The Best Products for Swimming Pool Maintenance

Proper pool maintenance is the most important factor in keeping your pool safe and free from hazardous algae growth. Choosing the right maintenance supplies and keeping them well-stocked are key to keeping your pool looking its best and protecting your investment for years of future enjoyment. Let’s take a look at some helpful pool maintenance products you should keep at home. 

Essential Swimming Pool Maintenance Supplies Checklist

There are a variety of core items that every pool owner should keep stocked for their maintenance routine. When you’re thinking of the best pool supplies to stock for your backyard, you should consider factors like whether your pool is made from fiberglass or has a vinyl liner, the climate you live in, and the landscape surrounding the pool area. 

Cleaning tools, chemicals, testing kits, and specialty treatments will all play their own critical role in caring for a pool, with some items acting as frequent flyers in your weekly maintenance needs while others are more seasonal. Here’s a quick look at some of the tools that should be in your pool maintenance kit and when you can expect to use them: 

Pool Water Testing Supplies

Regular water testing is a critical step for maintaining pool water that is safe, clean, and beautiful. Without testing, you can’t be sure of your pool water’s chemistry levels, such as pH, chlorine, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. When these factors are out of balance, it can cause your water to become cloudy and green, or even develop bacteria and skin irritants. 

By testing your weather regularly, you can ensure your pool remains a place to relax and unwind, not become a chore. Testing can also help you catch advanced algae growth or water damage that would otherwise go unnoticed, helping you avoid larger maintenance challenges that can be greater time and financial commitments to resolve. 

Essential Test Kits and Testing Frequency

Pool owners have a few different options when it comes to the type of pool maintenance test kits available for water testing. Each has specific attributes that can make it the right choice for your pool:

Test Strips: These tests are easy to use and inexpensive, making them perfect for quick weekly testing or those who have just installed their first pool. They can also often produce very fast results, sometimes within 15 seconds. Testing strips can vary between basic 5-way testers that focus primarily on chlorine, pH, and alkalinity to more comprehensive options that account for cyanuric acid (CYA).

Liquid Test Kits: Liquid test kits require slightly more time and more careful measurement, but they are more consistently accurate than test strips. They are often the best for diagnosing water challenges or for more in-depth weekly tests to supplement the quick tests done with strips.

Digital Testers: Ideal options for experienced or tech-savvy pool owners, digital tests require high precision but can produce results that are very accurate with minimal effort. Some systems, such as The Attendant, allow you to view results and have alerts sent directly on your smartphone.

No matter which testing style you choose, it’s important to test early and often, especially during peak summer when the sun’s powerful UV rays can quickly deplete pool sanitizer. You can also use a combination of these options for more comprehensive results. For instance, you can use test strips 2-3 times per week to quickly check chemical levels, then follow up with a more detailed weekly reading from liquid or digital tests. 

Skimming, Brushing, and Vacuuming Tools

Your pool will inevitably collect some dirt and debris, whether it’s leaves that have fallen from nearby tree branches, oils from your skin and sunscreens, or particles that have blown in the wind from neighboring yards. Physically cleaning your pool with maintenance tools like skimmers, brushes, and vacuums will help keep build-up from collecting, which can contaminate your water and create slip hazards on stairs and ladders. 

Pool skimmers collect small particles of dirt, oil, and leaves that collect on the top layer of your pool water. Skimming your pool daily can take pressure off your larger, built-in filtration systems that work to circulate your water.

Brushes are needed for preventing build-up and algae growth at the waterline. These issues can begin on pool surfaces, creating unattractive stains and potential water contamination. Regular brushing also helps your sanitizer break down contaminants and work more effectively. 

It’s important to choose the right brush for your pool’s material. Fiberglass and vinyl liner pools should be brushed with soft-bristle nylon or polypropylene, as stainless steel and wire brushes can scratch their non-porous gel coating.

Vacuums sweep the bottom and sides of your pool to pick up large clumps of debris that your filtration system may not be able to collect. When organic material, such as leaves or insects, breaks down at the bottom of your pool, they become an excellent source of food for algae. Vacuums can keep your pool free from these contaminants while reducing the amount of time you need to devote to manually cleaning the pool floor and walls.

Automatic Pool Cleaning: Skimming and Vacuuming Made Easy

While your pool’s filter system will do most of the work to keep the water clean, you will also need to skim and vacuum the pool in order to keep it as clean as possible. Manually scrubbing your pool walls can be tedious, especially the floors and walls that can be difficult to reach on your own. Automatic and robotic cleaners are a convenient and efficient way to keep your pool clean, allowing you to focus on enjoying your space. 

For occasions when you do need to manually brush your pool, a telescopic pool pole is an essential backup tool that allows you full access to the deepest parts of your pool without entering the water. These poles have universal attachment points that can fit many brushes, nets, and vacuums, and an adjustable mechanism that allows them to extend and retract as needed. 

