Domakihub How to Care for a Pool Cover and Make It Last
The right routine keeps your cover in top shape, your pool clean, and replacement costs low.
Reviewed by Domakihub pool pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
A pool cover is one of the hardest-working pieces of equipment on any Greek property — from a private villa in Corfu to a holiday rental in Santorini. The video above walks through the cleaning process step by step, while this guide gives you a complete maintenance routine covering cleaning, storage, and seasonal checks. Follow it consistently and a quality cover will easily last seven to ten years.
Why Pool Cover Maintenance Matters in Greece
The Greek climate puts covers through more stress than owners often expect. Intense UV radiation from April through October degrades cover fabric faster than in northern Europe, while dust, pollen, pine needles, and Saharan sand deposits add abrasive grit that wears material if left sitting. For holiday rentals and hotels, a neglected cover also looks unprofessional and can cause pool water quality issues that affect guests.
A simple maintenance habit — quick cleans every few weeks plus a deep clean at opening and closing — eliminates almost all of those problems without specialist equipment. The cost of a replacement cover runs from a few hundred euros for a solar blanket to several thousand for an automatic safety cover, so the return on ten minutes of attention is substantial.
Types of Pool Cover and How They Differ
Solar blankets (bubble covers) are the most common type on Greek residential pools. They heat the water and cut evaporation but are lightweight and easily torn by wind or sharp edges, so they need the most careful handling. Safety covers — solid or mesh — are anchored by straps to deck anchors and can bear significant weight; they need the least frequent cleaning but the anchors and straps require regular inspection. Automatic covers (motorised roll systems) require periodic lubrication of the drive mechanism in addition to fabric care.
Understanding your cover type determines which steps below apply most directly to your situation, but the core cleaning and storage principles are the same for all three.
5 Steps to Proper Pool Cover Care
- 1
Remove loose debris before it gets wet
Before you wash the cover or even unfold it fully, use a soft-bristle broom or a leaf blower to clear off leaves, pine needles, dirt, and any pooled rainwater. On a solid cover, pump off standing water with a submersible cover pump first — letting heavy water sit accelerates sagging and stretches the material. Skipping this step means you are grinding abrasive grit into the fabric the moment you start scrubbing.
- 2
Wash with the right cleaner at the right dilution
Lay the cover flat on a clean deck or lawn. Mix a mild, pH-neutral soap — or a product designed specifically for pool covers — with water and apply it with a soft brush or sponge. Work in long strokes along the length of the cover rather than in circles, which can stress seams. Avoid bleach, solvent-based cleaners, or high-pressure jets: all three degrade the UV-protective coatings that give a cover its lifespan. Rinse thoroughly so no soap residue remains, as residue can leave marks on the pool water surface.
- 3
Let it dry completely before folding or rolling
This is the most commonly skipped step and the single biggest cause of mould and mildew on pool covers in Greece. Even in summer, fold a damp cover and within days you will find black or green spots that are difficult to remove and weaken the material. Spread the cover in the sun and allow both sides to air-dry fully. For automatic covers this means running the cover out flat and leaving the system open for an hour or two before rolling it back in.
- 4
Inspect seams, straps, and anchors
Once clean and dry, check the perimeter seams and any strap attachment points for fraying, small tears, or delamination. Catching a 5 cm tear early means a simple repair kit fix; ignoring it means a split that ruins the whole panel. On safety covers, push each deck anchor with your thumb — a loose anchor is a safety hazard and should be re-epoxied before the cover is used again. On automatic covers, check the rope or webbing drive belt for fraying and confirm the lubrication points on the roller mechanism are greased per the manufacturer's schedule.
- 5
Store correctly during the off-season
If the cover comes off for the summer (common for automatic covers on pools in active use), fold it loosely — never crease it sharply at the same line each time, as repeated creasing cracks the material. Store it in a breathable bag or a purpose-made cover container, away from direct sunlight and rodent access. Do not store it in direct contact with fertilisers, chlorine tablets, or other pool chemicals: fumes are enough to degrade the coating over a season. A cool, shaded pool shed or equipment room is ideal.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted pool pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- How often should I clean my pool cover?
- For pools in active use, a quick debris removal and rinse every two to four weeks during the season is enough. Do a thorough wash with cleaner when you open the pool in spring and again when you close it in autumn. Pools under heavy tree canopy or in dusty rural areas may need more frequent attention.
- Can I use a pressure washer to clean a pool cover?
- No. Even a low-pressure setting can strip the UV-protective coating on solar blankets and damage the mesh on safety covers. A garden hose on a gentle spray setting, combined with a soft brush and mild soap, cleans just as effectively without causing harm.
- My solar blanket has developed dark spots — is it still safe to use?
- Small surface mould spots can usually be cleaned with a diluted cover cleaner and a soft brush, then rinsed and dried in full sun. If the spots cover large areas, or if the material has become brittle, discoloured throughout, or has begun to shed foam beads into the pool, it is time to replace the blanket. Degraded material releases chemicals into the pool water and loses its insulating and UV-blocking properties.