With more people planning staycations during summer, the popularity of Intex pools and inflatable pools has exploded in recent years. With that popularity comes important questions like, “What chemicals do I need for an inflatable pool?” Or, in this case, “How do I keep a kiddie pool clean and clear?” So, without further ado, let’s get into how to maintain a small pool (a.k.a. a kiddie pool, baby pool, inflatable pool, or blow-up pool).
Keeping an Inflatable Pool Clean
Keeping dirt, debris, and other organic contaminants out of your kiddie pool is important to maintain healthy water. Pets and other animals should not be allowed in or near an inflatable pool. This helps keep contaminant levels to a manageable level, and it also prevents the risk of sharp toenails puncturing and ruining your inflatable pool. To address the debris in your pool, you can use the following equipment and accessories:
1. Pool Leaf Net
Pool leaf nets come in a couple of different varieties. Leaf rakes are the larger version, made from skim nets sewn into a deep bag. Leaf rakes can scoop large amounts of debris from the pool. On the other hand, leaf skimmers are the flat style of mesh net, and are useful for skimming the surface of the pool. You can find advanced pool leaf net techniques on this post, but for a small kiddie pool, you can just connect the net to a pool pole and drag it around the surface or carefully pull it along the floor. You can also use it without a pole if the pool is small enough.
2. Pool Cover
Pool covers do a number of great things for maintaining a small pool or kiddie pool. First and foremost, they help to keep debris out, and can help deter animals from messing with the pool water. Solid covers also help reduce evaporation, which is quite noticeable in a small pool during the hottest parts of the summer. Some models of Intex or inflatable pools have covers available that fit nice and snug over the top of the pool. An alternative is to use a small solar cover, which can also add a bit of heat to the water and extend the swim season by a few weeks. In a pinch, you can also use a basic tarp and a few bungees or weights to hold it in place.
3. Pool Vacuum
Small vacuums are tremendously helpful for removing large amounts of debris from any pool. For leafy pool areas with lots of debris, connect a garden hose and a pool pole to a Leaf Bagger or simply use a Battery Operated Leaf Vac to collect debris. There is also a smaller version available in the Intex Pool Maintenance Kit. Another route is to use a rechargeable, battery-operated vacuum or any other compact handheld pool vacuum.
4. Pool Filter
One of the easiest ways to ensure a clean and healthy pool is to ensure adequate circulation and filtration each day. This can only be accomplished with the help of a pool filter. Filters help to remove fine debris that can’t be removed by skimmer nets or may be missed by pool vacuums. If your water is bogged down with contaminants, your sanitizer can’t work efficiently. Inflatable pools are typically not sold with filters, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use one. Small Intex Cartridge Filters include 6′ hoses that can be draped over the edge of the pool and held underwater with ankle weights or a small sand bag. To prevent suction entrapment on the intake hose, do not use the pool while running the filter pump.
Keeping an Inflatable Pool Sanitary
As we mentioned above, without a pool filter to remove small particulate matter, the water can get funky fast! It’s important to remember that filters do not sanitize or disinfect pool water. However, they do remove contaminants from the water, which makes it easier for your sanitizer to control algae and bacteria. On top of keeping the water clean, properly balanced and sanitized water will keep your small pool safe for swimming. Here’s how to sanitize a kiddie pool:
1. Keep pH Levels in Range
Believe it or not, pH influences the efficacy of your sanitizer. You will need a small test kit or test strips so that you can test and maintain the pH level in your kiddie pool water, which can naturally rise just from regular pool use. When pH gets too high, chlorine becomes less effective, and algae and bacteria can bloom more easily. Or, with a low pH, chlorine dissipates more quickly. Both conditions can cause cloudy water, damage your pool, and may irritate skin and eyes. When pH levels rise above 7.6, the general recommendation is to add 0.2 oz of pH Reducer (dry acid) for for every 100 gallons of pool water, and recheck the pH level in a few hours. Always follow product label directions for exact dosage and handling instructions! A pH reading in the 7.4-7.6 range is ideal. You can find more information about water balance, including Total Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness, in our blog post about Intex Pool Chemicals.
2. Use Chlorine Tablets
The best way to obtain a constant, consistent chlorine level in the pool is to use 1″ tablets or 3″ tablets in a floating chlorinator, aka chlorine floater. Most inflatable pools need just half of one 3″ tablet per week, or several 1″ tabs at a time, replaced promptly when they dissolve. That said, your test kit will tell you for sure. Test for chlorine levels 2-3 times each week to make sure Free Available Chlorine levels are in the 2.0-4.0 ppm (parts per million) range. Use enough tablets to dose the pool with a consistent level of chlorine.
3. Shock the Pool
At least once per week, shock the pool. You may have to do it more frequently if chlorine levels drop to near zero, or if the water was contaminated with animals or a high number of swimmers. Boost the chlorine level high with 0.2 oz of pool shock per 100 gallons of water. You can also use unscented bleach, using 2.0 oz per 100 gallons of water. Be careful to seal up partially used bags of pool shock, clipping them tightly and storing them in a plastic Tupperware-type container. Again, as with any pool chemical, always read and follow product label directions for handling, dosage, and storing.
It’s worth mentioning that pool users should bathe before using a small pool. Also, younger children not yet potty trained should have a fresh diaper change and wear a swim diaper. Even very small amounts of fecal matter in such a small pool can overwhelm your sanitizer
Draining & Refilling an Inflatable Pool
Some of the nicer, full-featured inflatable pools include a drain plug to make regular draining and refilling easier. Just remove the plug and drain, or connect a garden hose if you want to avoid lawn erosion or over-saturation.
If you don’t have a drain plug in your kiddie pool, but you have a nearby hillside, you could use a garden hose to siphon most of the water out, to a point where you can flip it over to empty fully. An easier method would be to use one of our small submersible pumps.
