When the summer is fading, and you’re getting ready for the winter, closing down your pool is often one of the last things you want to do. But if you have a suitable pool closing kit, closing your pool is easy, and you can rest assured knowing your pool is clean and safe against algae growth for the upcoming winter.
There are many factors to consider when purchasing a pool closing kit, and it can be hard to know which ones are the best value or quality. Below, I compiled a list of the best pool closing kits, including all the details from my research and the factors you should be looking for.
Pool Closing Kits: My Top Picks
In The Swim Pool Winterizing and Closing Chemical Kit
⭐ Best Value Closing Kit
In The Swim makes a great winterization kit that includes all the chemicals you need to close your above ground or inground pool.
Specs:
- 1 Qt. of Winterizer
- 1 Qt. of Winter Stain-Away
- 1 Winter Sorb
- 2 lb. of Chlorine-Free Shock
Pros:
- Good price
- Keeps pool clean all winter by slowly releasing chemicals
- Sorb keeps the pool’s plumbing clean
- Chlorine-free
Cons:
- You can’t use the kit on a pool on a biguanide system
- It doesn’t ship to Hawaii or Alaska
- You may need to get antifreeze separately
We love the In The Swim Pool closing kit because it provides you with the best possible value. This kit comes with high-quality winter stain-away, winterized algaecide, and pool shock, as well as a time-release pool floater, which allows you to keep your pool clean all winter.
The time-release pool floater continues to release non-chlorine chemicals for months after your pool is covered, which prevents algae from finding food. The time-release floater can also be adapted to work with whatever size pool you have, making it a very versatile buy.
The kit also comes with an absorbent winter Sorb sponge, which soaks up the scum and oils, which will help prevent any clogging in your pool’s plumbing system.
Poolife Opening/Closing Kit
⭐ Easiest Winterizing Kit to Use
Specs:
- 2 x 6 oz. bottles of Algistat
- 2 x 1 lb. bags of TurboShock Shock Treatment
- 25 lb. bottle of Metal Removing Agent
Pros:
- Simple instructions
- It can close a large pool
- Quick to use
- Keeps metal filtration and plumbing clean and resilient
- You can use it over two winters for smaller pools
Cons:
- No slow release of chemicals
- More expensive than In The Swim Pool’s kit
- Uses chlorine
Poolife has created a straightforward and easy-to-use way to close your pool down for the winter. It only takes three steps to close down your pool using their kits, all of which are straightforward and easy to do.
The kit only comes with three products because they do many things, making this kit easy to use. The poolife kit works for pools up to 20,000 gallons, meaning you can easily close down a sizable pool.
Although you must perform some of the steps between 24 and 48 hours apart, each step only takes a few minutes, making it easy to fit into a busy schedule. All you have to do is pour the chemicals into the pool and filtration system, and voila! Your pool is ready for the winter.
The poolife kit also comes with a metal cleaning agent, which helps keep your pool’s pipes and filtration system resilient.
Robelle 3415 Triple-Action Winter Kit
⭐ Best Closing Kit for Large Pools
Specs:
- 1 Qt. of Robelle Winterizer
- 2 lb. of Robelle Winter Shock
- 1 Qt. of Robelle Anti-Stain Control
Pros:
- Works well on big pools
- It comes with a stain remover
- Reasonably priced
- Non-chlorine
Cons:
- Difficult to read instructions
The Robelle 3415 Triple-Action Winter Kit is an excellent buy if you are looking to close down a larger pool for the winter. Robelle provides a very strong solution that will keep larger pools from developing significant issues throughout the winter.
This Robelle kit uses a non-chlorine shock system and even makes your pool clearer before you close it down for the winter. And although the system is only guaranteed to work up to 15,000 gallons, some users with pools as large as 25,000 gallons have claimed Robelle’s kit got their pool through the winter.
Their closing down kit also comes with a stain remover, which can help clean any stains at the end of the season and at the beginning when opening up for the summer.
However, people complain about one repeated issue with Robelle’s kits, that sometimes the bottles come leaking. Robelle will usually send out a replacement, but if you buy their product, make sure to check it when it arrives.
BioGuard Arctic Blue Winter Kit
⭐ Best Closing Kit for Small Pools
Specs:
- 1 pt. of BioGuard Offseason Arctic Blue Algae Protector
- 2 lb. of BioGuard Offseason Arctic Blue Shock
Pros:
- The right amount for smaller pools
- Easy to use
- Suitable for above ground pools
Cons:
- It does not come with anything beyond the basics
If you have a smaller pool, BioGuard offers a kit that should be right up your alley. It is used for pools that are up to 12,000 gallons in volume.
Most pool closing kits merely instruct you to dump all the contents into your pool, so if you buy a kit that is not the right size, you are going to end up using more than you need. Not only does using more than you need waste money, but it also can be bad for your pool. The best way to ensure your pool has the best protection during the winter is to get a winter closing kit that is the right size for your pool.
