Pumps, filters and equipment
Cleaning a pool cartridge filter
Cartridge filters catch fine dirt well, but only while the pleats are clean. A quick hose-down removes the dirt you can see and leaves the rest.
A cartridge filter traps dirt on pleated fabric. As the pleats load up, pressure rises and flow falls. Rinsing with a hose removes loose debris, but sunscreen, body oils and cosmetics leave a greasy film that water alone does not shift, and hard water deposits calcium in the fabric. Both reduce flow even when the cartridge looks clean.
Equipment guides cover servicing and faults on the plant an existing pool already has.
A proper clean rinses between every pleat, then soaks the cartridge in a degreasing cleaner, and descales it separately when calcium has built up — degreasing first, because acid sets oils into the fabric. Many owners keep a second set of cartridges so the pool keeps filtering while one set soaks and dries.
The short version
Rinse between every pleat
Dirt lodges deep in the folds where a quick spray does not reach.
Degrease periodically
Oils from swimmers clog the fabric and are removed only by a cleaner.
Inspect as you clean
Torn fabric, flattened pleats or cracked end caps mean replacement.
A proper clean, step by step
Rinsing
A fan spray worked from top to bottom at an angle into each pleat, with the cartridge turned as you go.
Degreasing soak
A cartridge cleaner used to its label, followed by a thorough rinse.
Descaling when needed
Only after degreasing, and only where white mineral deposits remain in the fabric.
When a cartridge should be replaced
Tears or holes in the fabric
Dirt passes straight through and back to the pool.
Crushed or flattened pleats
They reduce the area available for filtering.
Pressure rising quickly after cleaning
A sign the fabric is permanently clogged.
Common questions
Can I pressure wash a cartridge?
High pressure can tear the fabric and force dirt deeper. A garden hose nozzle is safer.
Is a spare set of cartridges worth having?
Yes. It lets the pool keep filtering while the other set soaks and dries fully.
How often should cartridges be cleaned?
When the pressure rises noticeably above the clean reading, and more often after heavy use or dust storms.
Related pool care guides
- Filter sand returning to the poolA related check on the same part of the plant.
- A pool heat pump that is not heatingA related check on the same part of the plant.
- Backwashing a sand filterA routine task that prevents the same trouble.
- When pool pH is too highAnother water problem with a related cause.
This guide sits under pump & filter services. Browse all pool care guides. We look after pools at homes and commercial properties across Dubai.
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Cartridge filter clogging quickly?
Send a photo of the cartridges and your pressure readings. We will advise whether cleaning or replacement is due.