Even though you may do all of these things above; testing and adjusting pH level, keeping a constant chlorine level, and maybe even filtering the kiddie pool water, there comes a time in the maintenance of a small pool or kiddie pool when you really should drain the pool and start over.
Larger soft sided pools with frames can operate as a normal above ground pool, since they usually come with a properly sized filter and pump. For most inflatable pools or plastic kiddie pools following the guidelines listed above, the water should be changed every two weeks at a minimum. If you are not adding chlorine to kill bacteria, drain the pool every other day. Stagnant water without chlorine can become unhealthy water in as little as 24-48 hours.
13’30” round how long can water sit without pump running? Going away for 3 weeks and house sitter doesn’t want to maintain the pool. How much chemical should we put in before leaving?
Kathleen, without the filter? About 2 days. Seriously. IF you can, cover the pool with a tight fitting tarpaulin, strapped down in the corners. Fill up two chlorine floaters, and close the baffles. Adjust the pH to 7.2. Shock the pool with heavy dose. Leave the pump running. Ask the house sitter again, nicely, if she will clean the pool filter once, on day 10 – for an extra $20. 🙂 c’mon!
HELP – Intex Jungle play center is forever funky! I just drained and I see pink spots and that thing has so many crevices I’m not sure I know how to even continue to keep this clean. Unfortunately, we have to keep it outside so that may not help the cause. It smells very funky right now and I need to know what to use to clean it. Ultimately I can feel like a slimy residue on most parts where water was. Appreciate the help.
Chlorine, lots of chlorine. It will kill mildew, bacteria, algae – it is a wonderful chemical. It will also keep the water fresh, giving you longer time between water changes, as this article tells.
How to keep my grandaughter’s inflatable pool safe to swim in. Its a Play Day 10ft pool (120 in x 72 in x 22 in) from WalMart. These pools don’t come with pool filters.
What is inexpensive but worth buying for a safe swim? Thank you
Cathy, the INtex 530 GPH pump/filter is a good one, if you can find it, at a reasonable cost… which is hard to do these days.
How many chlorine tablets would you use for 169 gallons. This is what I have.
Intex 57190EP Inflatable Family Lounge Pool – Blue
I would probably use 3 1″ tablets, but your test kit or test strips will tell you for certain if you need more or less, shooting for a level of 2-3 ppm. 1-2 ppm? Use more… 3-5 ppm? Use less…
I had the water checked in my Intex 10 x30 pool. This pool went up 5 days ago. I shocked it with chlorine and have tablets the girl at the store said total chlorine was high at 5 ppm, total alkaline was 200 ppm and stabilizer low 20 ppm. They wanted me to put 1/2 gallon acid in and 1 of stabilizer in. My pool only holds 1018 gallons. Isn’t that alot of acid?
That is a lot of acid, and it will absolutely pummel your pH level, and then require pH increaser to raise it back up. Stabilizer is likely also OK at 20 ppm. If your pH is high, go ahead and add a cup of acid, 8 oz, and then retest pH after a few hours, but don’t add 1/2 gal of acid (64 oz, or 8 cups), for stabilizer, I like it at 20 ppm, but if you wanted to raise it to say 40, or 20 ppm, you would only need about 3 oz, or less than 1/4 cup. Free water testing is good, but remember they are a sales tool. You can buy the Taylor Troubleshooter test kit for $20, and check TC/FC, Alkalinity, pH and acid demand. Cyanuric and Calcium do not need to be checked but once/twice per season.
The PH was 7.4. The total alkalinity is 200 ppm. So should I go ahead and add acid? They told me the chlorine be is high at 5. Stabilizer is 20. So I am really not sure what I need to do. I had an above ground pool up same size got a while in it and I added nothing but chlorine and a stabilizer once. So can you help me please? thanks
Trish, I would leave it alone, the high TA is going to be hard to adjust, it will take you many applications, perhaps 5-10 (!), to get them both in line, and at this late stage in the season, personally, I would leave it alone. High alkalinity won’t cause any problems, with exception to possibly causing cloudy water – but if not, then no worries, just leave the alk, pH, chlorine and stabilizer, right where it is. 🙂
Hi! I have a 7ft round inflatable pool (Minnidip brand). We drained it completely but the next day the left over water caused pink spots. What are these pink spots? I see the words “algae” and “bacteria” and I’m not sure if there’s a difference or if they’re the same thing.
We’ve tried to use OxyClean to get rid of it but the spots remain. Are they stains? How do we know if it’s gone and if the pool is safe to use? Is it possible to get rid of the stains completely?
Pink Algae is actually a form of bacteria, like a biofilm you may see in a bathtub or a toilet boil tank that hasn’t been flushed in a few months. Chlorine will get rid of the bacteria (kill it, dead), and should remove the stains or marks as well. When you fill the pool, shock the water to a very high level, adding 4-5 oz of Cal Hypo chlorine pool shock, per 1000 gallons of pool water, to bring the chlorine level up to near 30 ppm.
my inflatable pool has an uneven bump or bulge in its rectangular shape. What is that??
Not sure, perhaps the vinyl has stretched in that spot?