Whether you are using a manual brush with a telescopic pole or an automatic vacuum, your pool will need to be cleaned at least once per week to maintain a clean environment and prevent algae growth. 

Sanitizing Supplies for Healthy Pool Water

Pool cleaning maintenance supplies that you need for your home pool also include a variety of sanitizing agents with uses that range from routine cleaning to care during extreme algae growth. These chemicals are crucial for maintaining a pool that is healthy year-round and can mean the difference between your pool being a beautiful investment that enhances your property value versus a potential hazard and eyesore.

In the sections below, we’ll cover these chemicals and how they each contribute to your pool’s health:

• Chlorine
• Schock
• Algaecides
• Clarifiers
• Feeders

Chlorine

Pools require chlorine to function properly. It is pivotal for balancing and sanitizing the water from harmful bacteria. If you don’t correctly balance your water chemistry, microorganisms can spread and travel from one swimmer to the next. A pool with the improper chemical balance also has the potential to damage sections of the walls, cause the water to turn cloudy, or irritate swimmers’ eyes and skin.

There are several different types of chlorine options you can use, such as:

• Chlorine Tablets: Solid, slow-dissolving tablets that can be used to maintain consistent chlorine levels. Because they are often pre-dosed, there’s no guesswork on how much you’ll need for your routine. 
• Chlorine Granulars: Solid, powdered, or granular form of chlorine that can be sprinkled into water when needed. 
• Liquid Chlorine: Fast-acting, often professional-grade chlorine that is similar to bleach. This chlorine type is widely used across commercial and residential pools and is usually concentrated between 10-12.5%. 
• Chlorine Shock: Also called “Cal-Shock,” this is a powerful granular form of chlorine that is used to rapidly sanitize a pool that has been neglected or experiencing severe algae growth. 

The sun can greatly affect your chlorine. Its powerful UV rays can neutralize chlorine’s effectiveness, so you’ll need to test levels weekly to ensure that your water is being sanitized properly. Cyanuric acid (CYA) is often used to stabilize chlorine and keep it from degrading, with the ideal measurement being around 35 and 60 parts per million (ppm). 

If someone in your family is allergic to chlorine or does not like the smell, you can use bromine as a replacement. While bromine can be used in an outdoor pool, it cannot be stabilized against UV rays like chlorine. This often means it will degrade rapidly, so you’ll need to be vigilant about testing its levels. 

Pool Shock: When and Why to Use It

Shocking your pool is different from routine cleaning. This is when a high concentration of chlorine is added to rapidly increase the chlorine level of the pool, “shocking” the pool with chemicals to destroy algae and bacteria. It is most often done when a pool has been neglected or is experiencing a high amount of algae growth or debris after situations such as heavy use or contaminant run-off after storms. 

The primary types of pool shock include:

• Calcium Hypochlorite (Cal-Hypo): Fast-acting granular chlorine shock that is excellent for combating algae. 
• Sodium Dichlor (Dichlor): This type of shock dissolves very quickly and is adapted for all pool types, including saltwater systems. 
• Potassium Monopersulfate (Non-Chlorine/Oxidizer): This is an oxygen-based shock that breaks down contaminants rather than killing bacteria. However, this is not a disinfectant and is generally unsuited for controlling algae growth. 
• Sodium Hypochlorite (Liquid Chlorine): Similar to household bleach, this shock treatment doesn’t contain cyanuric acid, making it perfect for pools with already high CYA levels.

Routine shocking can help restore sanitizer strength and keep water clear, especially when you’re opening your pool for the season in spring. 

Algaecide and Pool Clarifiers

Algae is often generated when water chemistry is out of balance or when there is a lack of circulation. It feeds off organic matter that has broken down in the pool water, such as insects and leaves. 

Be sure to have algaecide — a chemical agent specifically used for killing algae — on hand so that you can use it as soon as you spot algae. There are two main forms of algaecide: copper-based and polyquat 60. 

• Copper-based algaecide is extremely effective on aggressive forms of algae, such as black or mustard species that can be resistant to chlorine. However, these algaecides can more easily stain the surface of your pool. 
• Polyquat 60, on the other hand, is compatible with all pool types and is effective against all algae types. 

A clarifier will help to clear up cloudy pool water and keep your pool clean. Clarifiers function by forcing smaller particles of debris to coagulate into medium-sized clumps at the water’s surface that the filtration system can remove. 

This is slightly different from flocculants, which function similarly but create larger coagulates of debris that sink to the bottom of the pool to be vacuumed up. Both clarifiers and flocculants are excellent for quickly clearing cloudy or slightly off-color water. 

