Look, I’m not a pool expert, but I’ve owned a pool for ten years and failed to cover it more times than I care to admit. Please take my advice with a grain of salt, but if you’re staring at a green swamp like I was this year, this post is for you.

I didn’t cover my pool this year, and I paid for it. Again. Just me and my big green backyard pond, facing off once more. My pool is a 33 ft round, 54-inch deep above-ground pool, and this is exactly how I took it from swampy green to crystal clear (without draining it) and got it ready for summer swimming.

✔️ I started with a heavy shock (ten gallons of liquid chlorine) to kill off algae. *Note: this can fade your liner, so cover your pool next time.* It’s best to test your water first to balance pH, alkalinity, stabilizer, and chlorine for the best results.

✔️ When the water turned cloudy blue but I knew the bottom was still a mess, I skipped using my brand-new Dolphin robot vacuum (too pretty to get nasty yet) and started with my manual vacuum, vacuuming to waste. It clogged quickly, so I switched to using a big scoop net, walking around the pool on a cooler for height (game-changer for pools without a deck) before putting on my wetsuit to reach the center.

✔️ After each cleaning session, I added five gallons of liquid chlorine and ran the filter 24/7. This might be overkill, but it worked for me. I scrubbed the waterline with a sponge to remove buildup. Soon, the algae dropped to the bottom, and the water looked clear but hid dark patches of leaves and dead algae.

✔️ When the bottom appeared clear but the water was still cloudy, I used Pool Life Gold Metal Clarifier to help the cloudiness drop out, making it easier to vacuum. I sometimes use Turbo Shock when needed, but I prefer liquid chlorine since shock can sometimes leave the water cloudy.

✔️ I switched to siphon vacuuming when the water level got too low for the pump. This was the best decision: it doesn’t go through your filter, keeps the process moving even with low water, and pulls debris out directly. I also kept two 3” chlorine tablets in a floater at all times for stability.

✔️ When I was confident most debris was out, I dropped a PoolRX pod into the pump basket (you can’t backwash for two weeks after, so ensure the pool is clean first). This helps keep algae away without wasting the product.

✔️ This entire process took about three weeks, with several *rest days* in between to let products work, debris settle, and honestly, to save my sanity. Once I hit the final stretch, I spent about four days back-to-back vacuuming, siphoning, and maintaining chlorine levels until my pool was swim-ready and sparkling.

If you're opening your pool or fighting green water, I've saved the exact Amazon products I use to make it easier for you: Shop my pool care must-haves here.

Now that the pool is clear, I maintain it with:

• ✅ Two gallons of liquid chlorine weekly (after heavy swims or storms)
• ✅ Dolphin robot vacuum in daily when the pool isn’t in use
• ✅ Pump running on a timer (4 hours during the day, 4 hours at night)

This keeps the water moving, temperatures balanced, and the water crystal clear without constant manual work.

The Real MVPs for Pool Cleaning 🐐💦

If you can’t afford a Dolphin robot (or just don’t want to justify the expense), you still need a manual vacuum setup for opening your pool and managing green water. This is how we siphon, and it works. You don’t need anything fancy – just a long pole, a vacuum head, and a vacuum hose.

Here are the exact three items I use and recommend:

• Poolmaster Heavy Duty In-Ground Pool Vacuum Hose
• Sepetrel 10.5-Foot Anodized Aluminum Pool Pole
• U.S. Pool Supply Weighted Transparent Triangular Pool Vacuum Head

These are the GOAT for manually vacuuming to waste or siphoning during swamp cleanups, and they save you money while getting the job done efficiently.

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