Hi! I have an Intex Swim Center Inflatable Family Lounge Pool, 90″ X 86″ X 31″. I’ll be rigging up a filter pump to it soon. This pool, according to the instructions, states that we only can fill it to 12″ below the top of the pool, or 156 gallons. We also bought an 8′ round cover for it, and it attaches to it fairly well, even though it’s meant to be used on the Intex Easy Set 8′ pools. So, my wife said to use chlorine bleach to keep the pool clean. What’s your take on that? And, what should I actually be doing/using if she is not correct? But, if she is correct, how much should we use? Or, how much of whatever it is should I be using in just 156 gallons of water? We do have some pH test strips in the house, but that’s about all. Haven’t used them yet though. We just bought the pool recently, and it was used about 3 times so far this week with just plain water. Then we just endured part of that tropical storm (we’re in the Philadelphia area), and rain water got into the vent holes in the pool cover. When I took off the cover earlier today, there was a slimy feel to the water and around the sides of the pool, and a little bit of a musty smell, and a thin layer of some visible dark slimy stuff on the pool floor. We don’t want to spend too much on chemicals if there are any other options. I mean, the pool itself was only about $100. But, any help you can offer is greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Hi AJ – your wife is correct you can use bleach. If using regular unscented household bleach, add 1 oz of 6% bleach, per 150 gallons, to reach 3 ppm. Test regularly the chlorine level for a week, to see if you need to do it twice per day. Test before and after pool use, in the morning, and evening, to be sure that there is a constant level of chlorine in the water. Be sure there is a chlorine level before using the pool, and don’t allow kids to drink the water. Do not allow dogs or waterfowl in the pool. You can double or triple the dose if needed. Do this regularly if you have non-potty trained children, or any possiblity of small flecks of fecal matter. If the pH level rises above 7.8, use 1 oz of muriatic acid, or dry acid to bring it back down to the 7.2-ish range, where chlorine is most effective. When the water gets cloudy or greenish, or dirty or slimy – dump the water and refill.
Our pool is above ground – 8’x8’ and approx 4’ deep. I put in a floater with 2x 3” tabs but they don’t seem to be dissolving. Test strip shows chlorine is 0 but alk and ph are okay. Would shocking be the best way to increase the deee chlorine? Is there anything else I should be testing for? We have a submersible pump running and cover for overnight. Thanks!
Hi Kristy, yes put some granular or liquid chlorine in right away to bring the level up, give it a good dose, to kill off any contaminants that may be in the water, such as ammonia or nitrates. Nothing else to test for really, main thing is chlorine and pH.
Hi Davy, thank you for the excellent article. My question is about using an Intex inflatable pool pump/filter or even just a submersible pump for circulation. I don’t have a dedicated outside pool power supply hardwired to our breaker box, just an exterior power outlet on the side of the house with a weather cover (cover swings open left/right, not up/down). I’m a renter and got permission to have an 8’ round inflatable Intex pool, but I don’t have permission to run an underground dedicated power source. I’m a bit worried about using an extension cord to plug in the pump/filter due to unexpected thunderstorms or rain and the cord running on the ground or even just plugged into the outside outlet without protection from the weather. Any suggestions, or am I just stuck with emptying the pool after a few days of use? We tend to get thunderstorms every afternoon in the summer but I might be able to plug a filter/pump in for 2-3 hours per day or every other day during the times I’m sure it won’t rain. Seems like that would be better than nothing…
Don, go ahead and use the power cord, if it gets wet enough it will just trip the breaker. You can install one of those plastic outlet covers, or just wrap a plastic bag tightly around the cord and outlet. Or, modify some plastic box to shield the outlet from rain.
We have a 600 gallon inflatable pool. I purchased a floater and 3″ chlorine tablets, but the instructions on the tablets indicate 1 tablet for a 10,000 gallon pool per week. How do I adjust for our small pool? thanks.
In my experience, it’s more like 1 tablet per 5000 gallons, but it depends on many factors. Break a tab in half and use it in the floater. Test the water every day for chlorine level and see how half a tablet does, shooting for 2-3 ppm. Adjust the level by opening or closing the vanes/baffles on the bottom of the floater, and/or by using more or less tablet. Also test for pH, and add acid if it gets above 7.8.
Hi, we have a 10ft inflatable pool, keep it covered and have an chlorine floater on for the right literage. It’s been raining hard for a couple of weeks and now I took the cover off and the bottom is covered in dark green algae. The pool has a pump but honestly it feels like it barely works and I think if I left the pump running after stirring up the algae it would settle on the bottom before the pump haa a chance to work. I read if I shock the pool this will work but also that the pool must go through the filter to remove the shock chemicals and I’m not sure I have confidence in the filter to do that, plus my 2 year old nephew is visiting on Friday so I really want to make sure the pool is safe. It’s my only option to change the water? It’s such a lot of water so ide rather not if possible for environmental reasons. Thanks
Yes, replace the water! The water will soak into the ground, and with the algae, be very nutritious for the grass and plants and such. Remember that you cannot really ‘waste’ water, every drop of water that has ever been on the planet, is still on the planet. It just moves around from here to there. 🙂
I only want to use my small inflatable pool on weekends. I’d set it up Saturday and drain Sunday, no chemicals. However, I can’t keep the empty pool in my yard. Is it ok to deflate it every week, or will that compromise the integrity of the pool? I can keep it inflated and move it to my garage if that’s a better option.
Susan, you can do it either way. Deflating won’t cause a problem, but it sounds like a lot of effort or time…
Hi, I have a 10foot inflatable pool and put about 250 gallons of water. I have a cover and put a 1” tab in. But I see the pool is getting cloudy Due to sun screen and etc. can I use a flocculant ? Or how should I clear up the water without filtering. Thanks
Hi Sharon, I think it’s time to drain and refill. Forget about flocculents and stuff, without a filter or a way to vacuum the pool, that won’t work in this case. You could try to shock the pool, with bleach or granular, just a few ounces of bleach or a few tablespoons of shock. Also, you should test the water to know if the tablet is enough, you want to have a 2-3 ppm chlorine level at all times, and just one (?) 1″ tablet probably won’t be enough, in the heat of the summer. I can’t tell you how much will be enough, but your test kit, or test strip will.
Hi,
I have put 4 tablet in and test the water. The PH and Alkanine is balanced. the Free Chlorine is still 0. should I put more chlorine? I will try to put bleach in, but will the cloudiness go away?
If chlorine reads zero, that is a problem, it will quickly turn hazy then cloudy, especially without circulation and filtration. Yes add bleach, right away, or granular chlorine (pool shock). The cloudiness may not go away, without a filter or circulation. It may be time to change the water.
