs, can help you decide between suction, robotic, and manual options.

Step 2: Run and Maintain Your Filtration System

Your filtration system is the engine that keeps pool water circulating and free of microscopic contaminants. A properly sized pool pump draws water from the pool, pushes it through the filter, and returns clean water. Without adequate filtration, even perfectly balanced chemicals cannot maintain water clarity. If you’re installing or replacing your pump, follow the step-by-step instructions in our How to Install a Pool Pump blog.

As a general rule, run your pump long enough to turn over the entire volume of your pool at least once per day. For most Australian backyard pools, that means eight to twelve hours of runtime during summer and four to six hours during winter. Running the pump during off-peak electricity hours can reduce your energy costs without compromising water balance.
There are two main filter system types available from Hy-Clor:

  • Cartridge filter – Uses a paper-like element to trap particles as fine as 10–15 microns. Ideal for smaller pools or setups with limited space. Clean or replace the cartridge every one to two years, and hose it down every four to six weeks.
  • Sand filter – Uses a bed of sand (or alternative media such as Zeo-Clor) to capture debris down to 20–40 microns. Backwash your sand filter monthly to flush out trapped contaminants, and replace the media every five to seven years. Learn more about maintaining your filter in our Equipment Maintenance guide.
Test The Water

Step 3: Test and Balance Your Pool Chemicals

Chemical balancing is the backbone of a clean pool. Without the right chemicals at the correct concentrations, your water can turn green with algae, become cloudy, or cause eye irritation for swimmers. A well-balanced pool also protects your pool equipment from corrosion and build up. For a deep dive into chemical types and safe handling, read the full Pool Maintenance Chemicals Guide.

Test your pool water at least once a week using a water testing kit or test strips. Hy-Clor’s Pool and Spa Testing range includes 7-in-1 instant strips that measure pH levels, free chlorine, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and cyanuric acid in seconds. For a detailed walkthrough of the testing process, see our How to Test Pool Water blog. Testing before you dose ensures you only add what’s needed, which saves money and avoids over-treatment.
Keep your pool’s chemical levels within these recommended ranges to maintain safe, comfortable water:

  • Chlorine level: 1–3 ppm (parts per million). This is your primary sanitiser that kills bacteria and prevents bacteria growth.
  • pH levels: 7.2–7.6. Low pH causes eye irritation and corrodes equipment; high pH reduces chlorine effectiveness. For warning signs, read Signs of Low pH in Pool.
  • Total alkalinity: 80–120 ppm. Acts as a buffer to prevent sudden pH swings.
  • Calcium hardness: 200–400 ppm. Too low and the water becomes aggressive; too high and you’ll see scale build up. Learn more in our calcium levels guide.
  • Cyanuric acid (stabiliser): 30–50 ppm. Protects chlorine from UV degradation.
Always adjust alkalinity first, then pH, then sanitiser. This sequence ensures each adjustment holds. Use Hy-Clor’s balancer chemicals to fine-tune your water balance, and add chlorine sanitisers according to the label. If you notice early signs of algae – a slimy feel on the walls, a slight green tinge, or slippery floors – dose with a Hy-Clor algaecide and follow up with a clarifier to restore water clarity. For a full troubleshooting walkthrough on cloudy or hazy water, see Why Is My Pool Cloudy?.

Step 4: Enhance Water Quality with Mineral Salts

Whether you have a chlorine or salt water pool, adding mineral salts delivers noticeable improvements in water clarity and swimmer comfort. Magnesium-based products like Hy-Clor MagSalt aid filtration, soften the water, and reduce calcium and scale build up on your equipment.

For a blended option that combines magnesium sulphate with potassium chloride for extra softness, try Hy-Clor EVO Mineral. Beyond pool health, these minerals are absorbed through the skin, helping to relax muscles and ease stiff joints—an added bonus for swimmers after a long day.

Step 5: Follow a Weekly Pool Maintenance Routine

Regular maintenance is what separates a crystal clear pool from a problematic one. Establishing a simple weekly routine means you spend less time reacting to problems and more time enjoying your swimming pool. Here’s a practical schedule for busy pool owners:

  • Daily (2–5 minutes): Skim the surface with a leaf skimmer, check the pump basket for blockages, and empty the skimmer basket.
  • Weekly (30–45 minutes): Test and adjust chemical levels. Brush the walls and floors. Vacuum or run your robotic pool cleaner. Inspect the filter pressure gauge—a reading 8–10 psi above normal indicates it’s time to clean or backwash.
  • Monthly: Backwash your sand filter (or hose down your cartridge filter). Shock the pool to oxidise body oils, sunscreen residue, and chloramines that cause that “chlorine smell”.
  • Quarterly: Test calcium hardness, cyanuric acid, and salt levels. Inspect pool equipment for wear, leaks, or unusual noises. Refer to the Equipment Maintenance checklist for details.

