It's possible to use dishwasher detergent to clean your pool filter cartridge. Mix one cup of detergent per five gallons of water and soak the filter for three to ten hours. Use the spray nozzle attachment on your garden hose to rinse the cartridge until the water runs clear before reassembling your pool filter.
You can purchase pool filter cleaner, but some pool owners choose to make their own. One method is to fill a bucket with warm water so that it's deep enough for the cartridge to be completely submerged. Then, add one cup of liquid dish soap or dishwasher detergent for every five gallons of water.
In order to do this, you'll need to soak the elements in a Filter Cleaner, Natural Chemistry's Filter Perfect, or dishwasher detergent (one cup per five gallons of water). For the best results, be sure to soak the filter cartridge up-to 10 hours.
It's important to pour in at least 1/2 gallon of vinegar. You might have to pour in more than a half gallon of vinegar if you want a 50% concentration. The filter needs to be soaked for 3 hours.
Muriatic Acid - Also known as Hydrochloric Acid. It's a typical household and pool maintenance product. Muriatic acid will help clean the filter of algae, iron, calcium carbonate (residue from calcium hypochlorite), or other minerals.
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner is aggressive on heavy soils and greasy residue, but gentle enough to clean filters without harming the material. The biodegradable* formula won't leave behind harmful residue to circulate into your pool water.
Step 3: Add Borax to Your Pool
Switch on your pool's water pump and filter and let them run. Add borax to the skimmer and leave the pump to run for 24 hours.
For all spa cartridges and elements used in swimming pools where perspiration, suntan lotions, and other oils are present, soak the element for at least one hour (over night is more effective) in (1) a commercial filter cleaner; or (2) one cup trisodium phosphate (TSP) to five gallons water; or (3) once cup dishwasher ...
If the filter cartridge has a coating of Algae, calcium carbonate (residue from calcium hypochlorite), iron or any other minerals, soak the filter cartridge in a solution of one part muriatic acid to twenty parts water until the bubbling stops. RINSE THOROUGHLY AFTER.
If the cartridge is really dirty, use a filter cleaner. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. If the cartridge is really, really dirty, soak it in filter cleaner overnight. Use a five-gallon bucket or clean plastic trash can, and make sure the cartridges are completely submerged in the water and cleaner mixture.
Fill the container with warm water and 1 cup of Cascade complete dishwasher detergent (The Sams club stuff works well too). There are pool cartridge filter cleaners available for sale, but I don't think they do any better job. Let the filter soak overnight (or more if possible) before cleaning.
Filter cartridges should be cleaned whenever the filter pressure gauge increases by about 8 PSI (pounds per square inch) or more above the normal operating pressure, or at least every 6 months assuming your filter is properly sized and you haven't had any unusually large burden placed on the filter (such as a bad algae ...
Sometimes your pool water can turn green because you have an undersized pump and filter. Or, maybe you're not running your pump long enough for your filter to clean properly.
Baking soda can work wonders in a pool. Baking soda can: Help to clear cloudy water and restore the sparkle. Spot-treat algae.
Baking Soda and Green, Blue, or Yellow Algae
You'll need to use an algaecide to kill the algae and superchlorinate your pool to clear the water. After this treatment, test your pH and alkalinity and add baking soda to raise alkalinity to at least 100 ppm and pH to between 7.2 and 7.8.
If the pool is affected by algae, the pool filters can get clogged very quickly. Algae are tiny aquatic plants (or organisms) that grow in pools and in large groups. These plants can clog up the filter easily during pool water circulation.
So, is it ok to run pool pump without filter cartridge? The short answer is yes. However, you need to confirm that all internal parts are removed and that the tank has been reassembled tightly.
If anything could be considered “normal”, it would be about 10 psi. Most filter systems are designed to operate in the 5-15 or 10-20 psi range. The way to find out your particular correct pool filter pressure is to clean or backwash the filter thoroughly and empty the pump and skimmer baskets.
Things You'll Need
Accidentally dropping detergent or a bar of soap in your pool can be disastrous as soap bubbles form and the pH of your pool gets thrown off balance. Before your pool can return to normal operating condition, the soap needs to be completely removed.
It's also made for pools, so it won't cause the same issues as a soap. It's also good for cleaning scum from the waterline and inside skimmers.
4. Soak The Cartridge Filters in the Muriatic Acid Solution for 1 Hr. Carefully lower the cartridge filter into the muriatic acid solution and let it sit for one hour.