Summer is over, and the pool the kids loved all season has to come down. This is how we emptied, cleaned, dried, folded and stored our Intex Ultra XTR Frame (6 × 3 m) back in September 2020, so it would be in good shape the following year.
Emptying it faster with the pump
We started by switching off the pump and filter and opening the valves. The problem is that the small drain hole takes ages. So I fixed the pump hose underwater, so it would pick up water from the bottom, and let the pump run as if it were doing a normal filtration cycle, sending the water out instead of back into the pool. It's a much faster way to empty the pool.
One warning: keep an eye on the pump the whole time. If the hose floats up to the surface and no water reaches the pump and filter, you can burn it out or damage it. I installed a camera so I could watch it from my desk while I was working.
Cleaning and drying the liner
Once the pool was 99% empty, we unplugged all the fittings. My wife then cleaned it inside and out (Italian ladies can never stop cleaning; if you want a clean pool, marry an Italian girl!). We let it dry overnight, and the next day we wiped the outside with a damp rag to remove the dust, giving it a final pass as we turned it over.
Poles, talcum powder and the right fold
We had already removed some of the poles to make it lighter, then we took out the rest and pulled them out of their sleeves. Before storing, we dusted the inside of the sleeves with talcum powder so they don't stick together over winter. That keeps them in good shape for next season.
The folding matters: you need to fold the liner into the right shape so you don't create wrinkles that can damage it. With it folded on one side, I left it in the sun for a couple of hours, then turned it over so the other side dried properly too, and only then did the final fold. Finally we wrapped it in plastic film to keep humidity out during winter.
Keep everything in order
After washing every piece of the filter and the pump, we packed them in their box. My big suggestion: keep all the pieces, valves and filter parts together and in order. I didn't, and putting it back together was a mess. All the boxes, including the ladder, went under our balcony, while the liner went inside the house, away from humidity. It's a long job, so take your time. I was dead tired, but the pool was safe for the winter.