skimming balls

[poolbee]

I read about these on another forum. They are like tennis balls you float in the pool that clean up filmy stuff like suntan lotion and oils.
Has anyone ever seen or used these?

[NWMNMom]

Sounds interesting. Are they expensive? How much of a problem do you have with filmy stuff? We put a shower in next to the deck steps so people can rinse before getting in the pool. That helps a lot. We also use skimmer socks and they seem to collect a lot of goo if there is some.

[waterbear]

"Scumballs", "Scumbugs", "SunSorbs" ( just to name a few of the varieties of this useful gadgets) are made of a white, sponge like oil absorbing plastic and they DO work. Been using them in both my spa and in my pool skimmer for a long time. In my area they retail for under $7 (Sunsorb, shaped like an Aztec sun and fits nicely in the skimmer! Scumbugs look like a bug and the Scumballs are, well, ball shaped!). When they get dirty just rinse them out under the faucet (If they are really dirty I hit them with some bleach and squeeze it through them and then rinse them). They last for quite a while! My current ones are in their second year and the ony reason I had to replace them is because I had my grandniece and 2 grandnephews visiting and they thought it was great fun to play catch with them in the pool and they got torn up!

IMHO, every pool or spa can benefit from them (and also skimmer socks for yoru pool! It's not often that something so inexpensive can really help with pool maintenance!)

Edit: in a pool the best place for them is in your skimmer, keeps them out of the way!

[matt4x4]

They now have an assortment of balls for satisfying your every whim and fancy.
Balls are color coded, there are PHUP balls, PHDOWN balls, solar balls, scrub balls, TA balls, CA balls, really, any kind of ball you want, throw in one of each and watch the pool blow up!!!!

[poolbee]

Scumballs? Doesn't sound like anything I'd like in my pool! I really didn't notice any film on my liner last summer but my steps did look pretty, well, scummy sometimes! I was wondering if they'd help with that. Guess I'll give them a try.

[NWMNMom]

Oh you know, come to think of it, I did see the scumbugs - they were white and shaped like a little beetle or something. They sold them at the same place as the bug house which appears to be the same as a skimmer sock - I'll have to give some a try too, cheap enough!