- The first step in cleaning the pool cover is raking off large debris such as twigs, leaves or large rocks or chunks of dirt. Do this with a rake, but be careful not to scratch the pool cover. You may need to hold the rake so that it's just slightly above the pool cover, to clean it without causing scratches. Work across the entire pool area until most of the dry debris is gone.
- Most of the dirt on a pool cover is small but dry. Removing this dirt when it's still dry is easier than removing it once it gets wet and sticks to the pool cover. Remove the dry debris by sweeping the pool cover. Use a long-handled broom to access the middle of your pool. Sweep as thoroughly as possible several times to remove as much of the dry dirt as you can.
- Cleaning stains requires soaking the pool cover, scrubbing stains up and rinsing. Work in small sections by cleaning one panel at a time, starting with the panel closest to the reel. Most pool covers have a crank or automatic reel that rolls up the pool cover. Start with the panel closest to this crank. Soak the panel completely with water from your garden hose and then scrub it clean with a long-handled pool brush. Rinse the panel completely and reel the pool cover slowly until the clean panel is rolled up. Repeat the soaking, scrubbing and rinsing process until the entire pool cover is clean.
- Most pool covers are made of vinyl and are exposed to a lot of wind, rain, sun and snow. This can dry out the vinyl and cause it to begin to crack and feel dry. Just like your skin, moisturizing the vinyl will prevent it from wrinkling and from wearing out prematurely. Spray a vinyl conditioner over the vinyl pool cover as soon as it appears dry.
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