Chlorine washing: A chlorine wash kills bacteria and restores the balance of the pool water. This type of wash can cost anywhere from $300 to $500 and is more powerful than a chlorine shock treatment. You may need this type of wash after a heat wave or a high volume of pool use.

It doesn't have a slimy feeling. Dip your hands into the water or any pool equipment. If it feels slimy or oily to the touch, then it just simply means the chlorine poured into the pool isn't actually working—enough reason to believe that it's brimming with bacteria.

If you do understand the process of balancing chemicals, own quality equipment and have the time, there's no reason you can't achieve as good as a result as a professional service. The key to having a pool that's clean and operating well is taking the time to learn the ins and outs of pool maintenance.