After getting an inflatable kiddie pool, you will realize that keeping the water clean is challenging. The main reason is the PH value of the pool water, along with the impurities that are hard to separate. However, you do not need to worry about these issues as an inflatable pool may not require much care compared to the in-ground pools.
All you need is to perform some basic pool cleaning regularly. Before we go ahead, let us clear our stand on salt and chlorine in the kiddie pool.
There’s no denying the fact that chlorine is the most effective solution to keep pool water clean. However, a small kiddie pool (inflatable) may not require you to use chlorine for the job. Instead, the physical cleaning of the pool along with the saltwater can do the job for you.
Can you use salt instead of chlorine in a pool?
The use of salt water in an inflatable pool is quite common. People use it to treat the water by avoiding any harmful chemicals. It is a perfect alternative to chlorine and other chemicals that you use on a regular pool. The saltwater treatment allows you to keep the water suitable for your kid’s body by eliminating all the health hazards.
That is why we can say that you can use salt water in an inflatable pool as one of the easiest ways to keep kiddie pool water clean without chemicals. You need to understand the water filtering and cleaning process and the required amount of salt to do it.
Benefits of Salt Water in Kiddie Pool
There are some proven reasons behind the popularity of saltwater for kiddie pools. Here are some of the benefits that you get from using salt water to treat a kiddie pool:
It is Harmless
The most important benefit of using saltwater is its harmless nature that has many other health benefits on the skin. Thus, saltwater is considered the perfect alternative to chlorine and similar chemicals for treating pool water.
It does not leave any harmful effect on the human body and is way easier on the eyes than chlorine and other chemicals.
It is Affordable
If you own a large pool, you must be aware of the expense of maintaining an above-ground pool or even a simple pool. It is because of the use of expensive chemicals that goes along with chlorine. However, you do not need to worry about these expenses as saltwater treatment is quite affordable and effective.
Thus, you can always go with the saltwater treatment for a kiddie pool. However, please know that a regular pool may require some additional chemicals for proper maintenance.
Saltwater Treatment Makes Water Softer
Alright. Expenses are a thing, but they should not compromise the comfort of having a bath in a pool. For example, we all know that chlorinated water is a bit harder and makes your skin dry. It is because of the basic properties of chlorine. On the other hand, saltwater has a similar effect, but you can see a big difference in the softness of your pool water.
The salt has a similar effect on pool water as it has on day-to-day activities (using it as a water softener). Thus, you can go with saltwater treatment if you do not want to end up with a bit of dried skin for your kid.
Saltwater is not Smelly
A grown-up may deal with the smell of chlorine in water, but kids are not fond of this smell. Luckily, the saltwater is free of such smells and does not impact the experience of your kid. It means that you can get rid of that harsh chlorine smell simply by changing it to saltwater.
Is There Any Potential Health Hazard?
To understand the potential health hazards of swimming in saltwater, it is important to understand salt concentration in pool water. It is known that salt in the right quantity won’t have any health hazards on a kid. Instead, it is way better than using chlorine which has many health-related side effects.
According to a study in 2003, it is found that children who swim in chlorinated water have higher risks of lung infections than those who swim in simple salt water.
Another thing to consider is where the person stays in the pool. According to the research, the bottom of the inflatable pool has a higher concentration of salter than the pool’s surface. So in case you have added excessive salt, it is advised to stay and breathe at the surface.
Overall, there are no proven health hazards with saltwater treatment on a kiddie pool.
How to keep a kiddie pool clean with salt?
How much pool salt do I need for my pool?
The ideal should level in the kiddie pool should be between 2700-3400 ppm with 3200 ppm being optimal. Before adding salt, test your existing salt level and determine the gallons of water in your baby pool. Then, add salt according to the chart below.
Epsom salt in the kiddie pool
Epsom salt, also known as magnesium sulfate, is the most widely used salt compound in the kiddie pool. Compared to chlorine, it is easier on kids’ eyes and does an excellent job in cleaning pool water. The use of Epsom salt is similar to the regular saltwater treatment.
Thus, you can buy Epsom salt according to your requirements and use it to treat the water in the kiddie pool.
Conclusion
We can say that saltwater treatment is the perfect choice for a kiddie pool. We took the water volume and the issues related to the kid’s skin as the main factors to determine the effect of saltwater on the pool. The saltwater is way better than chlorinated water for a kiddie pool. But, again, things can be different for a regular pool, and we recommend you choose the chemicals accordingly.
If you think the salt is excessive in the water, consider measuring the alkalinity and treating it accordingly.