Am I crazy for wanting to take measures to chlorinate a 125 gallon (5.5′) pool? I read a different article that mentioned using household bleach and then I found your article. I’m not wanting to see my water bill triple because of having to empty the pool after each use, but I’m questioning is everything you describe here is even doable with a smaller pool.
Yes, it is doable with a small pool, you just need less chlorine. And you can use bleach, regular unscented household bleach is fine to use. The only problem is that it creates peaks and valleys of chlorination, so I’d advise small doses, morning and afternoon, if possible. Tablets in a floater give a more consistent and constant feed of chlorine, but either way will work. Checking pH level is also important, if possible for you, adding small amounts of acid if the chlorine rises above 7.6, to keep the chlorine potency, and help keep the water clear.
Hi, I use a 1′ chlorine tab with a floater, but it seems like it still always shows too low in the 6×10 kiddie pool every time I use a test strip. I poured a little bleach in last night per a post I saw and now its reading the chlorine as too high. pH is low so I added some baking soda today. Is there a quick way to lower the chlorine or do I just need to empty some water and refill with fresh and retest?
There is a chemical that would remove chlorine, but it’s rather expensive, and not available in small quantities. (Sodium Thiosulfate). I would just dilute the pool I think, or let it come down naturally over a few days. Instead of one tablet, you may need 3 or 4 tabs at a time, replaced promptly before they dissolve completely.
Hello- I have an Intex family size rectangle inflatable pool. I was going to buy some Multi-Purpose 1″ Tabs that have 94.05 % Trichloro-s-Triazinetrione, Stabilized Long lasting Slow Dissolving Tabs with Sanitizer, Clarifier, Stain Inhibitor, Algae Control, Descaler. Would this be ok for this type of pool? Also how would you adjust the time pool Chemical levels? I don’t want to change the water all the time so hoping this will be good.
Hi Kim, yes those are fine, and even better than regular chlorine tabs, in that they contain small amounts of other chemicals. We sell them too, under the name Multi-Tabs. Put them in a floater and use your test kit to let you know if you are using the right amount of tablets, which can change week to week, with environmental variables. Minimum chlorine level on an unfiltered pool should be 2-3 ppm.
Good article. I actually want to use my inflatable for my dog. Were having a really hot summer here in Chicago and I don’t want to keep resetting up the inflatable pool and refilling it whenever we use it, it would be a lot easier keep it up for several days at a time. So would all of the above apply to this situation as well?
Trish, if you are using it only for the dog, then I wouldn’t worry about any of this. Just drain it once per week, or when it starts to look bad.
Will the chlorine degrade the plastic of the inflatable pool?
Chlorine is a harsh product, and even when diluted at normal levels, and water is a solvent for everything, along with UV sun, will degrade vinyl over time, pulling out resins and plasticizers and lead to eventual breakdown. But this would take about 8-12 years I would guess, at normal chlorine levels. Now if you keep chlorine levels high, 5-10 ppm, for long periods of time, it could damage the vinyl within just a few seasons.
We had bought the PlayDay inflatable pool from Walmart. Its 10×9 and 22in deep. What can we do to keep it clean? I dont want to have to dump and refill every 3 days because you can feel the slimness start.
Hi Erin, there are a lot of things you can do – did you read the article? This article above contains many tips on how to keep the pool clean and avoid dumping the water every few days. You can cover the pool when not in use, you can use chlorine, and maintain a good pH level, you can circulate the water with a small submersible pump, or you can use a small Intex filter and pump – all ways to improve water quality and lengthen water lifespan, and reduce change frequency.
Hello, we just bought a 10′ x 30″ inflatable pool on Friday and my daughters have used it all weekend. Can you explain how do you check for the correct pH level with those strips that come with a kit? Is there a video showing how to do this you can recommend? Also, is there a pool cover you can recommend because the one we bought seems a little big and i am afraid if i put it over the pool it will tip over and the water will spill over. Thank you.
To test with strips, just read the instructions on the bottle, dip it in the water for the prescribed amount of time, and then compare to the chart on the bottle. Chlorine should be in the water constantly, esp. while using the pool, in addition to the tablets, you also need some bleach or granular chlorine, to raise chlorine up fast, such as days like today. It will take too long for the tablets to dissolve.
I have a 580 gallon kiddie pool filled with city water. I use a floater with chlorine tablets and cover the pool with a tarp when not in use. To clean debris off the bottom of the pool, I use a Flotec utility pump (1725 GPH) with a fabric net attached to the end of the hose to catch particles. Can I use this to circulate water? If so, how long should I do this? Does water need to be circulated if the tarp is being used?
Hi Meari, yes you could use it for circulation purposes, which can help maintain water quality a little longer, even though water is not being filtered. I would run it twice per day for an hour. The more you run it though, the more benefit you will receive. The cost to operate a small pump is not very much, (check the watts), so it’s your choice how much benefit/cost you want to receive. Same goes for using it while covered, yes there still is benefit.
Hello,
I have a 10’x6’x2’ inflatable pool. I filled it up with a hose but we have well water and the water is green/yellow (the plastic bottom of the pool is blue). Would a pool shock help with that or some sort of iron remover? What would you recommend to get clear water? I have a six way test strip that tells me my chlorine is 0 and hardness 0.
You could try an iron remover, a sequestering agent to lock up the metals in solution, it may improve the water appearance. And of course chlorine, but more for sanitation and disinfection than for color, although shocking the water with granular chlorine may help.
Hi there, new to the inflatable pool scene. Got a 12foot diameter, 3foot high pool. It came with a pump and cover which is good. The instructions were not great lol! Does the pump go in the pool? It seems silly I know but there is an electric plug and I am uneasy about this. Also, where do the chlorine tabs go?
The pump should be outside of the pool, and if the pool has connections for the hoses, connect them there, otherwise run the hoses over the side of the pool. The chlorine tabs should go inside of a chlorine floater.
