DIY Pool Restoration

Skim all debris that you can see from the surface of your pool water. Use an extended leaf skimmer to reach the middle.

Scrub the sides of your pool walls through the water using a pool brush, and then vacuum the bottom with a pool vacuum cleaner to clear away remaining debris.

Add the appropriate pool chemicals for your region and climate. These can vary greatly, so check with your local pool supply store. Give the chemicals a few days to settle and work.

Take a look at your work after a few days. If the water still looks murky or cloudy, is filled with algae or is otherwise discolored, open the valves and drain the water.

Remove the remaining water at the bottom of the pool with a pump. All contaminated water needs to be disposed of as your local laws dictate.

Scrub the lining of a vinyl pool using detergent and a pool brush. This will help remove contaminates so you can start fresh and restore your pool. Rinse the liner and drain the water with the pool pump.

Acid-wash the inside of a plaster pool. Wet the walls and then dump buckets of a half-and-half mix of acid and water. Let the acid mix settle for 30 seconds only and rinse away. When making the mix, pour the acid into the water.

Add to the pool two pounds of soda ash for each gallon of used acid for neutralizing purposes. Then, pump it out and dispose of it according to local regulations. Rinse and drain the pool once more.

Close the valves and refill the pool. Add appropriate pool chemicals to complete the restoration.