WITH the temperature really hotting up recently, if you haven’t done so already this weekend is definitely the time to get the paddling pool out.
But while the kids – and you – will delight in cooling down in it when it’s up, it can be a bit of a pain to clean and get in tip top condition when you first get it out of the shed.
Additionally, trying to keep it fly-free and clean over the summer can also feel like a chore.
Miss Mason Cleaning company owner Danielle Mason, from Ascot, has two kids, aged eight and 10, and she’s just finished preparing their pool for the long summer ahead.
Here she shares her tips to keep it pristine over the coming months, and the best technique for getting rid of pesky insects…
The first step before anyone can even dip a toe in the pool is to give it a thorough clean once it’s out of storage.
PADDLING POOL TIPS
Danielle says: “When getting the paddling pool out of storage it can be dusty and covered in mud.
“I suggest using the Pink Stuff and bleach and giving it a good scrub with a brush and microfibre cloth.
“I then rinse it thoroughly with the hosepipe and get an old towel to dry it out then leave it to dry in the sun upside down before filling.”
If you have an issue with insects dive-bombing the water, a great tip is to get an old sieve to fish them out.
Alternatively, you can buy a fishing net, which also encourages the kids to get involved.
Danielle says: “Fishing nets are great, and you can buy these at most supermarkets in summer.
“I get the kids to scoop bugs out with it as they find it fun.”
Of course, the water doesn’t stay crystal clear for long.
Danielle says: “The thing I hate about it is the muddy feet coming in and out the house, so I always get the carpets shampooed after summer.
“I put a mat down every time the kids get in and out of the paddling pool too so they can wipe their feet, which stops mud and grass getting in it.”
With young kids, accidents can happen, but there are ways to try and deter kids from peeing in the pool.
When her kids were younger Danielle had a novel approach, saying: “I generally tend to completely empty and clean the paddling pool every three days, but I also tell the children that if they pee in the water it will go blue and an alarm will go off.
“It won’t obviously, but it seemed to prevent little incidents!
“I also tend to put a little bit of chlorine in the paddling pool – measurements depend on the size of the pool, and always read the label before use.”
Finally, Danielle says: “I top up the paddling pool every day with freshwater.
“If you don’t have a pool cover then you can use a bedsheet – this keeps the heat in and will keep it warm for the next day.
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“If it’s a small paddling pool then I would suggest emptying it every night and scrubbing it down with fairy liquid and anti-bacterial spray using a brush from a dustpan.
“I then rinse it out with a hosepipe and leave it upside down to dry overnight overnight.”