I have a 10×6 inflatable pool and I bought a filter pump to circulate/filter the water. The pool does not have connections, so the hoses will need to be run over the side of the pool, but how do I prime the pump to get it working? It seems to work off of siphon pressure and I can’t figure out how to get it full of water (since the hoses run above water level over the edge) before turning the pump on. Thanks!
Now that you mention it, I could see some difficulty, and I would suggest a small platform like a cinder block, or a block of wood you could screw the filter to, so it won’t fall over. The best height would have the intake of the pump at the same level as the water level, or lower if needed. To prime it, just fill both hoses with water from a hose, holding them high up full of water completely, set them in the water and turn the pump on quickly. If that doesn’t work, have a helper plug in the pump just as the hoses enter the water. Experiment, see what works best?
Hi,
My wife and I just got a small Intex Family Lounge Center Inflatable Pool. It is 262 gallons and does not have a filter or pump. Will a pool cover pump like the Old Man Winter 350 GPH Submersible Pump recommended above with a small 1in spa chlorine tab floater do the trick? Or do I still need to shock. Also, with the pump I just throw it in a few hours a day when not in use and that should be good? Or can it be on while in use? Does it need to be attached to a hose or just plugged in and submerged when being used for circulation purposes? Thanks for any advice and also
If you happen to know where I could find a pool cover that fits to our pool’s odd shape.
Yes, the 1″ tablets with the old man winter pump would do the trick. Also check pH and lower if it gets above 7.6. No need for a hose, just let it run for more than a few hours daily, maybe 12 hours. It would be safe to use while in the pool, but let’s remove it anyway, for safety’s sake. Not sure about a cover, We have one B3536, but are out of stock now.
Hi … I have an inflatable pool. I filled it and apply the test reading was ph= 7.8 and CL BR = 5 1 ….so what tablet size i have to use and for how often need to replace it … knowing that the pool volume is approximately 800 gallon
Hi, use the 1″ tablets, and use enough to establish a consistent 2-3 ppm, which may be 2 or 3 tablets? Your test will tell you how much to use. Replace them when they are almost dissolved completely, which is usually about 5-7 days. It is not the same for every pool, you understand. Some pools of the same size, can use more chlorine, because of more sun, warmer water, more debris, more usage… your test kit will tell you if you need more, or less chlorine.
Hello!
I have a 122×72×22 inflatable pool. I’m going to use a floater with 1″ tablets. Test water daily. What floater do you recommend? Should I use a submersible pump like Callie to circulate the water. If so what brand do you recommend? The pool will be covered when not in use. Any other advice would be appreciated….
Hi Laura, with the 1″ tabs, you can use the very small floater, used for spas/hot tubs. And for the pump, you can use a small 350 GPH pool cover pump, which will help keep the water fresh. It’s not being filtered, but at least it is being circulated, and not stagnant. Also test the pH level, and keep it low, in the 7.2-7.4 range.
Hi!
I also just got a 122x72x22 inflatable pool. I bought the 3″ tabs along with a floater. Should i be using 1/2 of the 3″ tab a week? And should it be kept in the pool while my kids are in the pool?
Hi, even half of a 3-inch tab may be too much? 1/4 might be better, but your test kit will know for sure, and sometimes you need more, or less chlorine, depending on bather load, debris load, sunshine, water balance, esp pH level, water temperature, rain, etc… Try half a tablet, with the floater vanes/baffles closed all the way. The next day test the water. If the chlorine level is 2-5 ppm, then oK, but if it’s 6-10 ppm, that’s really too high, so use 1/4 tab. Conversely, if the measurement was very low, you could either open up the vanes, and/or add more (pieces of) tablets. Be careful not to use slivers or shards of tablets in the floater, as they may fall out and stain the pool floor. They can be dissolved along with dust and grains, in a covered pail of water, until fully dissolved, then poured into the pool.
How long do you leave the filter running if you get a filter for one of these inflatable pools
I would run the filter 12 hours daily, or longer if you can.
Thanks for the great info. I have a 600gallon intex pool with filter. I find that if I keep a 1inch bleach tablet in the pool the free chlorine is too hight, especially after I shock it. The test strips tell me to shock it almost every other day. It seem that shocking it alone seem to give it enough free chlorine. Is it ok to just shock it according the strips and not keep a beach tablet in regularly?
Hi Cory, you do not need to shock every other day. It is best to use tablets for a constant and consistent level of chlorine in the water, not the peaks and valleys when using shock. Save the shock for once every 2 weeks, or if water conditions are poor, or if you forget to add tablets, or if you see algae.
Similar to the question Shannon had, if the water is drained and refilled every day (with small inflatable), would any of the chemicals or treatment to the water be even necessary (other than cleaning the inflatable itself)?
Hi, probably not. If you empty every day, no chlorine would be needed, unless the water becomes contaminated with dogs or diapers, or ducks! An inflatable pool without sanitizer or filter is just a bathtub, outdoors in the hot sun. So it won’t last long, and could be safe all day, until it is not… 🙂
I was curious about this too! We have drained our inflatable pool everyday, but it had rained for several days and we still had it outside. It now has a lot of pink spots on it which I presume is some sort of algae? I cleaned it with a bleach and water mixture, but is it still safe to use???
Vikki, sure still safe to use. Good method to clean that you did, also. Pink Algae is a form of a bacteria, not actually an algae. Forms a biofilm, but is no match for chlorine.
Thank you, that was very helpful!! I have a 300-gallon blow-up pool; too big to empty it after every use so I very much want to follow these instructions and keep it clean and usable for as long as possible in between when I have to empty it. I will be buying some chemicals and equipment from you now. I already have a cover and a pump/filter. I have two questions: one, my cover is a solar cover; will it be okay to keep my pool covered with it just to keep out debris anytime I’m not using the pool, or will that cause it to overheat since the pool holds so little water? (so I should just use a regular tarp instead of the solar cover most of the time)? Two, the pump I have is the Intex 637 cartridge filter pump, which is the 1,000 GPH pump. It is probably two sizes too large for my little pool, but is that a problem? Or does it just mean I don’t need to run it for very long? (I’m thinking an hour or so a day should be enough, maybe once in the morning and once in the evening.)
