2. Use Chlorine Tablets. The best way to obtain a constant, consistent chlorine level in the pool is to use 1″ tablets or 3″ tablets in a floating chlorinator, aka chlorine floater. Most inflatable pools need just half of one 3″ tablet per week, or several 1″ tabs at a time, replaced promptly when they dissolve.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity.
Saltwater In An Inflatable Pool
They do make saltwater systems for above ground pools for those who don't want to use chemicals. For example, this Intex Pool Saltwater System found on Amazon. This is a great system for people who want to get rid of all the hassle that comes with using chlorine.
Baking soda will raise the total alkalinity of the water. The alkalinity keeps the pH stable which then allows the bleach to remove more bacteria and contaminates. About a 1/2 of a teaspoon of baking soda will treat 26 gallons of water.
It is very important to drain the kiddie pool completely after every use. Allow it to fully dry under the heat to get rid of any moisture left. For cleaning, you can use bleach or vinegar (diluted in water) to disinfect it.
Small inflatable or plastic kiddie pools and water slides don't have the same protection against germs that a swimming pool, hot tub, or water playground do. That's because it is unsafe to add germ-killing disinfectants, such as chlorine or bromine, to the water in kiddie pools and water slides.
I think the answer to your question is about 3-6 days. The problem is that the chlorine that you need to keep the bacteria in check is used up more quickly as the temperature rises, the activity increases, and as sweat and other body stuff is put into the pool.
A simple and non-toxic way to clean a paddling pool is to clean it with white vinegar. White vinegar is great for cleaning because it can remove all the horrid bacteria that sets up up home in your paddling pool. It's also colourless, so it won't stain the pool either.
Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water, dip a sponge or soft cloth into it, and scrub that residue away. It's OK if a little bit of it makes it into the pool water, but if you're concerned, test the water after using vinegar, and adjust any levels if necessary.
There are alternatives to chlorine including bromine, ionizers, and ozonators, though with each you'll still need to use some chlorine. A fourth alternative is PHMB, which doesn't require the use of any chlorine. All four have drawbacks, including cost. Chlorine is relatively cheap.
Salt is often presented as a healthier alternative to adding chlorine to a kiddie pool, since saltwater is gentler on the skin.
Regular table salt can be used as long as it does not contain impurities or iodine. Determine the current salt level of your pool. A newly filled pool will usually have a salt level of zero, but testing the water with salt test strips can verify this.
Many of us want to cool off in a backyard pool, but we also want to make sure there are no dangerous bacteria lurking in these pools that do not have any filtration system in place. You can use Clorox® Regular Bleach2 to treat the water in a child's wading pool.
The water of your paddling pool can also be maintained using Milton Sterilising Fluid.
For the greatest protection against algae, bacteria, and cloudy water, Intex pools should maintain a chlorine level of 2.0-4.0 ppm at all times.
If the chemicals used to kill germs (chlorine or bromine) in pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds are not kept at the right level, these germs can multiply and make swimmers sick.