If you're in charge of maintaining a commercial or public pool, you know that keeping things clean isn’t just about making it look good. It's about the health and safety of your guests, and the longevity of your pool and business. And while regular skimming, brushing, and chemical balancing are essential for your cleaning routine, there's another tool in your maintenance toolbox that deserves the spotlight: pressure washing.
Ahead, we’ll dive into why, how, and when you should pressure wash your pool area. Whether you manage a hotel, community center, HOA pool, or apartment complex, this guide will help you keep your pool sparkling, safe, and ready for swimmers.
Why Pressure Washing Matters for Pools
We know you’re already well aware that pools take a beating. With constant exposure to water, sun, foot traffic, and sunscreen-covered swimmers, it doesn’t take long for grime to build up. That buildup isn’t just unsightly, it can also create safety hazards and damage materials over time.
Here’s why pressure washing is a must:
- Safety First
Algae and mildew thrive in wet environments, from the nooks and crannies of the pool itself to pool decks. Left unchecked, they create slippery surfaces that are dangerous for everyone—especially kids and seniors. A good pressure washing removes those slick spots and helps prevent slips and falls.
- Aesthetic Appeal
Visual impressions matter, especially for hotels, community and neighborhood pools, and public-facing facilities. Dirty, stained pool decks or cloudy pool tiles send the wrong message, leading residents and guests to believe the pool isn’t clean or safe to swim in, and even leading to a loss in business. Clean surfaces make your pool look well-maintained, inviting, and more professional overall.
- Longevity of Materials
Over time, dirt and grime can degrade surfaces. Pavers, concrete, tile, and grout can all be weakened by contaminants if not cleaned regularly. Pressure washing helps preserve the integrity of these materials, potentially saving you thousands in repairs or resurfacing costs down the line.
- Health & Hygiene
The pools you operate or manage are public spaces, which means they come with public health concerns. Pressure washing helps reduce mold, bacteria, and other bio-contaminants that can grow in and around the pool area. Combined with regular disinfection and properly maintained pool water, it can be an essential step in maintaining a hygienic environment.
How to Pressure Wash a Pool Properly
Before you or your staff start pressure washing, there are a few things worth considering. Pressure washing can do more harm than good if it’s not done correctly.
- Choose the Right Equipment
You’ll need a commercial-grade pressure washer—something with 3000 PSI and hot water capabilities, especially for tough grease and mildew. Make sure to use the right nozzle tip to avoid damaging pool tiles or surrounding surfaces. A 25-degree or 40-degree tip is typically ideal for pool areas.
- Use Pool-Safe Cleaners
Rather than relying solely on water, use specialized detergents that help break down oils, mildew, and grime without damaging surfaces. Always use biodegradable, pool-safe products that won’t disrupt water chemistry or harm local ecosystems if there’s runoff.
- Focus on High-Traffic Zones
Pay extra attention to areas where people walk, sit, or eat. Pool decks, steps, tile lines, and nearby walkways tend to gather the most dirt and bacteria. Work in sections, and rinse thoroughly after washing to avoid leaving any detergent residue. This will also ensure you don’t stay focused on one spot too long, as applying pressure in one spot for too long can cause damage.
- Pressure Wash Gently
Pressure washing at too high a velocity can easily cause damage to pool surfaces. Instead, try using a gentle pressure washing technique called soft washing, which uses low pressure to effectively remove contaminants without the danger of damage, cracking, or chipping.
- Know When to Call in a Pro
Pressure washing sounds easy, but it’s not always a job you can easily hand off to staff. If your pools have sensitive surfaces like painted concrete, tile mosaics, or decorative pavers, they will require finesse. Professional crews have the right gear and experience to clean thoroughly without causing damage.
When to Pressure Wash Your Pool Area
Timing is everything, especially when working around swimmers, peak seasons, and weather. So how often should you pressure wash?
- At the Start of the Season
Before opening the pool for the summer (or before the start of your busy season), schedule a deep clean. Even if the pool was covered or maintained, the surrounding deck and walls probably need attention. This is the best time to remove stains, mildew, and winter residue.
- Monthly or Bi-Monthly During Peak Use
High-traffic pools benefit from routine pressure washing. Once a month during peak season (or more often, depending on use) can help manage buildup, especially in outdoor pools exposed to the elements.
- After Major Events
Did your facility host a pool party, swim meet, or community event? These events usually lead to more grime, food spills, and sunscreen residue than normal, so it’s a good idea to include pressure washing as part of your cleanup.
- End-of-Season Maintenance
When you're shutting the pool down for the year, give everything a final clean. Pressure washing before closing can help prevent staining and make reopening next season a whole lot easier.
Key Takeaways on Pool Pressure Washing
Pressure washing should definitely be on your radar when it comes to your regular pool maintenance schedule. It’s one of the most effective ways to keep your pool area safe, attractive, and structurally sound.
Regularly removing physical and microscopic contaminants from your pools also helps make keeping pool water clean, healthy, and balanced easier. This also applies vice versa: while pressure washing should be part of a regular cleaning routine, you don’t want to find yourself pressure washing constantly. This is not only time-intensive and water-intensive, but it can increase the risk for materials damage. Maintaining clean, healthy pool water helps keep algae and bacteria build-up at bay, so you can keep pressure washing to a balanced routine–rather than having to over-rely on it.
Fortunately, the PoolShark H2O app makes keeping pool water clean easy to do. It does the complex chemistry math for you, so you or staff know exactly how much of which chemical to add. It then locks these records automatically, ensuring managers can access them remotely and that they’re Health Department compliant. Plus, when combined with the LaMotte SpinTouch test kit, tests are performed in 60 seconds for all parameters, with the risk for human error all but eliminated.