Have a great Christmas with a pool party

Another year is almost over and we’re starting our preparations for Christmas and looking forward to spending time with our nearest and dearest. Alongside the traditional Christmas gatherings at home, pool owners have the advantage of throwing a festive pool party for their friends and family. If this is your plan, do remember that pools require certain preparation for a larger number of people to use it. Hosting a pool party will also mean more clean-up and maintenance afterwards. In this post, we cover what you need to do to host a Christmas pool party and what to do once the revellers have gone home.

Preparing your pool

In the week preceding your party, it's best to shock your pool to ensure the chlorine levels are perfect. This is a good idea for two reasons. The first is that it will mean your pool water is in the best condition for your guests. The second is that it will help maintain the right chlorine level even with the added number of people. Depending on the size of your pool and the number of guests, the same amount of chlorine will be made to stretch much further than usual.

Depending on the size and location of your pool room, you may wish to consider lowering the temperature of the pool by a degree. This is especially relevant for a smaller or enclosed space since your guests will raise the temperature of the room by all being in that space together.

Decorations

It’s a good idea to avoid decorations made from flimsy or temporary materials, such as tissue paper. The condensation that may form on tiled surfaces will make short work of paper, reducing it to mulch. With everyone now much more conscious about single-use plastics, shop around for eco-friendly decorations made from wood, ceramics and plant-based materials. They will resist the dampness and look festive through Christmas and New Year. Likewise, small Christmas trees and baubles will both work well. However, be sure to place the tree well away from the pool as you don’t want its needles in the water.

During the Party

Before your party, designate a lifeguard - this might be a family member or friend who is a strong swimmer, but you can also hire a professional lifeguard for the event. Safety is paramount for a pool party. If your guests include children or elderly people who need swimming aids, stock up with party floats and other swimming aids. It will make less confident swimmers feel more secure as well as create a fun atmosphere.

Aftercare

Having been the location of an excellent party, full your guests your pool needs some care and attention after the event. Chlorine levels have likely dropped. If left unchecked, the water may become the breeding ground for bacteria or algae.

It's a great idea to repeat the steps you took to prepare the pool before the party – shock the pool, then test the water to make sure the chemical balance is normal. If needs be use a pool net to clear the pool of any debris that may have fallen into the water during the party. Check the baskets in case anything has been sucked into the filters. If a guest loses anything small in the pool, it could be tucked away there.

Have a wonderful Christmas pool party!

London Swimming Pool Company specialises in pool maintenance, servicing and refurbishment, so if you have a pool that needs regular maintenance or a facelift, contact us for an initial discussion – there’s no substitute for expert advice. If you have an older swimming pool that needs upgrading, we suggest planning your refurbishment for the autumn, so all the work is done and dusted before the next swimming season.