Cheap Pool Cleaning Methods

Keep Your Pool Clean Without Spending a Fortune

Owning a pool in New Zealand is great—until you realise how much time and money it takes to keep it clean. Between chemicals, cleaning tools, and energy costs, things add up fast. But here’s the good news: You don’t have to spend a fortune to keep your pool sparkling. There are plenty of cheap and easy ways to do the job without sacrificing water quality. Here’s how you do it.

Use Household Items Instead of Expensive Chemicals

Pool chemicals can be pricey, but you don’t always need the branded stuff. Some common household items can do the trick just as well:

Baking Soda Instead of Alkalinity Increaser – Pool shops sell alkalinity increasers, but guess what? Baking soda (the same stuff you have in your kitchen) works just as well. If your alkalinity is too low, adding baking soda will help stabilise your pool’s pH levels—at a fraction of the cost.
White Vinegar for Calcium Buildup – Got those annoying white calcium stains around the pool tiles? Instead of buying an expensive cleaner, just use white vinegar. Spray it, let it sit for a few minutes, and scrub it off. Easy.
Liquid Bleach Instead of Pool Shock – Pool shock is basically just high-strength chlorine. Regular, unscented liquid bleach (like the kind from Countdown or Pak’nSave) does the same job. Just make sure you use the right amount—usually around 4 litres of liquid bleach per 40,000L of water.

Get the Right Pool Cover (and Actually Use It)

A pool cover can save you heaps on pool maintenance. It keeps leaves and dirt out, stops water from evaporating, and helps maintain the pool temperature so you don’t have to use a heater as much. But here’s the key—you actually need to use it. Too many people buy one and then leave it off most of the time.

For affordable pool covers, check out Mitre 10 or Bunnings NZ. They have budget-friendly options that get the job done without breaking the bank.

Run Your Pump During Off-Peak Hours

Your pool pump is one of the biggest energy users in your home. But you don’t need it running all day. 4-6 hours per day is usually plenty (unless you’re using the pool heavily).

To save even more, run it during off-peak electricity hours if your provider offers cheaper rates at night. Check what hours are cheapest with Genesis Energy, Meridian, or whoever your power company is.

DIY Pool Skimming (Skip the Fancy Robot)

Automatic pool cleaners are nice, but they’re expensive. Instead of forking out hundreds of dollars, just get a basic pool skimmer net from places like The Warehouse or Para Rubber and spend five minutes skimming the pool daily. It keeps things under control and stops you from needing expensive treatments later.

If you really want to automate, check Trade Me for second-hand pool cleaners. You can often find a good deal there.

The “Socks on the Skimmer” Trick

Here’s a weird but effective hack: Put an old stocking or pantyhose over your skimmer basket. It catches smaller particles before they get to your filter, helping your system last longer and reducing how often you need to clean the filter.

Be Smart About Pool Chemicals

Instead of dumping in chemicals randomly, test your water first. A basic test kit from PB Tech or Para Rubber costs under $30 and helps you avoid wasting chemicals when you don’t actually need them.

A good rule of thumb:
✅ Keep chlorine levels between 1-3 ppm
✅ pH should be between 7.2 and 7.8
✅ Alkalinity should be between 80-120 ppm

Stick to these levels, and you’ll have fewer problems (and lower costs).

Prevent Problems Rather Than Fixing Them

Maintaining a pool is a lot like car maintenance—it’s cheaper to keep things in check than to fix big issues later. Simple habits make a big difference:

✔ Shower before swimming – It stops oils and sunscreen from messing with your water.
✔ Run your filter daily – Even just a few hours helps keep the water moving, so algae has a harder time growing.
✔ Remove debris quickly – Leaves and dirt mess with your water balance, so scoop them out before they sink.

The Bottom Line

Keeping your pool clean doesn’t have to drain your wallet. With a few smart tweaks—like using household items, running your pump wisely, and covering your pool when it’s not in use—you’ll cut costs without losing water quality.

So, next time you think about spending big on pool maintenance, try these cheap tricks first. Your pool (and your wallet) will thank you.