Cleaning the winter cover... why?

[docsobeck]

Okay, so I know that every set of instructions for opening your pool in the spring includes cleaning and drying your cover before carefully folding and storing. I've done it many times. But when it comes to cleaning, I'm starting to think I'm wasting my time. I make the cover clean and pretty, store it away in a plastic bin where nothing can get to it, then in the fall put it back on and within a couple of days it's dirty again. All that's really on it is a ring of general dirt and some dried-up petals from flowering trees. As long as I get it nice and dry, why not just put it away dirty? I refuse to believe that dried-up dirt can harm it while folded up in the dark. Am I off base?

[KirstenHW]

I am surprised no one has replied - I too have had this same question! We have a solid spring-loaded safety cover and it weighs a ton - getting it dry I can do - I try to clean it but it's a bear. And I have thought the same thing you have. Wonder what everyone else thinks . . .

[aylad]

My pool never gets closed, so we don't use a cover...but the only thing I can think of other than cosmetics is that if you leave the side of the cover that contacts the water dirty, then you're introducing some "stuff" into the pool that you'll have to bleach later.

Mainly bumping this up to the top to see if anybody else can give you more useful answers...

Janet

[waterbear]

Well, my mother taught me never to put away anything dirty!

Seriously, the only thing I could think of is that the stuff sitting on the cover all summer could cause damage or start to mold.

[Watermom]

Well, my mother taught me never to put away anything dirty!

And we all know that Moms know best!

[Spensar]

I don't clean it. I lay it out to dry and fold 'er up. We don't have a good spot, with the best on the driveway plus garden plus lawn, so it would be clean one side, flip and the other is full of dirt from the ground anyway - so, no wash. I'm in a solid winter area so I open and close to clear water and the cover is frozen solid most of the time. I put it on as late in the year as possible to, so it is pretty clean. There are plenty of maple tree seeds, leafs and other vegetation to clean up anyway, and the bit of extra dirt from the cover is marginal.

[CarlD]

My winter cover is similar--comes off pretty clean as it's a safety mesh and when the spring melt comes the water dissipates.

[Watermom]

I do clean my cover on years that I use it (although some years I don't bother with it) and I agree, it is a big pain to clean! I spread it out on my driveway and hose it off. Sometimes a little scrubbing with a broom is needed. Let it dry, turn it over, repeat. Then, fold it up and put it away. A big pain in the rumpus but I just cannot put it away dirty. Not my nature.

[scottturner]

I haven't cleaned mine for years and have had no issues. I make sure it is dry and swept off, but the time it takes to scrub off the dirt/stains (I feel) is better spent elsewhere.

[Watermom]

I don't use my winter cover anymore. Too much trouble. I just leave the pool uncovered. No problems.