The Best Pool Filter Sock

Buying Guide

There is nothing quite like cannonballing into your pool on a scorching hot day and enjoying the feeling of the refreshing water. From lounging on a pool float to having races with your friends, there is so much joy a pool can bring. However, all of that can be easily ruined if you’re constantly dodging leaves, twigs, bugs and other items getting into your pool.

A pool filter sock is a simple solution that can trap small debris which lands into your pool – everything from grass to insects. They are stretchy enough to fit in most skimmer baskets and can ensure the debris doesn’t come back out into the water once it enters the filtration area. All you have to do is stretch the pool filter sock over the top of the skimmer basket. The ultra-fine mesh of the material can capture debris before it reaches your pool pump and causes damage – and ensures you don’t end up with a face-full of leaves while you’re splashing around.

Worried about how messy cleaning the pool filter sock can be? It’s actually very simple. Typically, you just have to clean it every four to eight weeks, depending on how full it is from the debris. All you have to do is wash it out using a garden hose. You can reuse the same pool filter sock a number of times, or simply replace it with a new one if it is heavily soiled. Just remember to check it often to make sure it hasn’t filled up – because then it will not be able to capture additional debris.

• How many pool filter socks do you need? It all depends on what works best for your needs. If your pool is located in an area where it gets a heavy amount of debris, such as nearby a lot of trees, then you will find you need to clean and change your pool filter sock frequently. However, if you don’t get a lot of debris in your pool, you may be able to last up to eight weeks without having to change it or clean it. You can find pool filter socks in packs of 20, 30 or 100.
• Compatibility may be a factor for some people so it’s important to check whether the pool filter sock can fit the basket of your pool. Some pool filter socks will note the specific brands of filter baskets they are compatible with while others will list the size of pool basket they can fit. Some will be designed for in-ground pools while others will be for above-ground pools. Some may fit both of those styles of pool filter baskets. For more flexibility in how you use the pool filter socks, check to see if they work with spas and hot tubs as well.
• Some people place the chlorine tablet for their pools in the pool filter sock. However, this can actually erode the material of the sock and make it ineffective for trapping debris. If you want to take this route, be sure to check the pool filter sock packaging to ensure it can actually work with a chlorine tablet in it.