Sunscreen, Oils, and Pool Maintenance in Western Australia: The Complete Guide

Western Australia's intense UV radiation makes sunscreen non-negotiable – we have some of the highest skin cancer rates globally, and sun protection is simply part of life. But what's essential for our health creates significant challenges for our pools. Every swimmer introduces sunscreen, body oils, cosmetics, and lotions into pool water, creating an oily film that clouds water, clogs filters, and deposits grimy rings at the waterline. For WA pool owners, managing this organic load isn't optional – it's critical maintenance that determines whether your pool sparkles or struggles. Understanding proper cleaning frequencies and using the right products keeps your pool pristine despite our sunscreen-heavy swimming culture.

The Sunscreen and Oil Problem

What Enters Your Pool

A single swimmer wearing sunscreen, moisturizer, hair products, and natural body oils introduces 30-50ml of organic compounds into your pool during an hour of swimming. Multiply this by a family of four swimming regularly, add weekend guests, and you're introducing hundreds of millilitres of oils and lotions weekly. Water-resistant sunscreens – the most effective for sun protection – are specifically designed NOT to wash off easily, making them particularly problematic for pool water.

How These Compounds Affect Your Pool

Oils and sunscreens don't dissolve in water – they float as a film on the surface or form suspended microscopic droplets that cloud water. This organic load consumes chlorine as sanitizer oxidizes these compounds, reducing available chlorine for bacteria and algae control. The oils coat filter media, reducing filtration efficiency and increasing pressure. They deposit on tiles at the waterline, creating that familiar greasy scum ring. And they contribute to cloudy water that resists normal clarification treatments.

Western Australia's Unique Challenge

WA's combination of factors makes this problem particularly acute: year-round or near-year-round swimming in Perth and northern regions, extremely high UV requiring heavy sunscreen application, outdoor lifestyle with pools as central gathering spaces, and bore water (common in WA) that's already chemically challenging without adding organic loading. WA pool owners fight a constant battle against organic buildup that eastern states experience primarily during their shorter summer seasons.

The Tennis Ball Trick

How It Works

Here's a brilliantly simple solution: toss 2-3 clean tennis balls into your pool and leave them floating. The felt covering on tennis balls absorbs oils and sunscreen from the water surface where these compounds naturally accumulate. As balls float and drift, they continuously collect surface oils like tiny cleaning sponges. This old pool maintenance trick is remarkably effective and costs virtually nothing.

Implementation

Use new or gently used tennis balls – not ones that have been sitting in your dog's mouth for months. Drop them in your pool skimmer area or let them float freely. They'll naturally migrate around the pool surface, absorbing oils as they go. Replace tennis balls monthly during heavy use periods (summer, frequent swimming) or when they become visibly saturated with oils – you'll notice them looking darker and feeling greasy.

For pools with water features or swim-outs where balls might get stuck, place them in a mesh bag anchored near the skimmer so they can't drift into problem areas while still absorbing surface oils effectively.

Filter Cleaning After Heavy Use

Sand Filters

Standard Backwashing: After weekends with heavy swimming or pool parties, backwash your sand filter even if pressure hasn't increased significantly. Organic oils coat sand particles, reducing filtration efficiency before pressure gauges reflect the problem. Run backwash cycle for 3-4 minutes or until water runs clear, then rinse for 30-60 seconds.

Deep Cleaning with Lo-Chlor Filter Perfect: Monthly during summer or after particularly heavy organic loading, use Lo-Chlor Filter Perfect for deep cleaning. This Australian-made product specifically targets oils, greases, and organic buildup in sand filters. Add the recommended dose (typically 500ml-1L depending on filter size) directly to your sand filter through the pump basket or a dedicated port if available. Run your pump on "recirculate" or "filter" mode (follow product instructions) for several hours, then backwash thoroughly. Filter Perfect dissolves accumulated oils and biofilm that regular backwashing misses, restoring filtration efficiency.

Frequency: Regular backwashing after heavy use (every 3-7 days during peak summer), deep cleaning with Filter Perfect monthly during swimming season, and comprehensive filter media inspection and cleaning at the start of each swimming season.

Cartridge Filters

Regular Rinsing: After weekends with multiple swimmers or visible water cloudiness, remove cartridge and hose it down thoroughly. Use a high-pressure nozzle to spray between pleats from top to bottom, removing surface debris and some oils. This takes 5-10 minutes and can be done every 1-2 weeks during heavy use.

Deep Cleaning with Lo-Chlor Filter Perfect: Every 4-6 weeks during swimming season, cartridges need chemical cleaning to remove oils and organic buildup. Remove the cartridge and place it in a large bucket or bin. Mix Lo-Chlor Filter Perfect according to label directions – typically one bottle in enough water to fully submerge the cartridge. Soak overnight (8-12 hours), allowing the cleaner to dissolve oils, sunscreen residue, and organic compounds embedded in pleats. After soaking, rinse thoroughly with high-pressure water until all cleaner is removed and water runs clear.