For a beginner-friendly version of this routine, read our complete Pool Maintenance for Beginners guide. If you want to understand the cost of keeping up this routine, check out Understanding Pool Maintenance Costs.

Cleaning Tips by Pool Type

Not every pool responds to the same approach. The surface material affects which brush you use, which pool chemicals are safe, and how often you need to scrub.

  • Concrete pools are porous and prone to algae growth, so brush at least weekly with a stainless-steel brush and maintain calcium hardness carefully. Use a calcium increaser and alkalinity increaser to prevent the water from leaching calcium from the concrete.
  • Fibreglass pools have a smooth gel coat that scratches easily. Use soft-bristle brushes only, choose non-abrasive algaecides, and consider adding a metal sequestrant to prevent staining from copper or iron.
  • Vinyl pools require liquid chlorine rather than granular forms to protect the liner from fading. Avoid copper-based algaecides and choose pH/alkalinity balancers labelled as vinyl-safe.
  • Above-ground pools follow the same chemical and filtration principles but typically use smaller, purpose-built equipment. For a dedicated guide, read Caring for Your Above-Ground Pool and our Above-Ground Pool Cleaning article.

Common Pool Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced pool owners sometimes fall into habits that undermine their efforts. Here are the most common pitfalls:

  • Neglecting the filter. A clogged filter system forces the pump to work harder and reduces water clarity. Backwash or wash your filter on schedule.
  • Testing too infrequently. Weekly testing catches imbalances early. Waiting until the water looks off means you’re already behind.
  • Adding chemicals without testing first. Guessing at chemical levels wastes product and can push levels dangerously out of range.
  • Skipping the brush. Chemicals alone cannot remove algae that clings to walls and floors. Scrubbing is essential for a truly clean pool.
  • Running the pump too little. Inadequate circulation leads to dead zones where bacteria growth and algae thrive.

Preparing for Parties and High Bather Loads

Hosting a pool party? More swimmers means more body oils, sunscreen, and debris entering the water at once. Before the event, shock the pool, ensure your chlorine level is at the upper end of the safe range, and clean the filter. After everyone has gone home, test and re-balance your pool’s chemical levels. For more detail on preparing your pool for heavy use, read our Prepping for High Bather Loads article.

FAQs

For a sparkling clean pool year round, skim the surface daily, brush and vacuum weekly, and test your pool chemicals at least once a week. Monthly filter maintenance—whether you backwash your sand filter or hose down your cartridge filter—ensures your filtration system runs at peak efficiency. This regular maintenance routine prevents small issues from becoming expensive problems and keeps your pool clear with minimal effort.

A new pool requires a startup dose of chlorine sanitiser to establish disinfection, balanced chemicals for pH and alkalinity, a stabiliser (cyanuric acid) to protect chlorine from UV breakdown, and a calcium hardness increaser if your fill water is soft. After the initial balance, introduce an algaecide as a preventive measure. Hy-Clor’s Pool Chemical Guide covers every product you’ll need, with safe handling tips and dosing schedules.

Absolutely. A manual vacuum head, telescopic pole, leaf skimmer, and brush are all you need to clean your pool effectively by hand. The trade-off is time: manual cleaning a medium-sized pool takes roughly 45–60 minutes per session compared to setting a robotic pool cleaner to run unattended. If you prefer manual tools, Hy-Clor’s handled accessories range includes everything from vacuum heads to rakes. A robotic pool cleaner is a convenience upgrade, not a necessity—the fundamentals of pool maintenance remain the same.

Keep Your Pool Crystal Clear with Hy-Clor

Now you know what is the best way to clean a pool: consistent debris removal, a well-maintained filtration system, and precise chemical balancing. With the right chemicals and pool equipment from Hy-Clor, even busy pool owners can enjoy a crystal clear pool year round.

Explore the full range of Hy-Clor pool maintenance products at your nearest Bunnings Warehouse, or contact us for expert advice tailored to your pool. For more tips and video tutorials, visit the Hy-Clor Learning Centre and Video Resources.