This BioGuard kit has really easy-to-read instructions and should last you all winter to prevent algae growth.
Clearview Winterizing and Closing Chemical Kit
⭐ Best Chlorine-Free Closing Kit
Specs:
- 1 Qt. of Poly Power 30 Pool Algaecide
- 1 Qt. of Mineral Magnet Surface and Equipment Protector
- 2 x 1 lb. bags of Shock Swim Chlorine-Free Shock
Pros:
- Chlorine-free
- It won’t stain or bleach vinyl pool liners
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Won’t ship out to various states, including California
- Won’t work on heavily chlorinated pools
Clearview provides a cleaning kit that attempts to minimize the potential for harmful chemicals used in closing down your pool for the winter. Many of the substances they use even help reduce the current chlorine levels in your pool. This reduction in chlorine means it is the perfect kit for those who are allergic to or whose skin is easily irritated by chlorine.
Many closing kits that are chlorine-free will attempt to get your pool ready for the winter without any chemicals, which can lead to some shockingly bad results come springtime. But Clearview uses chemicals; they just don’t use chlorine, substituting it with gentler chemicals.
Qualco Pool Closing Chemical Kit
⭐ Best Closing Kit for Vinyl Lined Pools
Specs:
- 2 x 1 Qt. bottles of Liquid Winterizer
- 2 x 1 Qt. bottles of Winter Stain Out
- 2 x 1 lb. bags of Winterizing Powder
Pros:
- No chlorine
- It does not stain vinyl lining
- Can treat large pools
- It can clean two smaller pools separately
Cons:
- May have to get a winter shock to supplement your cleaning
- Can’t be used on a pool with a biguanide-based sanitization system
If you have a vinyl-lined pool, many kits meant to close down your pool for the winter will leave stains on the vinyl lining, especially those that use a heavy chlorine concentration. These stains can be frustrating when springtime comes around and you are opening your pool. Once the stains have been there for months, they can be tough to get out.
Luckily, Qualco provides a great pool cleaning kit if you want to keep your vinyl lining pristine. The kit not only doesn’t use chlorine but also comes with a stain removing solution in case something has already stained your vinyl.
Recap: The Best Pool Closing Kits
- In The Swim Pool Winterizing and Closing Chemical Kit: Best Value Closing Kit
- Poolife Opening/Closing Kit: Easiest Winterizing Kit to Use
- Robelle 3415 Triple-Action Winter Kit: Best Closing Kit for Large Pools
- BioGuard Arctic Blue Winter Kit: Best Closing Kit for Small Pools
- Clearview Winterizing and Closing Chemical Kit: Best Chlorine-Free Closing Kit
- Qualco Pool Closing Chemical Kit: Best Closing Kit for Vinyl Lined Pools
My Research Criteria
When I am deciding what the best pool closing kit for a specific pool owner is, I use three main criteria:
- What chemicals does the kit use?
- Is this kit the right size for your pool?
- Does this kit come with anything extra that would be useful?
Chemicals Used
What chemicals you use is a crucial question when you are using a pool closing kit. Most pool closing kits are going to come with very standard chemicals that you would use in a chlorine-based swimming pool. If you use biguanides in your swimming pool, make sure to look for chlorine-free options that are going to fit the chemical makeup of your pool.
For most chlorine pools, you should make sure that your pH, alkalinity, and calcium levels are properly balanced before closing your pool. You also need to make sure your chlorine levels are between 1-3 ppm (parts per million). And finally, you should shock the pool at night a few days before closing it. Sound familiar? These are the exact chemicals and treatments that are available in most pool winterization kits. Some closing kits will also include algaecide, which is an optional chemical you can add for extra protection against algae growth.
You also have to know how the chemicals will interact with other parts of your pool. Certain chemicals (the most notable being chlorine) will interact badly with certain kinds of lining or pool covers (especially ones made of vinyl). Some chlorine-free winterizing solutions react poorly with specific filtration systems, like biguanide-based systems.
Pool Size
Because pool closing kits come in pre-measured containers and require you to dump all the contents into your pool rather than measuring them out, you are going to want to get a kit that is the right size for your pool.
If you cannot find precisely the right size kit, I recommend buying the next size up and then following the manufacturer’s instructions for how much of the closing kit chemicals you need to use. You can use my pool volume calculator to figure out how many gallons of water are in your pool to measure everything out.
Does it Add Value by Giving You Extras?
Many of the best pool closing kits will include extra materials that can add value to your purchase. Small things like a pool float that slowly releases pool cleaner can help a closing kit stand out against the competition.
Stain removers and metal treating agents are not always necessary to get your pool ready for the winter, but they will increase the chance everything is still functioning and looking pristine when the summer comes.
That’s about it for winterizing kits. Also, be sure to read my guide on winter pool care for more off-season tips.
Any questions? Drop me a line; always happy to help.
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