Alternate Method: For heavily soiled cartridges, alternate between Lo-Chlor Filter Perfect (for oils and organics) and an acid-based cartridge cleaner (for calcium and mineral deposits – particularly relevant in WA bore water pools). Use Filter Perfect one cleaning cycle, acid cleaner the next, ensuring thorough rinsing between treatments.

Frequency: Quick rinse every 1-2 weeks during summer, deep chemical cleaning every 4-6 weeks, and cartridge replacement every 2-3 years or when pleats show damage, compression, or permanent discoloration despite cleaning.

DE (Diatomaceous Earth) Filters

Backwashing and Recharging: After heavy swimming periods, backwash DE filters to remove accumulated debris and spent DE. Then recharge with fresh DE powder according to your filter specifications (typically 1 cup per 10 square feet of filter area). The fresh DE coating provides optimal filtration for capturing fine particles and oils.

Grid Cleaning with Lo-Chlor Filter Perfect: Every 2-3 months, open your DE filter and remove the grids for thorough cleaning. Hose them down to remove DE coating and visible debris. Soak grids overnight in Lo-Chlor Filter Perfect solution (mixed according to label directions) to dissolve oils, organic buildup, and any biofilm. Rinse thoroughly before reassembling and recharging with fresh DE.

Frequency: Backwash and recharge after heavy use or when pressure rises 35-50 kPa above baseline, grid cleaning with Filter Perfect every 2-3 months during swimming season, and annual comprehensive disassembly, inspection, and deep cleaning before peak season.

Pool Surface Cleaning

Waterline Tile Cleaning

The waterline is where oils and sunscreen concentrate most visibly, creating that grimy ring that makes your whole pool look neglected.

Weekly Maintenance: Use a tile brush and Lo-Chlor Pool Tile Cleaner for weekly waterline cleaning. This Australian-formulated product cuts through oils, sunscreen residue, and light calcium deposits without harsh scrubbing. Spray or apply directly to tiles above the waterline, let sit for 1-2 minutes, then scrub with a firm tile brush and rinse. This prevents buildup from becoming stubborn and maintains that pristine appearance.

For Stubborn Buildup: When weekly cleaning has been neglected or after particularly heavy use periods, use undiluted Lo-Chlor Pool Tile Cleaner with more aggressive scrubbing. For WA pools dealing with both oils AND calcium deposits from bore water, you may need to follow oil cleaning with a calcium remover for complete restoration.

Preventive Strategy: Clean tiles weekly during swimming season, immediately after pool parties or heavy use, and whenever you notice the beginning of scum line formation – catching it early makes cleaning infinitely easier than waiting until buildup is severe.

Pool Walls and Floor

Regular Brushing: Brush pool walls and floor weekly during swimming season, even if they look clean. This prevents oils from depositing and bonding to surfaces. Use a wall brush appropriate for your surface type – nylon for vinyl or fiberglass, stainless steel wire for concrete.

Shock Treatment: After weekends with heavy swimming and significant sunscreen loading, shock your pool with chlorine to oxidize accumulated organic compounds. Use non-stabilised chlorine (liquid chlorine or cal-hypo) at 2-3 times your normal chlorine level (typically 10-15 ppm). Run your filter continuously for 24 hours after shocking to capture oxidized organics.

Enzyme Treatments: The Secret Weapon

Lo-Chlor Aqua-Zorb

This is perhaps the most important product for managing sunscreen and oil problems. Lo-Chlor Aqua-Zorb is an enzyme-based clarifier specifically designed to break down oils, lotions, sunscreens, and organic compounds. Unlike shock treatments that oxidize organics (consuming chlorine in the process), enzymes actually digest these compounds, converting them into forms your filter can easily remove.

Weekly Dosing: Add Lo-Chlor Aqua-Zorb weekly during swimming season according to label directions (typically 250-500ml for average residential pools). Pour around pool perimeter with pump running for distribution. Enzymes work continuously over 3-7 days, breaking down accumulated organics before they cause cloudiness or filter problems.

After Heavy Use: Double your normal Aqua-Zorb dose after pool parties, weekends with numerous swimmers, or anytime you notice early signs of cloudiness or increased foam when running water features. This proactive approach prevents problems rather than correcting them after they develop.

Why It Works: Enzymes specifically target the molecular structure of oils, sunscreens, and body lotions, breaking them into smaller components your filter captures easily. This reduces organic load, minimizes filter clogging, prevents waterline scum, and maintains water clarity – all without consuming chlorine or affecting water chemistry.

