I thought I'd take a quick survey... How long are you keeping the water in the plastic kiddie pool before dumping it and refilling? We received a notice at the start of summer about water rationing and price increases if the household exceeds certain gallon usage... So the idea of emptying the water everyday seems excessive (and could get expensive!).
Also, I was wondering if anyone mixes anything in the water to ward off mosquitos/larvae?
Thanks y'all!
I dump it every day. I just dont fill it up as high. But I will not leave it in there.I also make sure to water the grass with the water. Put the pool in different areas each day do the water is used for the grass. Also try not to let me go swimming at bad times of the day. That is what I do!
I dump the water every day, but I use the dirty water for in/outside plants and flowers.
According to the "little pool people", the water should be changed out every 8 hours. I spray the bottom of my kiddie pool with a mild bleach solution (on cap per spray bottle) and let it dry out in the hot summer sun. I then fill it with water. I can usually get an extra day, this way. I still have to empty at least every other day. I think really the only thing you can go on is your common sense. If the pool floor is slimy, so is the water. Also, if your child doesnt have a tendency to drink the water, your ok not to change it as often.
Just my pennies worth,
Margaret
I dump after each use
BUT
the kids dump it bucket by bucket.....
into the garden, the flower beds, various places in the grass, etc. It's amazing how far a plastic pool full of water will go! :)
There are some chlorine type drops you can buy to put in your baby pools to keep the water from going bad so quickly. I have found it at WalMart and other places. I'm sorry I can't remember the name of it. I'm out of that stage now. But that could help it last a bit longer.
If you cover the pool when it's not being used, it is okay to use the water 2-3 days and then dump it. This is assuming the kids or any pets aren't getting dirt in it and aren't urinating in it. Kinda gross, but young kids often do.
If the bottom of the pool feels slimy, dump the water and clean the pool. And use the pool water for other things: water potted plants, the garden, the lawn.
Keep the water for a few days is fine as long as you can keep it clean.
Hate to say it but you should dump the water after every time you use it. You could put about a 1/4 cup of bleach in it to ward off mosquitos and to kill any other bacteria that might be in the water. But that is no guarantee. Mosquitos are really bad here and there are a number of different super bacteria out there. Better safe then sorry. A pool cover helps some. Even some blow up pools have covers that you can put on after you use the pool. Then you don't have to change as often. It's safer too. Keeps little ones from falling in while you aren't watching.
I always put about a cup of bleach in the pool, waited about an hour, and then another cup at night, and used the water until the bottom got slimy (usually only 1 extra day) However, if it was obviously dirty, it got changed anyway.
Good Luck!
We have a small paddling pool so I fill it whenever the kids want to use it, no more than once a day. We don't just dump it though, we use the water to water the lawn, plants, etc... Also, even though the once (or twice at most) a week we water the lawn is in the morning or late afternoon, I ALWAYS make that kid play time and let them run through the sprinkler. I alternate the days I run the sprinkler in the front and back yard so we have more opportunities for water play.
you can buy a chlorine tablet floater for your pool at walmart. It's only about $5 and the chlorine tablets are about $2. We break them and use about 1/4 of it in the floater since the pool is small. Just take it out when the kids are in it and the water will last much longer. The chlorine kills the germs and will keep the mosquito's out as well. And I would keep it covered also.
hi karen,
you should be able to leave it a maybe a week i always went by how the water looked and felt it can get pretty hot this time of year if you dont use the pool every day then i would use the water to water to water house plants ,,outside flower beds trees ect then your not wasting it
good luck lanette
You could add small amount of clorex and it will help out with the water lasting longer. Depending how large your plan pool is, but average size maybe add 1/2 cup, no more.
I only empy our pool when it becomes so dirty with dirt etc.
If I were you, I wouldn't fill it up too full and I would dump it every day. Kids tend to urinate in it; bring in dirt; grass, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, pets, toys, etc. Yes, you are right, mosquito larvae don't take long to hatch. I wouldn't put anything in the water for insects that a child could ingest, unless it is harmless to people & pets. I am a swimmer and I swallow some pool water almost every time. Kids tend to drink pool water more often. Algae are also an issue in water, and grows with the sun. To keep the water fresh and clean, dump & re-fill every day--this is the "natural" filter system.
As for your beauty rest: I recently read a research study on the Net about 8 hours sleep per night for men vs. women. Guess who tends to get diabetes and heart disease as a result of insufficient sleep? You guessed it: women! You can try to nap when your child is napping.
Good luck! jenifer
I would suggest dumping as soon as you are done. That is what we do. We just don't fill it very high and dump it on flower beds/grass.
Sure you can get chlorine tabs or drops but there is always a chance of a little one getting out when you are not watching. Although kiddie pools are not as dangerous as larger ones, children can and have drowned in them and usually b/c it was not dumped after use.
If you still decide to leave it full, I suggest you invest in an alarm for your back door (the kind you place on yourself-I believe Harriet Carter has them). They are very loud and you will know if your little girl has opened the door.
But obviously, the SAFEST and WISEST thing to do is too dump it-it isn't worth the risk!! Good Luck!
Other posters have said it, but I felt the need to reiterate, DUMP THE WATER AS SOON AS YOU ARE FINISHED TO PREVENT DROWNING ACCIDENTS. Your daughter only needs a few inches at two years old to have fun, just get some measuring cups and bath toys and she will have plenty of fun without you having to spend too much on water.
we've been refilling it every other day, and then decided to put a tarp over it so it could last longer. you can get Mosquito dunks from Lowes to put in the water (i use them in our rain barrels.) you'll have to take it out of the pool while the kids are in it so they don't eat it.
hope this helps...
Wal-mart sells a chemical to add to kiddie pools or you add regular bleach(just a shot)to make the water last longer. I also use a pan of water for a foot bath to clean there feet before they get in.
I'm in your same boat (or pool), I usually change it everytime I put him in it but we don't put him everyday. I would leave it one mor day but I'm actually looking for a small pool cover or some kind of tarp I can use that will cover the pull tightly so I don't have to change it so often (maybe once a week). Maybe you should look for something to cover it too so you don't have to change it so often as well.
my sis told me that you can get some stuff to put in the water at WalMart. It comes in a little bottle. Its some kind of chlorine stuff I think. She says its made for kiddie pools. She also covers hers with a tarp to keep things out when not using it.