Even though it’s the middle of February, the first day of summer – June 21, 2018 – will be here sooner than you think.

We here at AcePools.com want to make sure you’re ready to go when swimming pool season begins in your neck of the woods.

After you’ve uncovered, inspected and folded up your pool cover, its best to do a quick inventory of any chemicals, chlorine and/or cleaners you’re going to need for the upcoming pool season.

If you’ve got stains either on the walls, floor or steps of your inground or above ground pool, be sure to purchase a bottle of Natural Chemistry’s Stain Free. This citrus formula is ideal for treating stains on vinyl pool liners and fiberglass pool surfaces. Stain Free is also the perfect choice for a safe and people friendly alternative, instead of using harsh chemicals to remove pesky pool stains.

Another important product you’ll need before opening your pool is Pool Care’s Instant Shock. By adding 1 pound of this high-powered Instant Shock to every 10,000 gallons, immediately saps algae, slime, and unpleasant odors in your pool water (just make sure you wait overnight to swim to make sure the shock does its job effectively). You can’t be the tremendous value of this product considering it’s just $15.99 a pound, so stock up now.

Other surefire products you should have on your checklist are chlorine tablets, pH increaser/decreaser, and alkalinity and/or calcium increaser.

Pool Care’s 3-inch Chlorine Tablets last up to seven days and works dynamically to disinfectant and algaecide. Instead of waiting and waiting for the chlorine tablets to clear up your murky-looking pool water, Pool Care’s pH Plus-Increaser allows you to use your pool at once by increasing the total alkalinity, while Pool Care’s pH Minus-Decreaser reduces the alkalinity to balance your pool water to perfection.

Calcium hardness is another issue all pool owners face, whether at the start of the season or during the dog days of summer. Pool Care Calcium Balance/Increase Treatment is ideal for raising calcium hardness. Having properly balanced calcium hardness not only is important to the components of your pool, it also is a vital part to swimmer comfort and should not be ignored.

It is also always a good idea to inspect your vacuuming system, just in case you need a new vacuum head, vacuum hoses or the filter grid plate.

AcePools.com also has a host of skimmers, cleaners and scrub brushes to keep your pool sparking clean all summer long.

-David Exum