Preparing for winter? Take time to clean and care for your kids' swimming pools. A pool left outside becomes a hazard and an eyesore. Worse, it might not be fit to use again next summer. If it is worth keeping, it is worth cleaning and storing.
Empty and Clean Pool
Empty the pool and clean it for storage. A rigid-sided wading pool should be emptied and scrubbed out with a small amount of dishwashing liquid and clean water. Don't worry. Chlorine from the pool water should not kill grass. Scrub with sponges or a mop. Be sure to get any algae that may have formed.
The pool must be stored completely dry. Otherwise, it will mildew. Wash the pool bottom inside and out, rinse carefully and dry the pool well before storing.
A rigid pool can be stored upside down inside a garage or storage shed. Since it is large and light, it should fit in your rafters. Also consider hanging the pool, bottom side out, on the wall inside a garage or shed. That way, it won't crack or gather winter dust.
Roll and Store in Tub
An inflatable wading pool should be folded or rolled up for storage after being thoroughly cleaned and dried. Wash with warm water and dishwashing soap, no bleach or sink cleanser should be needed, and dry the pool while it is still partially inflated. Then deflate and roll up from the side away from the blow hole. Roll tightly and fold as you go so that the pool takes up as little space as possible.
Store the deflated pool in a plastic tub with a tight-fitting lid. Mark the side of the tub with a black marking pen and store it out of the way in shed or garage. Keep the deflated pool away from your child; she can get tangled in the plastic and die.
Correctly caring for and storing a kids' swimming pool through the winter can make it last for another summer of swimming fun.
 | Learning to swim is one of the best ways to ensure water safety for kids. It's also wise to obey the rules at the lake, pool or beach. |
 | Inflatable swimming pools allow families to stay at home and still enjoy a cooling swim. They are fun for small children and toddlers to wade and cool off, but they can be hazardous. |
 | Swimming in a public pool involves some risks, which increase if children do not behave according to rules. |
Swimming pools can bring a lot of joy to the whole family, but accidents happen when parents forget that they can also be dangerous. Approximately three hundred children under the age of five die from pool-related accidents each year. |
Summer is coming, which means hot days and kids wanting to swim. Water can be dangerous, so it's important to teach your children to respect swimming and to avoid accidents. Unfortunately, watching news programs through the summer bring the same run of stories each year, with children drowning, or being hurt in a swimming related accident. |