Thanks for the article and for any advice!
Hi Jen, you are right on both counts, the solar cover will likely overheat the water, so a tarp most of the time. The pump yes, 2 hours daily should be fine with such a large pump, esp. if you are covering the pool when not in use.
Hello, great information to be found on this site and from the bloggers. If all my levels are within ideal ranges and remain consistent, we have a 639 gallon Intex pool, is it still recommended to shock once a week?
Thank you
Hi Joseph, good question, thank you! No, if the water is balanced and is clean and clear, with no signs of algae, cloudy water or suspicion of bacteria (from heavy pool use or a ‘fecal’ event, or animal use), you can skip shocking. With inground pools with larger filters, and much greater volume, I might say you can skip it for 6-8 weeks, if all is well. But for small Intex pools, I would say 3-4 weeks at most, or sooner if chlorine levels accidentally drop to zero, or heavy rains change the pool color, or you have pump or power failures for extended periods…
I purchased a 13x7x32″ pool for my kids and I’m not sure what size chlorine tablets to purchase or how often to use them? Plus, how long (after removing the dispenser) should the kids wait before going back in?
Hi Mary, use the 1″ tablets and keep the floater in the water 24/7. You need constant and consistent chlorine levels in the water, especially when kids are using the pool.
Hi I have a small kiddie pool, I think it holds a little over 200 gallons of water. Do I need to have a pump going in order to shock the pool or can I just dissolve it and throw it in? Also can I just get a handheld vacuum to get the debris out or do I need a pump/filter?
Callie, you don’t need a pump, you can just add the chlorine. Keeping a constant level of chlorine is best, which tablets can help you achieve, or add the granular regularly, and test the water daily, to know that it is safe. When chlorine drops to zero, germy things grow immediately. Using a small submersible pump, like a pool cover pump, can help create circulation in inflatable pools, which is much less than filtering the water, but much better than stagnant.
Hi this is my first time with a kiddy pool. Rectangle and inflatable. My son is autistic and will constantly drink from the pool, so I have to refill every day to ensure it’s clean. I’ve read all about the chlorine ect to use to keep the pool clean. Are these chemicals harmful in a decent dose? Clueless mom asking🤦🏼♀️
Shannon, yes many city tap water systems will test out with more chlorine than what is in a pool, so levels of 1-3 ppm are harmless.
Hi, I have a sable 118”x 72”x 20”Inflatable pool no filter, about 312 gallons. My 2 year old and I use. I just cleaned it out and refilled it. I have In The Swim brand 1” chlorine tablets, Algaecide and shock granular and 4-way test strips. When opening the pool how much of each should I use? I have 1 tablet in floater now. Should I add algae eliminator as a prevention dose? It says 8oz per 10k gallons…. I’m also unsure how much of each to put in pool to maintain weekly. Really don’t want to drain it every few days!
Use enough tablets to keep a constant and consistent (24/7) chlorine residual, which probably needs 1-2 tablespoons of granular first, to raise the level, then 1-2 tablets to maintain the level, replaced promptly before they dissolve completely. Add the algaecide, doing the math to convert from 10,000, down to 300, or about 1/2 ounce, just a few capfuls.
HI I have a inflatable 2-3 foot pool (rectangular); guess you’d call it a kiddie sized. About 200 gallons.
Put in a half a 3″ tab of chlorine in a floater—Chlorine levels are good but Ph is pretty low. Water is also pretty cloudy. Was looking into a Ph raiser or arm and hammer clear balance?
Or perhaps I could just add some bleach to shock it?
Thanks for your advice!
Any of those things would help. But if it is not too low, above 6.5, you can also just not worry about it, in your pool.
Hi I have an 10 x 6 x 22 inches deep blow up pool. I was going to buy 1 inch chlorine tablets and put it in one of those floaters in the pool. I plan on keeping the water in for like 2 to 3 days and dumping out and starting over each time. I dont want to test the water and do all the chemicals etc. But I want to make sure that there are no germs in it. I purchased this pool new this season and we used one time. I drained it and placed it upside down so that nothing would fall into the empty pool . A few days later we found pink little dots looking like very small pin prick size of pink on bottom of white pool. We cleaned with bathroom cleaner but spots are still there. So now I am grossed out. So therefore I want to do the chlorine tablets for small pools /spas will that work.
Hi Karen, yes you can now use the chlorine tablets, and also use some chlorine granular. First add a tablespoon of granular (pre-dissolved in a cup of water) to the pool to raise the level, then add 1-3 chlorine tablets in a floater. Every few days add another tablespoon to boost chlorine. Empty it every two weeks. Use a push broom or scrub brush to brush the inside floor and walls just before dumping, and every few days as well, to remove biofilms and give good circulation.
Hi I have a mini pool that holds 307 gallons of water. I don’t have any access to testing kits so I won’t know the ph levels and such. I only have a bottle of calcium hypochlorite (35%). How much do you think I should put in the pool?
Cal Hypo says 35% available chlorine? That’s an unusual strength I’ve never seen before. You only need 0.4 oz, or like a tablespoon, to boost up the chlorine to 2-3 ppm. To boost to 10 ppm for shock treatment, add about 1 oz.
This information hit the spot! Just 1 more question. My inflatable pool sits in a small clearing in my garden. Will draining the chlorinated water into the garden area hurt the plants?
Hi Ron, not at all, at normal chlorine levels. In fact, if you live in the city, you may find, with your test kit, that your garden hose water has more chlorine than your pool! But def. stop chlorinating the evening before you plan to drain/empty the pool. Levels of up to 3 ppm, possibly higher, should not harm grass, flowers or most plants, in my experience.
This is so helpful, thank you!