Comprehensive Maintenance Schedule for WA Pools

After Every Heavy Use Period (Pool Parties, Busy Weekends)

• Backwash sand filter or rinse cartridge filter
• Add double dose of Lo-Chlor Aqua-Zorb enzymes
• Shock pool with non-stabilised chlorine (10-15 ppm)
• Run filter continuously for 24 hours
• Replace or rinse tennis balls if visibly saturated

Weekly During Swimming Season

• Clean waterline tiles with Lo-Chlor Pool Tile Cleaner
• Brush all pool surfaces thoroughly
• Add weekly dose of Lo-Chlor Aqua-Zorb
• Test water chemistry and adjust as needed
• Backwash sand filter if pressure has risen

Monthly During Swimming Season

• Deep clean sand filter with Lo-Chlor Filter Perfect
• Replace tennis balls with fresh ones
• Inspect and rinse skimmer and pump baskets thoroughly
• Check for biofilm in filter housing and treat if present

Every 4-6 Weeks (Cartridge Filters)

• Remove cartridge and soak overnight in Lo-Chlor Filter Perfect solution
• Rinse thoroughly with high-pressure water
• Inspect for damage or excessive wear
• Rotate spare cartridge if available (recommended for serious pool maintenance)

Every 2-3 Months (DE Filters)

• Open filter and remove grids
• Soak grids overnight in Lo-Chlor Filter Perfect solution
• Inspect grids for tears or damage
• Reassemble and recharge with fresh DE powder

Start of Swimming Season

• Comprehensive filter inspection and cleaning
• Replace filter media if sand is 7+ years old or glass is 10+ years old
• Deep clean all equipment with appropriate Lo-Chlor products
• Shock pool thoroughly
• Add fresh tennis balls

Additional Tips for WA Pool Owners

Pre-Swim Showers

Encourage family and guests to rinse off before swimming. A 30-second shower removes 70-80% of sunscreen, oils, and products that would otherwise enter your pool. Install a convenient shower near your pool area to make this habit easy and natural.

Mineral-Based Sunscreens

While all sunscreens create pool problems, mineral-based formulas (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) typically cause less water cloudiness than chemical sunscreens. They're also reef-safe – important if you're near our WA coastline. Consider recommending these to regular pool users, though recognize they're not always preferred for other reasons (appearance, application).

Pool Covers

When pools aren't in use, covers prevent airborne oils, dust, and debris from accumulating on the surface. They also reduce evaporation (valuable in WA's dry climate) and help retain heat if you're running a heat pump. Even during swimming season, covering overnight reduces surface contamination.

Skimmer Sock Trick

Place a fine mesh skimmer sock (available at pool shops) inside your skimmer basket. These capture finer particles including oils before they reach your filter, extending filter life and improving water clarity. Replace or clean skimmer socks weekly during heavy use.

When to Call Professionals

If you're experiencing persistent cloudiness despite regular cleaning, visible biofilm or algae in filter housing, dramatic pressure increases that don't respond to backwashing, or foul odors from filter during backwashing, you may need professional filter cleaning or media replacement. Sometimes accumulated oils and organics penetrate so deeply that home cleaning can't fully restore function – professional acid washing or media replacement becomes necessary.

Fun Fact: Australians use approximately 50 million litres of sunscreen annually – more per capita than any other country! If just 1% of that sunscreen ends up in backyard pools (a conservative estimate given how much is applied before swimming), that's 500,000 litres of sunscreen entering Australian pools every year. For Western Australia alone with approximately 150,000 residential pools, that could mean over 3 litres of pure sunscreen product per pool annually on average – though the actual distribution varies wildly based on usage patterns. No wonder managing oils and organics is such a constant challenge for WA pool owners! Those tennis balls, enzymes, and regular filter cleaning aren't luxuries – they're essential tools for managing the inevitable consequences of living in the sun-drenched, skin-cancer-conscious swimming culture of Western Australia.

The Bottom Line

Sunscreen and body oils are unavoidable realities of pool ownership in Western Australia. Our extreme UV, year-round swimming, and sun protection awareness mean our pools receive constant organic loading that eastern states only experience during brief summer peaks. Managing this requires consistent, proactive maintenance rather than reactive problem-solving after water turns cloudy or filters clog.

The tennis ball trick provides simple, continuous surface oil removal at virtually no cost. Lo-Chlor's Australian-made products – Filter Perfect for deep filter cleaning, Pool Tile Cleaner for waterline maintenance, and especially Aqua-Zorb enzymes for ongoing organic breakdown – are specifically formulated for our conditions and prove invaluable for managing oils and sunscreens effectively.

Establish a regular maintenance rhythm: weekly tile cleaning and enzyme dosing, backwashing or cartridge rinsing after heavy use, monthly deep filter cleaning, and immediate attention after pool parties or periods of intense swimming. This proactive approach costs far less in time, money, and frustration than reactive treatments after problems develop.

Your pool can remain sparkling clear despite heavy sunscreen use – it just requires understanding the challenge, using the right products, and maintaining consistent cleaning schedules. Western Australia's beautiful weather and outdoor lifestyle center around pools. Proper maintenance ensures your pool is always ready for swimming, always inviting, and never compromised by the very sun protection products that keep your family safe under our intense UV radiation.