Depending on how well your pool care is going, you might already know about this magical product called pool flocculant. Or if you’re just hearing of it for the first time, it’s probably because you’re having an issue with cloudy water in your pool.

Pool flocculant, or as we Kiwis like to call it, floc, is a chemical that gathers the tiny floating particles in your pool, causing them to sink to the bottom. Once they’ve settled, you can vacuum them out. It’s a great way to clear cloudy water quickly, though you’ll need to follow up with manual vacuuming.

Floccing isn’t difficult but it does require a few steps. Turn your filter to Recirculate, balance the pH to between 7.4 and 7.6 and add the right amount of floc according to your pool’s volume. Run the pump for a couple of hours, then switch everything off and leave it overnight. In the morning, switch the filter to Waste and slowly vacuum up the deposits. Top up the water and re‑balance your chemistry once you’re done.

We recommend doing this in the evening so the floc has time to work overnight. Vacuum slowly to avoid stirring up the debris and keep the hose out of the pool until after you’ve finished. With the right know‑how, flocculant can be a powerful pool cleaner.