Swim your way to health

What’s not to love about swimming? It’s a low-impact activity that’s recommended by health professionals all around Australia and the world for improving health and wellbeing. It’s not all fun and games when it comes to health though and this is one of the reasons why we’re so passionate about keeping our pools clean and crystal-clear. When your pool is crystal-clear, there’s a higher chance that it is germ and contaminant-free as well.

It is always very important to remember that everyone who uses the pool shares the water with everyone else, so it’s not just about you. Here’s a quick primer on how to swim your way to health in Australia.

The short answer is yes. Once we enter the pool, the germs we have on our bodies will wash off and contaminate the pool water. This goes double for when we’re not feeling well. Runny nose? Avoid the temptation to jump in and expel everything out into the pool water. Upset stomach with the runs? There will be thousands, if not millions, of germs on your bottom. Open wounds? Better not, this can either be a source of infection or be infected itself.

• If you’re feeling unwell with -anything- avoid swimming in the pool for the safety of everyone
• Before jumping in the pool, shower and wash thoroughly with soap, no exceptions!
• If you’re stepping out and going to the toilet, don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water.
• Got kids? Make sure to get some swim-proof nappies before letting them into the pool. And if you’re changing nappies, make sure to do it away from the pool and wash/sterilise properly before letting them back in.
• Avoid swallowing pool water (even a little bit!)
• If you’ve been sick, allow at least 7 days (14 is better) after the symptoms have gone to ensure that you’re truly well and no longer contagious.

Well, yes, to an extent, chlorine does sanitise your pool water and kills germs, viruses, and other baddies in the pool, but it doesn’t happen instantly. It takes a while for the chlorine to work and there is a huge chance of infection if you’re swimming with someone with an active infection. Some of the tougher ones like cryptosporidiosis (crypto) which causes diarrhoea can even live in pool water for a few days.

No matter how well maintained your pool is, germs can always spread without proper hygiene!  

Prevention is always better than cure, especially now with the rising costs of healthcare, you can keep your pool pristine and germ-free all year round for cheaper than a single hospital visit! Not only will you be having a safe pool, but a crystal-clear and relaxing one as well!

• Keep all of your chemical levels in check! See our Pool Chemical 101 article to see what levels you should aim for.
• Get a salt water chlorinator - maintaining chlorine levels can be a chore and any slip up can cause germs (and not to mention algae) to flourish in your pool. If you want a hands-free way of maintaining your chlorine levels, a salt water chlorinator is the way to go.
• Use skimmer socks - catch dirt and debris before they get sucked into your filtration system. They’re dirt cheap and they’re reusable as well!
• Shock your pool regularly - While a consistent chlorine level is a good start, it’s best to shock your pool every few weeks (or at least once a month)

A pool chemical level that many people take for granted when talking about a germ-free pool is our pH level. Aside from protecting your pool surfaces from corrosion, our pool’s pH levels also affect how effective our free available chlorine is in killing germs. The higher our pH levels (above the recommended range of 7.2 to 7.8) reduces the capability of chlorine to kill germs! Not only that, but high pH levels can also cause skin and eye irritation.

On the other hand, low pH levels can greatly increase your chlorine’s efficacy against germs, BUT at a cost. Low pH levels mean that your pool water is acidic and we all know what acid does, it corrodes things! This includes your skin and eyes (in the form of irritation) and your pool equipment!

So strike a balance and keep your pH levels right where they’re supposed to be and reap the rewards!  

Not all pool shock products are created alike! Chlorine is not just something you add to your pool and be done with, there are subtle differences to each type that make them suitable depending on the use!  

This Water TechniX formulation combines a high chlorine efficiency with the sabilising power of cyanuric acid. Just enough cyanuric acid to protect the chlorine from getting burned up by the sun before it can perform it task, but not too much that it prevents the chlorine from functioning properly (too much cyanuric acid can render your chlorine useless)

Think of this shock product as the garbage man for your pool. If you’re starting to notice that “chlorine smell” in your pool then that is a sign that you’ll need a tub of oxi shock. What the Oxi shock does is oxidise all of the combined chlorine, getting rid of that smell and making the pool feel a lot smoother and your chlorine a lot more   effective for a healthier swim!

Arguably the strongest shock product out there. Created with 90% Tri-Chlor shock, the Tri-Shock will beat any germs, bacteria, algae, and other contaminants into submission in no time at all! What about the 10%? A combination of algaecide and stabiliser to ensure that your pool water remains sanitised even after heavy usage!  

Keeping your pool crystal-clear and clean isn't only about the health benefits, but it actually makes the experience a whole lot better! Imagine this: would you enjoy swimming in a cloudy pool, not knowing if the water was actually clean, or would you rather swim in a pool that is crystal-clear and relaxing? Well, I think the answer is obvious!

New pool owner? Check out our blog post for the best pool maintenance tips

• 33 Things All New Pool Owners Should Know About
• A Beginner’s Guide to Pool Maintenance: Keeping Your Pool Clean and Safe

Do you have any questions about this topic or the featured products? No worries, we're here to help! Drop us a question down below and we'll get back to you ASAP.

Happy swimming :)