How to Clean Pool Enclosures

Many homeowners want to enjoy their sparkling swimming pool all year-round. After all, they’ve made a significant investment in this structure, and they want to maximize its benefits. As such, they opt to install glass pool enclosures.

An enclosed pool offers the perfect spot for relaxation, entertainment, and family bonding, regardless of the weather conditions. Of course, if you want to keep the fun going all year long, you must maintain a healthy and tidy environment around the swimming pool.  Cleaning pool enclosures is a must, especially when you want to keep bugs and algae from infesting the area.

Anyone who ever contemplated owning a swimming pool knows that constructing and maintaining one requires time and effort. It is true that your acrylic or polycarbonate pool enclosure will have protection from twigs, leaves, and debris. However, it still needs regular cleaning. So, in this post, we are going to share some tips on how to clean the structure efficiently and adequately.

Cleaning a Pool Enclosure First Step: Clearing the Area

The first thing you need to do is make sure that there are no personal belongings, garden furniture, or plants in the area. Doing so will ensure that they will not get wet during the cleaning process. You can also take this opportunity to assess whether you need all those items by the pool. Try using the KonMari method and examine whether each of the objects in your pool enclosure sparks joy or if they make the area look cluttered.

Second Step: Inspecting the Glass or Plastic for Damages

Whether the pool enclosure is made of glass paneling or polycarbonate panels, you need to check if there are holes or cracks in it. When cleaning pool enclosures with damaged spots, you need to give special attention and care to the affected areas. If you apply excess pressure on them, you can make the problem worse.

Third Step: Cleaning the Pool Enclosure

The process of caring for an acrylic or glass enclosure is straightforward. However, there are best practices that will help you clean the structure more efficiently, allowing you to prolong its lifespan. Here are some of our cleaning tips:

Keeping it Simple with Dish Soap and Warm Water

If you think that the dirt or algae buildup is not severe, you can choose the gentler method for cleaning pool enclosures. Create a mixture of household dish soap and warm water, then take a soft cloth for wiping the grime off the panels and frame. Keep in mind that this option may be labor-intensive. However, this method will allow you to get rid most of the dirt and grime off the enclosure. Carefully wipe all the surfaces, ensuring that both sides of the panels are adequately cleaned. After wiping the panels and frames, take a garden hose and rinse off the soap.

Faster and More Convenient Cleaning with a Pressure Washer

When you opt to use a pressure washer for cleaning pool enclosures, you will be able to spray away the grime and dirt buildup with ease. That said, make sure that you start the process, using the lowest pressure setting. Moreover, be careful when you are increasing the pressure of the equipment. As we’ve mentioned, extreme power may permanently damage the paneling. Also, avoid spraying on damaged areas. Do note that it is possible that the pressure washer will not be able to get rid of some algae spots. If this is the case, we recommend trying the next solution.

Getting Rid of Stubborn Dirt with Vinegar and Water

One of the best ways to get rid of algae spots and grime buildup is by using a mixture of vinegar and water. The great thing about this cleaning concoction is that it is not as harsh on your pool enclosure as chlorine bleach. To create the solution, you need to mix a 50-50 ratio of vinegar and water. Take a sponge and dip it in the solution, then clean away visible dirt or algae spots. We also recommend skipping the rinsing process and leaving the solution to air dry instead. The residual vinegar acts as an acidic barrier that discourages algae growth.

Fourth Step: Drying the Enclosure

If you did not need to deal with stubborn algae spots, we recommend drying the panels by using a chamois cloth. Skipping the drying process may be tempting. However, if you leave the enclosure to air dry, the drips can form streaks that may look unsightly.

What to Avoid When Cleaning Pool Enclosures

We do not recommend using bleach when cleaning pool enclosures. Keep in mind that heavy chemicals may compromise the integrity of the glazing material and paint. If you need to use a brush for scrubbing off stubborn stains, use it on the frames only. Brushing and scrubbing may damage the glass or acrylic panels. In most cases, we recommend using a soft cloth or sponge when cleaning the enclosure.

If some spots are more challenging to get rid of, you can let the vinegar solution sit on the affected area for a couple of minutes. After that, you can take the cloth or sponge to wipe off the grime buildup. You will notice that the affected spot is a lot easier to clean.

To ensure that your skin will not get dried out by the cleaning products, we suggest wearing rubber gloves before performing the cleaning process. Make sure that the gloves you choose can extend to the middle of your forearm for optimum protection.

Conclusion

It can be challenging to clean pool enclosures, primarily since the panels are quite large and some spots are high-up areas that are difficult to reach. So, if you think you do not have the time, energy, and patience to clean your enclosure, your best option maybe to hire a professional. They should be able to get the job done efficiently and promptly.