Chemical Feeders (Chlorinators & Salt Systems)

If you would prefer not to add chlorine to your pool on a regular basis, consider using a chemical feeder. Also known as pool chlorinators, chemical feeders hold significant amounts of chlorine and slowly release it into the pool. This gradual release of chlorine ensures that the proper amount will flow into the pool to maintain the chemical balance. 

There are three primary types of chemical feeders:

• In-line Chlorine Feeders: This type of feeder is installed directly into your pool’s PVC return line and uses pump pressure to dissolve chlorine and automatically sanitize water. Check plumbing and pressure regularly for corrosion due to the high chlorine concentration. 

• Floating Feeders: Floating feeders hold chlorine or bromine tablets and slowly sanitize your pool as it floats on the water’s surface. Watch to ensure these feeders don’t get stuck on steps or ladders, or that they don’t tip over and stain your pool walls. 
• Saltwater Generators: These systems convert dissolved salt into a chlorine-like solution, creating hypochlorous acid, which is the component that is created when chlorine enters pool water. However, they can increase pH levels, which will need to be closely monitored.  

Chlorine feeders are a great choice for busy pool owners who want to ensure that their pool is being consistently sanitized. However, when using a chlorine feeder, you’ll need to take care to manage your CYA levels carefully. Without the right CYA levels, the chlorine coming from the feeder will be unstabilized and can be quickly rendered useless by the sun’s UV rays. 

Pool Filter Maintenance Supplies

Maintaining peak filtration requires the right swimming pool maintenance supplies for the three main filtration types: sand, cartridge, and DE systems. 

Filter cleaners, degreasers, and backwashing aids play a critical role in keeping these filtration systems operating at peak efficiency. In cartridge and DE filters, cleaners and degreasers break down oils, sunscreen residue, and fine debris that can clog the filter, restoring proper flow and helping the system to work more efficiently. 

For sand filters, backwashing aids help loosen compacted debris and eliminate channeling. This allows water to move more evenly through the sand bed and capture more contaminants. These products can help extend the life of filter components while reducing strain on the pump to maintain strong circulation. 

By regularly maintaining your filter, sanitizers can work more effectively throughout the pool, helping your pool water to remain clear and sparkling. 

Filter Cleaners and Degreasers (Sand, Cartridge, DE)

Choosing the right cleaning products for your pool filter type can help ensure that it effectively removes oils, debris, and mineral buildup while preserving the integrity of your system. 

• Cartridge Filters: Perform best with dedicated filter cleaners or enzyme-based degreasers that soak into the pleats to dissolve body oils, lotions, and fine particles that restrict flow. 
• DE Filters: Require similar deep-cleaning solutions to break down organic buildup on the grids, along with occasional acid-based cleaners to remove scale and restore full filtration efficiency. 
• Sand Filters: Benefit from backwashing aids or sand filter cleaners that penetrate the sand bed, loosening trapped debris, eliminating channeling, and flushing out contaminants during backwash cycles. 

Using the right product for each system helps maintain the right amount of circulation, improves water clarity, and ensures your sanitizer can work as effectively as possible.

Balancing Pool Water Chemistry: pH, Alkalinity, and Hardness

Maintaining proper water balance means managing three key parameters: pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Each of these factors plays a distinct role in water quality and your equipment protection. 

• pH measures how acidic or basic the water is and can be adjusted using pH increasers (soda ash) or pH reducers (muriatic acid or dry acid) to keep water comfortable and prevent corrosion or irritation. 
• Total alkalinity acts as a buffer that stabilizes pH. It prevents rapid fluctuations and is raised with alkalinity increasers (sodium bicarbonate) or lowered with acids. 
• Calcium hardness measures the amount of dissolved calcium in the water and can be increased with calcium chloride or managed through dilution or scale inhibitors if too high. This helps prevent surface etching or scale buildup on the pool walls. 

Keeping all three of these elements properly balanced keeps your water safe from contaminants, prevents staining or scaling, and prolongs the life of your pool’s surfaces, plumbing, and equipment.

Make the Commitment

Using the right pool maintenance supplies in a consistent routine can help ensure your pool stays clean, balanced, and ready for use year-round. Keeping essential supplies stocked at all times helps prevent unsightly algae growth, staining, or cloudy water before issues even arise, helping to make maintenance more efficient. 

Here’s a look at how you can break down your maintenance routine throughout the year:

• Weekly Tasks: Use test kits, sanitizers, water balancers, and basic cleaning tools to maintain proper chemistry, remove debris, and prevent early algae or cloudiness.
• Monthly Tasks: Apply filter cleaners, degreasers, clarifiers, and algaecides as needed to improve filtration efficiency and address buildup or water clarity issues.
• Seasonal Tasks: Shock the pool, deep clean filters, adjust water chemistry, and restock essential supplies to prepare for heavy use or changing weather conditions.

