1st time to let pool go over winter....need help to clean it up.

Hi all! I am a new member...and basically a new pool owner. We moved to Alabama from Indiana 3 years ago. The house we bought came with an inground pool with a liner. We have replaced almost every thing...the liner, the pump, parts to the sand filter, and our polaris...don't get me started on! LOL This will be our 3rd season to have our pool. Since living in Alabama, we don't have to close our pool down from hard freezing. However, this is the first year we didn't keep our pool maintained during the winter months. It is now full of deep/dark green nastiness! I have learned in the past that after letting your pool go a little can get expensive. Now I think after this, we are going to spend thousand's of dollars to clean it up. :( I will never do this again!!!! If you all could help me out, I would be so appreciative.

We have always purchased our chemicals from the pool store. We have bought 6 different items in the past: Granulated Chlorine, Chlorine Tablets (for chlorinator), sodium bicarbonate, calcium hardness increaser, yellow treat, and something else for the cloudiness after treating the pool. (I can't remember what is called)

I still plan on using the chemicals from our pool store...however, to get the pool fixed right now, I would like to save some money if there is such a thing! I have traveled to our local sam's club and I have been looking into the granulated chlorine. After looking at the label, it looks as if it has the same ingredients and amount of ingredients that I buy from our pool store.

I have some test strips to go test the water, or should I take it a sample to the pool store? The water is slimy green and I am waiting until the last minute!

Can you all give me some opinions on the chlorine and tell me step by step what you would do?

Hi Sunflower;

1. Use your test strips AND take a sample to the pool store. The #1 question right now is, "Is there any stabilizer in your pool, and if so, how much?"
2. Post the results here, AND tell us what your stabilizer levels were, when you closed.
3. Also, if there is any physical debris in the pool - leaves, branches, etc. -- start removing that stuff. You'll want it all out before you really start clean-up.
4. Check and see exactly what you've got at Sams -- in particular, see if they have the Pool Brand dichlor (chlorinating granules) #50 bucket, and the 40% foamy algaecide.
5. If you want to to get a fast start, and your Sams has the Pool Brand 2 gallon pack of 40% algaecide, you can get a pack and pour it all (both gallons) into the pool as soon as you have the debris out. (Do NOT use this stuff during swim season!!)
6. Get a cheap OTO/phenol red test kit at Walmart or where ever. Test the pH level. Report it (and pool store results) here.
7. Check the pool bottom for 'sludge' -- if you've got a thick layer of algaecide, you probably don't want to start with chlorine UNLESS you had high stabilizer this fall and none now.

More, once we have some info from you.

By the way, by starting now, your cleanup process won't be so expensive or hard as it would be if you started in April, and tried to open in early May.