Would you recommend algaecide?
I’m trying to find a small filter – I have one of the Intex 10x6x22” pools – but can’t find one anywhere. Do you have any idea when you’ll have them back in stock?
Yes I would recommend algaecide, in addition to chlorine, just be sure to do the math and avoid over-dosing the pool. I do not know when the filters will be back in stock, sorry to say.
I have a 200 gallon inflatable kids pool. I put a 1 inch tablet in a floater for a week with a cover on because no one was swimming in it. Tested it and the total chlorine and free chlorine were high. Is it still safe to swim in or how do I get the chlorine level to be lower.?
Hi Catherine, should be safe to swim at 5-7 ppm, with perhaps some slight itchy skin. You can lower the chlorine level just by keeping the pool uncovered in the sun.
Hi, I have a 961 gallon kiddi pool, and I want to know if one 3′ clorin tablet is enough and how often, it also has a filter, and can clorin stop mosquitoes coming out?
Hi, one 3″ tablet may be too much, half of a tablet would be better. Your test kit will tell you if you are using too much or too little. Ideal chlorine level is 2-3 ppm. If you test it at 4-6 ppm, cut the amount in half. If you test it at 1-2 ppm, increase the amount of chlorine in the floater. Chlorinated water will deter mosquitoes, but not fully.
Hi! I’m building a stock tank pool with an Intex 1500 gph pump. Does the intake need to be below water level? And can I just essentially drape the hoses into the stock tank?
Hi Kait, yes it needs to be below water level, if by intake, you mean pool outlet, where the water leaves the pool to be filtered. You can drape hoses over the side, yes. You could also use a hole saw to cut holes and install a Hayward SP1023 wall fittings.
Hi, I have that 10 ft inflatable pool, as some stated on the comments. I fill the water up and have covered it every day. When I go to shock the water, how long do I have to wait before I can go in? It’s just me, one adult.
Hi Melinda, read the package label, it will tell you, as different pool shocks have different requirements. I like to avoid using the pool when chlorine levels are aobve 5 ppm, but the main reason for waiting is so that undissolved granules of chlorine won’t get caught in your suit or stuck in your eye. Ouch!
I have a 10’x6’x22″ inflatable pool in Florida with no pump. The pool will be used by 1 preteen and occasionally by 1-2 adults. Since we’re on well water I would prefer not to drain the pool if possible. Can I use a pool frog with chlorine tablets in it or should I do weekly bleach and/or pool shock? Will this also control algae or do I need to do something for that?
Hi Susie, you will need to drain it, or no one will want to get in, even if you keep it chlorinated and remove the debris and dirt. It will soon become too full of particulate matter and turn cloudy, which will interfere with sanitation and germy things can grow. Don’t worry about your well, unless you have reason to believe that it is a weak well, that cannot handle a few thousand gallons, for 99% of wells, it’s no problem. You should do the things you suggest, but that will only give you a few weeks of healthy water, without a filter to remove particulate matter and micro contaminants.
I have a 92”56”20 Sable blow up pool. Do they make filters for that? If not, are you suggesting it’s safe to drain that pool every two weeks? I use chlorine tablets in a floater.
Hi Dan, every pool is different, some may need daily draining, it depends on who/what uses it, how clean they are, how well the water is managed, cleaned, sanitized, etc. But in the best case, i think an inflatable pool without a filter, could last for two weeks, with daily chlorination, good pH level, and regular oxidation (shocking) with chlorine or non-chlorine pool shock.
Hello. We have a 66 in round 16 inch deep inflatable pool. What do you recommend for upkeep over the summer? Thank you!
Hi Sherri, thank you for the comment. the recommendations as listed in this post would apply to your pool, nothing more, nothing less.
We bought a 7.5’x7’x27″ inflatable pool with no filter/pump. We’re wondering how long we can leave water in and if we need anything else besides the cover and a mini floating dispenser with 1″ tablets? Just want it to be safe for the kiddos. Thanks for all of this info!
Hi Mike, with the tablets, with chlorine at a good level, and potty trained kids, and with a good pH level of 7.0-7.6, you can probably get two weeks, or 4 weeks perhaps if you are shocking the pool weekly. Non-chlorine shock would be the best choice I think, prefer it in this case to chlorine shock.
I’m not able to find and of the intex 530gph pumps. Would any submersible 530 pump work? There is one available on Amazon but it says for a pond or tank.
Hi Sarah, a submersible pump will help to keep the water fresh longer, just by creating circulation, but eventually, because it is a closed system, it will become unsafe and cloudy and nasty, without a filter to remove the particulate matter. But, for an inflatable pool, a circulation pump is actually a great idea! We have some small submersible cover pumps that would work, that pump 350 GPH, just enough to keep things moving.
Wondering about using bromine in lieu of chlorine for a small inflatable kiddie pool with a cover. Thanks!!
Well, it’s not exactly the same, due to some differences. Chlorine tablets dissolve faster, and bromine tablets are slow to dissolve, so you need to use many more of them. Here’s how I would use bromine, and I think you sparked a good idea, Jennifer! We have a product called Brom Booster in our spa dept, which is bromide ions used for hot tubs. Sprinkle in a few ounces of Brom Booster into your inflatable pool, and then use non-chlorine shock to activate the bromide ions and convert them into bromine. Then, for consistency and constancy, and to avoid peaks and valleys of bromination, you can use a few bromine tablets, to achieve a daily, constant level of 3-5 ppm. Then when you add just 2-3 tablespoons of chlorine or non-chlorine shock, the bromides will reactivate to create more bromine.
So yes, you could use Bromine instead of chlorine, but as you can tell, it is a bit more complicated, if you just put bromine tablets into a floater, it really wouldn’t work, your bromine test will be very low, near zero, without the Brom Booster added first.
I have a cotanie rectangle pool. Where do I drain the water?
