A sheet of corrugated plastic makes a simple pool cover for really small inflatable pools.

Organic matter breaks down super quickly in standing water, which leads to bacteria, so removing any of this stuff is key to keeping the water swimmable.

A pool vacuum will also keep the water clear so that it still looks blue. You probably don’t need to invest in an automated robot vacuum if you’re only using it for an inflatable pool, but you can buy one if you’d like!

A single sponge can potentially last an entire season so long as you squeeze it out and flip it over regularly. These sponges are hydrophobic, which means they don’t absorb water. This makes them pretty resilient over time. You can potentially copy this effect by tossing a clean tennis ball in the water and replacing it periodically as it gets dirty. [6] X Research source

Test the water periodically with a chlorine testing kit. Water needs to be 1-3 ppm (parts per million) chlorine for it to be safe. [8] X Research source You must test the water before swimming in it. Too much chlorine can make water dangerous for your child’s skin. [9] X Research source

Flocculant is perfectly safe for swimming pools so long as you follow the instructions on the label. Floccculant is also known as pool clarifier. While these products are technically different, companies use the terms interchangeably.

Remember, you can still get sick by swimming in day-old water, even if it’s chlorinated, when there’s no pump or filter.

Can use water and borax or another natural disinfectant if you prefer. [15] X Research source Maintenance cleanings are a key part of maintaining an inflatable pool.

While adding bleach to pool water can disinfect it, this isn’t a safe way to keep inflatable pool water clean while the pool is in use. If you accidentally use too much bleach, you might burn or blind your swimmers. [17] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source