Pool Brush

Just as you need a toothbrush for your teeth, are you wondering if a pool brush is essential to keep your swimming pool clean too? Being a pool owner allows me to discover the benefits and importance of pool brushes to maintain a clean and safe pool.

Do I need a pool brush? Yes, a pool brush helps prevent algae growth and the buildup of mineral deposits along the pool’s waterline. It also helps to avoid etching and stains that damage the pool’s surface.

In today’s post, you will learn the benefits of a pool brush and the best options you can have that really get the job done. You can also learn the best way to brush your pool and when is the best time to do so.

Reasons Why You Need A Pool Brush

As mentioned earlier, a pool brush is necessary to prevent any mineral deposit buildup along the waterline of your pool. But aside from that, here is a list of reasons to help you decide whether this pool maintenance tool works best for you.

• Prevent Stains – Your pool can have different types of stains. Usually, organic stains start at the water’s surface, typically a mixture of minerals, dirt, and oils.
  
  Brushing off your pool will hinder these materials from piling up and forming a stain. If you wish to prevent your pool from accumulating stains, you may use a pool brush to clean it thoroughly around 1 to 2 times weekly.


• Prevent Etching – All pools encounter etching at some point due to low pH or calcium hardness. The imbalanced water condition makes the pool water corrosive to concrete, metal, or stone surfaces exposed to the water.
  
  But when a pool is brushed regularly and has balanced water parameters, it will be smoother and softer.


• Prevent Algae – Pools can grow algae, especially those made with aggregate finishes, quartz, and plaster. These types of finishes have small micropores where algae begin to grow. So, if your pool is made up of one of these finishes, make sure to brush your pool consistently to free its micropores from algae.

What Kind Of Brush Should I Use To Brush My Pool?

Now that you know the importance of brushing your pool, the next is to determine the right brush to use.

Nylon Bristled Brush

For daily pool cleaning, a nylon-bristled brush is ideal. Nylon bristles are stiff enough to remove any dirt, stain, algae, or grime buildup in your pool but at the same time, it is also flexible enough to prevent scratching your pool’s surface.

Steel Bristled Brush

Best for removing tough stains like mineral content and algae are steel bristled brushes. This brush is difficult to push along the pool’s surface compared to a nylon-bristled brush so, don’t even try to use it for daily cleaning.

Since it is incredibly abrasive and stiff, it is only ideal to use in specific pool areas where ordinary pool brushes don’t work.

For pools that have fiberglass or vinyl finishes, steel bristled brushes should never be used. The level of abrasiveness of this type of brush can cause damage to the surface materials in the pool.

Knowing the correct type of brush for your pool will save you time and money. It is mainly that utilizing the wrong one can be ineffective for cleaning, and worse, cause damage to your pool.

Choosing The Right Pool Brush

Every pool brush is different. You can find pool brushes with unique designs, different types, sizes, and other characteristics that set them apart from other brushes.

These differences also satisfy the unique needs of different swimming pools. For this reason, you won’t just buy a random pool brush but choose the right one that fits your needs.

1. Determine The Type Of Pool Surface You Will Clean – Whether your pool’s finish is gunite/concrete, vinyl, or fiberglass, you have to take note of that to choose the right brush. Surfaces susceptible to scratch should use nylon-bristled pool brushes and avoid the highly abrasive stainless steel brushes.


2.   Choose the right brush – Gunite finished pools can use stainless steel bristled brush. Meanwhile, unpainted concrete surfaces should utilize a combination of nylon and stainless bristles. On the other hand, painted concrete and vinyl surfaces should strictly use nylon bristles as it is gentle enough to avoid scratching these surfaces.

Best Pool Brush To Keep Your Pool Clean

Lalapool 18″ Swimming Pool Wall and Tile Brush

This 18-inches wide Lalapool swimming pool wall and tile brush is an excellent choice for those who want to clean their pool daily. It comes with a tough plastic brush ideal for removing algae, dirt, and stains.

Its curved edges allow it to reach the hard-to-reach corners of your pool. Since it is a broad brush, it covers more of your pool’s surface in less time.

Also, take note that this brush doesn’t include a pole. But don’t worry, it fits most telescoping pool extension rods, so you aren’t likely to buy another if you have an existing one at home. You can also use this pool brush to clean sensitive vinyl pool liners as it features soft nylon bristles.

Wall Whale Classic Swimming Pool Brush

At first glance, anyone will definitely be confused about how this pool brush looks. The Wall Whale Classic Swimming Pool Brush features a plastic material sitting on top of the brush, resembling a whale’s tail.

But despite its unique appearance, this pool brush is excellent in terms of deep and powerful scrubbing. The whale tail-looking plastic atop the brush helps you to exert more force on the brush. As a result, it targets the areas that are hard to clean with typical pool brushes.

The idea of the whale tail is to create extraordinary force, creating a pushing mechanism to push the brush into the wall of the swimming pool.