Explore the Latham maintenance hub or contact a trusted pool dealer to find the right products and support for your pool.

Essential FAQs for Choosing the Best Pool Maintenance Supplies

Have more questions about caring for your pool? Check out some of our answers to commonly asked maintenance questions below. 

What’s the difference between clarifiers and flocculants, and when should each be used?

Pool clarifiers and flocculants are both coagulants, meaning they thicken the particles of debris in your pool that can otherwise be too small to easily remove using a skimmer, filter, or vacuum. However, they have slight differences in the way they perform this and when they should be used. 

• Pool clarifiers bind these debris particles in small to medium-sized clumps that can be trapped by your filtration system, gradually clearing the pool. Use a clarifier as part of your weekly maintenance, especially when your water is mildly cloudy or dull. 

• Pool flocculants create heavier clumps of debris that fall to the pool floor because of their weight and can be cleaned using a vacuum. Use a flocculant when your water is extremely cloudy — like after you’ve just opened it for Spring — or when you need to quickly clear the pool for an event. 

How do I choose the right pool brush for my pool surface?

Think about the type of material your pool is made from when selecting a pool brush, as certain brushes can be too rough or soft to use on certain materials. 

• Fiberglass: Select a softer brush that can remove dirt and algae. Curved and corner brushes can help you reach tight spots, such as around pool steps. Avoid stainless steel and wire brushes, as they can damage the smooth surface of fiberglass. 

• Use: Soft nylon brush, curved/corner brushes

• Do Not Use: Stainless steel brushes, wire brushes

• Vinyl Liner: Soft-bristle brushes made from polypropylene or nylon are gentle on vinyl liners while effectively removing algae growth and preventing stains. Stainless steel and wire brushes can scratch and tear vinyl liners.

• Use: Soft-bristle nylon brushes, soft polypropylene brushes

• Do Not Use: Stainless steel brushes, wire brushes

• Concrete (Gunite): Use a stainless steel or stainless steel/nylon combination brush to combat stubborn algae that can cling to concrete’s porous surface. While soft nylon brushes are often too gentle for concrete, you should also avoid using wire brushes excessively. 

• Use: Stainless steel brushes, stainless steel/nylon hard-bristle brushes, wire brushes (for deep cleaning only)

• Do Not Use: Soft-bristle nylon brushes 

What pool maintenance supplies should I keep on hand for emergency situations like algae blooms or water contamination?

You should always have products like water test kits that measure chlorine, pH levels, water hardness, and total alkalinity to ensure your water is safe and ready to use. Once you’ve tested your water after a contamination, you’ll also need these supplies to clean and rebalance your pool:

• Liquid chlorine 
• Muriatic acid (pH decreaser)
• pH increaser 
• Algaecide 
• Pool Clarifier and flocculant 

For situations like sudden blooms of algae, pool shock (a strong chemical cleaner that kills bacteria) can help clear your water quickly. 

Always keep a first aid kit in your pool area in case of an accident or emergency, as well as safety equipment such as life vests and a shephards hook. 

How do seasonal changes affect the pool maintenance products I need?

Your maintenance needs will shift according to seasonal changes and how you are (or aren’t) using your pool. Here’s a quick guide for each season’s needs:

Spring: When you’re opening your pool for the season, your water will likely be cloudy with winter residue and pollen. You’ll need products like algaecide, pool shock, and enzyme treatments to get your pool ready for summer. 

Summer: The high temperatures and heavy use that come with peak summer season mean you’ll need more sanitizer to keep your pool water healthy. Stock up on chlorine tablets and liquid, cyanuric acid (stabilizer), pH balancers, and testing kits. 

Fall: As temperatures drop, your chlorine levels will likely become more stable, but you’ll still need to balance your water regularly with sanitizer. 

Winter: Although most pools will be closed for winter, you’ll still need supplies like winterizing kits, pool covers, and covers for exposed pipes and equipment, as well as chemicals like chlorine, algaecide, and non-toxic anti-freeze. 

How often should pool maintenance supplies like test strips, algaecide, or shock be replaced or restocked?

Pool chemicals should be restocked based on your weekly usage, as many chemicals expire or lose effectiveness on different timelines. Generally, liquid chlorine and bleach should be replaced every 3-6 months, shock every 6-12 months, and algaecide every 1-2 years. 

Always check the individual chemical and brand you’ve bought to be sure it is still within its effective window, especially in the spring when you might not have used some products for several months. 

Are mineral sanitizers or alternative sanitizing systems worth adding to a maintenance routine?

Yes, mineral and alternative sanitizing systems can be a worthwhile addition to your maintenance routine. While these solutions often are not fast-acting enough to be used on their own, supplementing your routine with mineral sanitizing systems can reduce your total need for chemicals such as chlorine.