Melisa, probably just right on the lawn, or if pumping or siphoning, or if you have a hose to connect to the drain assembly, then you can move the hose to reduce oversaturation and erosion issues, and balance the water. Before draining, just let the chlorine level fall below 1 or 2 ppm, and the water won’t cause any harm to flora or fauna.
I have a 10 ft x 6 ft x 22 inch kiddle inflatable pool. What would I need to maintain the water as far as chlorine and bleach? Also would it benefit to get a filter for the pool that I can place over the edge of the pool. I just want to keep the water from turning green and the slime from growing so I can keep the pool up all summer. Thank you.
Alicia, if you don’t want to replace the water in an inflatable pool every week or two, you definitely need a filter, and good water balance. With good daily filter runs with a small 530 GPH intex style filter, twice daily for 2-3 hours, good pH of 7.0-7.4, and a constant and consistent chlorine level of 2-3 ppm, you could keep the same water for a long time, just replace what is lost to evaporation and drag-off/splash-out. The best way for constant chlorination is to use a chlorine floater and tablets, using liquid bleach or dry shock creates peaks and valleys of chlorination, no bueno. Better to deliver consistent levels 24/7. Keep the pH at 2-3 ppm, and then weekly, use liquid or granular to boost chlorine levels to 10 ppm, with just a few tablespoons (check poolcalculator.com or do the math) to super-chlorinate and oxidize germs and matter in the water. Also if you see algae, or suspect heavy bacteria, or for rain, or cloudy water, or if you let the chlorine floater get too close to empty and chlorine is near zero…
Hi, I recently bought an inflatable pool . Do I need to deflate it after every use or can I just leave it in backyard without any cover until summer is over?
Thanks!
You do not need to deflate after each use, that would be a lot of effort, unless you were going to not use it again for weeks or months. But the water will need to be treated or changed, as discussed in the article. When not in use, you may want to flip the pool over, upside-down, and strap it down, or otherwise secure it, so that a gust of wind won’t send it off, in the direction of sharp objects. (!)
What if the ph is too low? We have a 10’x6’kiddie pool and the chlorine level tests perfect, bu the ph is low. How do we correct that?
It’s less of a concern than high pH, which makes chlorine lazy. The concern is that it is slightly acidic, which is less friendly on the vinyl of your pool, but not by much, if it’s just a little under 7.0 neutral.
I have a Minnidip pool, which holds up to 125 gallons. Would you still recommend using the chlorine tablets for something this small? If so, what size and how often to replace? Thanks!
That is pretty small – yes tablets are still the best, to provide constant and consistent chlorine levels, but perhaps the 1″ tablets for you, since you may only need 1 or 2 at a time. You should also have some bleach or granular shock on hand, to boost chlorine level before adding tablets, as they take a day or two to dissolve enough to establish a residual, and for occasional shocking. Replace the tablets before they dissolve completely. Use enough to establish a 1-2 ppm level, as verified by your test kit or test strip.
Do I need to use algecide too if I follow your instructions above?
Hello Sharon, not necessarily, but algaecide is a good insurance policy in case chlorine levels drop by mistake, or from heavy pool use, or high chlorine demand from organic matter and bather waste. It helps your chlorine pre-emptively kill algae, before it can get started. Not every pool needs algaecide, and you can not use it, and see how it goes.
Hi I’m seeing other suggestions online that say to use a combination of borax, bleach, chlorine, and algecide. I too have a 10ft kiddie pool with 300 gallons and I’m curious if just the 3” chlorine tablet with floater will work or do I need more?
Yes, those TroubleFreePool people are just ‘Trouble’! Tablets are the easiest way to maintain a consistent and constant level of chlorine in the pool. If you pour in bleach, even very precisely and 3x per day – it creates peaks and valleys of chlorination, not good. Bleach also raises the pH level sky high, with it’s pH of 13. And borax, although it has some benefits for inground pools, it is too complicated to use with small pools, and unnecessary, besides. I think the chemical regimen outlined in this post is the best route.
This is a great blog! Thank you! I purchased the 6 foot easy set pool and was planning to use without a filter. I am hoping to use the chlorine tablets, etc to keep from having to change the water so often since we have a well. What recommendations do you have with is method other than keeping covered. The pool is in a mostly shady area and it will be one small potty trained child and an occasional adult. Thank you!
Yes, put one 3″ chlorine tablet in a floater, and replace it promptly when it dissolves. Monitor pH level and adjust to keep it in range of 7.2-7.6, and shock the pool (super-chlorinate) once per week, using chlorine shock or non-chlorine shock. Read the post again and follow any other instructions, not included here in this short reply.
I have a 10 foot kiddie pool. 300 gallons of water. Can I put a pineapple tab floater with a 3 in tab in it? is that too much?
Hi Terese, yes one 3″ tablet should be fine. If your pineapple floater has vents or baffles that you can adjust, you may want to close them partially. Test the water daily with your test kit or strips, and aim for 2 ppm. If the tests are consistently higher, restrict the baffles and if chlorine level tests lower, open them more.
Hi,
i have a question regarding a renovation of an inground pool. in 2017 i contracted with a company to renovate a pool. every year since (2) during the pool opening, the pool is almost empty. 1st year company said the newly installed pool light leaked, it was repaired. the company now says the bucket for the new light has deteriorated. the company is asking me to pay for the install again, and they will pay for the repair to the light. Does this sound right?
thank you in advance for your time
Hi Lisa, does the water level leak below the light? You said it was almost empty. If the water level is well below the light, that would sound like something other than the light, such as a leaking hydrostat in the drain, or a leaking main drain pipe. If it does stop at the light, the most common leak is the light conduit, which can be repaired easily and cheaply with a Light Cord Stopper, or with silicone. Light niches rarely leak, and niches rarely deteriorate, but can after 50 years of poor water chemistry. I would try the light cord stopper, and if they insist that it’s the niche, have them show you exactly where the hole is, exactly where the water leaves the pool – because, they could be lying to you.