Sunscreen, Sweat, and Swimmers: How Summer Pool Use Affects Your Water Chemistry

June 19, 2025

Why Your Pool Needs Extra Care This Summer

In the heat of a Hudson Valley summer, your pool becomes more than just a backyard feature—it becomes the main event. Whether you’re cooling off after work, hosting weekend pool parties, or letting the kids cannonball to their hearts’ content, summer is when your pool works hardest. But with increased use comes increased demand on your water chemistry.


At The Pool Chemist, we understand that even when your pool looks clean, your water could be under stress. Here’s what’s really happening when sunscreen, sweat, and swimmers hit the water—and how we keep your pool balanced and safe all summer long.

Summer Fun Leaves Behind More Than Just Ripples

Every swimmer introduces organic material to the pool: body oils, lotions, sweat, and bacteria. Add sunscreen, deodorants, cosmetics, and hair products to the mix, and you’ve got a chemical cocktail that chlorine alone cannot always handle without adjustment.


Here’s a breakdown of common contaminants and their effect on your pool water:

  • Sunscreen and lotions: These can create an oily film on the water’s surface and clog filters over time. Some formulations can also interfere with chlorine’s effectiveness.
  • Sweat and urine (yes, it happens): These release nitrogen compounds that can bind to chlorine and form chloramines, which are responsible for that strong chlorine smell—not clean water.
  • Bacteria and microbes: The more people in the pool, the higher the bacterial load. Even well-chlorinated water can become overwhelmed without proper monitoring.
  • Hair and skin products: These contribute to cloudy water and may leave residue on tile or vinyl liners.

Why You Can’t “Set and Forget” Your Summer Chemistry

In the cooler months or during periods of light use, your pool chemistry remains relatively stable. But in July and August, things change fast. Hot temperatures increase chlorine demand, speed up evaporation, and affect pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels. Add heavy use to the equation, and your water chemistry can become unbalanced within days.


That’s why relying on a one-size-fits-all weekly routine is not enough during peak season. Regular testing and responsive adjustments are essential to keeping your water clear, clean, and safe.

Signs That Your Pool Water Is Struggling

Even a pool that appears clean may be out of balance. Watch for these signs:

  • Strong chlorine smell (a sign of chloramine buildup)
  • Cloudy or hazy water
  • Slick or oily film on the surface
  • Increased eye or skin irritation
  • Algae starting to appear on walls or steps

If you notice any of these, your water likely needs intervention—either a targeted shock, pH balancing, or increased filtration time.

How The Pool Chemist Keeps Your Water in Check

At The Pool Chemist, we don’t guess. We test, track, and adjust. Our regular service appointments during the summer focus on:

  • Precise water testing for free chlorine, total chlorine, pH, total alkalinity, cyanuric acid, and calcium hardness
  • Filter inspection and backwashing when needed to prevent buildup from oils and particulates
  • Skimming and surface cleaning to remove floating contaminants before they reach the filter
  • Scheduled chlorine shocks when swimmer load or contaminants call for it
  • Advice for pool owners on spacing out heavy usage and preventing overloading the system

We also customize our treatment strategies based on your pool’s material, size, exposure, and usage habits—because no two pools are the same.

Keep the Fun Going—Without Compromising Water Quality

Summer is what your pool was built for. With more fun comes more demand—but with the right care, you do not have to sacrifice water clarity or safety. By understanding what your pool is up against and partnering with professionals who monitor and adapt, you’ll avoid the mid-season problems that can turn a relaxing soak into a chemistry problem.


If your water is starting to look off—or you simply want to make sure it’s staying ahead of the stress—The Pool Chemist is here to help. Let us handle the chemistry, so you can focus on enjoying your summer in crystal-clear water.

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