While many swimming pool owners know how to clean their pool, one of the most overlooked areas to clean is the pool’s ladders and handrails. While most handrails and ladders are stainless steel, they will start to corrode a bit if the water and chlorine mix is not very balanced. So, cleaning them is very important to help keep you pool in tip top shape.
The first thing that you need to do is to remove the handrails and ladders from the pool. They are usually just wedged into the pool so all you should have to do is pop them out. If for some reason they get stuck, then using a rubber mallet should help break them loose. Do not use a regular sledge hammer as that will scratch the stainless steel and could even bend or break them.
Once you have them removed, you are ready to start your cleaning. One other thing that you might want to do is to take the ladder apart. Depending on how dirty it is, it might be easier in the long run to completely disassemble the ladder.
To clean the handrail and ladder, you should use a cleaner like Naval Jelly. Apply the jelly and start to scrub with a plastic scouring pad or plastic brush. Do not use steel wool as this will just scratch it up. Once both items are thoroughly cleaned, then you should shine them back up. The best thing to do for that is to use a light coat of car wax. Remove the wax with a cloth and you should be all set.
So even though most people forget about cleaning their pool steps and handrails, it really is a pretty simple task.