If you wish to add more pressure to the brush, change the tail’s angle. The intelligent concept of this pool brush makes it easier to get the job done.

Milliard Nylon Pool Brush

For those pool owners out there who are looking for a brush that is best for above-ground pools, consider the Milliard Nylon Pool Brush.

Since this brush has nylon bristles, it has enough power to remove stains and flexibility to avoid damaging your pool liner. Knowing that it is designed explicitly for above-ground vinyl pools allows you to be at ease while using it.

Another thing that boosts the performance of this pool brush is its handle. The 45-degree angle of its handle is intended to hit the areas where stains most likely settle.

Meanwhile, its brush is 17/5 inches wide, covering more surface area when cleaning. This width is enough to scrub your pool’s flooring. In fact, it allows you to avoid wielding a bulky pool brush to clean the pool.

The Milliard Nylon Pool Brush features rounded corners that let you reach even the corners and edges of your pool. Aside from that, its handle is also applicable to use with a typical pool pole, so you don’t have to worry if it does not include one.

Blue Devil Pool Wall Brush Deluxe

Among the affordable pool brushes that you can find is the Blue Devil Pool Wall Brush Deluxe. While having a reasonable price, it provides a top-notch performance, especially when it comes to cleaning pool tiles.

Its framework is also reinforced with metal, so it is heavy-duty when it comes to cleaning. You can use it with most pool poles available out there, making it a money-saver for most pool owners.

In terms of width, the Blue Devil Pool Wall Brush Deluxe measures 18-inches. This width is rough to clean your pool conveniently in just several strokes. Its bristles also play a vital role in making it efficient for cleaning.

In fact, it integrates flexible poly bristles that let you reach the most challenging corners of your pool.

Another thing about this pool brush is that it is made to last for a long time. It means that you can enjoy more accessible, faster, and more effective brushing for several years.

On the other hand, the disadvantage of this product is that it is not ideal for cleaning rounded surfaces.

When To Brush Your Pool

• After Adding Chemicals – One of the best times to brush your swimming pool is right after you add chemicals in them.
  
  Brushing helps to disperse and dissolve the chemicals added in the pool water, such as granular or powdered chemicals, to prevent them from forming scale, stain, or etching the pool’s surface.
  
  Pool chemicals like chlorine stabilizers, chlorine, and others don’t immediately dissolve after being added to the pool water.


• When Preventing And Removing Algae Or Stain – Pool chemicals alone can’t fight stains and algae. Your pool needs brushing to prevent these issues from occurring.
  
  Besides, shock, algaecide, chlorine, algae preventive, or algae killers can’t do the job alone as brushing breaks the protective surface of algae. Aside from that, it suspends the algae in the water that lets the chemicals work.


• After Your Pool Is Replastered, Plastered, or Pebbled – If your pool falls in any of these categories, you have to brush your pool twice daily for 2 to 3 weeks. When your pool is plastered, replastered, or pebbled, there is a lot of dust that has to be filtered or brushed. When you fail to do so, it can result in stain and scale.

How To Brush Your Pool

1. Brush The Pool From The Same Spot – Beginning in the same pool area every time you clean will allow you to cover every inch. Since you won’t see where algae are starting to grow, beginning in the same area won’t let you leave anything unclean.
   
   Following this tip is vital to prevent the growth of algae in your pool. To clean the floor, extend the pole of the pool brush. You can also use a short pole to clean steps as well as walls with shallow corners.


2. Brush Starting From The Steps – Most of the pool vacuums used today won’t even touch the steps of your pool. Even if it does, vacuuming is not enough to keep these areas free from staining and algae. When using a brush, start from the top step with a pushing movement.
   
   Also, make sure to align the brush to push toward the center of the pool. After gathering all the dirt at the center, use the vacuum to pick up everything. Also, clean the face of the steps, wherein you will need your brush again to clean it sideways.


3. In A Single Direction, Work Your Way Around The Corners – Begin brushing at the waterline, then push it straight down to the pool’s bottom curve with a single fluid stroke.


4. Cleaning The Ledges, Ladders, & Steps – When you reach the steps at the end of the pool, to a ladder, or ledge, make sure to clean the inside edges.


5. Skimmer Ports – It can be a little challenging to clean pool ports. But when using a pool brush sideways, you can quickly get into the sides and corners.
   
   It is also a great idea to remove the brush from the pole, lean over, then brush by hand while on your knees. You may place a towel beneath your knees to keep you comfortable while cleaning.

Conclusion

To sum it up, a pool brush is a simple cleaning tool to keep your pool pristine and safe. If you use the correct pool brush, pool maintenance will be much easier and effective.

Make sure to get a pool brush that has the correct width, type, and design for your pool. You can also choose a nylon-bristled brush for a pool that is brushed often.

Brushing your pool consistently, especially in the areas where harmful bacteria and germs gather, is the best way to prevent sickness related to pool water too.