Pool people - how do you manage wet towels and bathing suits?

[JessicaR]

Dry off before going to the bathroom, towels get hung on the fence or chairs, if you forget one, one will be provided (they tend to multiply anyway ), most of our friends will bring snacks, I'll usually bring out some snacks and drinks, teens can hang outside on their own.

Funny! Some years they multiply and some I lose a few. I do always gain a few suits though!

 

[TheRatPack]

We're lucky in that we have a small pool house (houses the pump and such). They can change in there if they like or you can come through the garage door or sunroom and change or dry off before entering the house to potty. When they are through swimming they usually come through the garage and drop all their wet towels and such right in to the washer or hamper. If they plan on swimming later they can just hang them over the edge of the tub and put them back on later. I'd really like to have a toilet, stand up shower and small sink installed outside, which we may end up doing this year. Just makes it easier for everyone, not running in and out for every little thing. I'd like to install a small countertop space in our pool house too, that way we can keep sandwich stuff, fruit, snacks..etc out there and not have to even come in for lunch.

We have our extra rolled up in a bucket right inside our sunroom door, that way people can just open the door and grab one without getting everything wet. I didn't want to put them outside....would hate for one of those big brown water spiders to make a home in them LOL

 

[Shelby5514]

My old boss had an in-ground pool and with 3 boys ages 5, 12 & 14, ALL the neighborhood kids seemed to show up daily for a swim. But after a week or two of feeding them and breaking the bank, he decided to buy a big popcorn machine and offered free popcorn. For drinks they had ice water and kool-aid available but some of the kids wanted soda so he put an old vending machine in his garage and set it up to vend for 25 cents a can. He wasn't doing it to make money, just to break even. The first time he had to refill the machine he was shocked to find only a few dollars of quarters in the machine but it was empty of pop. It seems the oldest figured out the hiding spot for the key and was letting his friends help themselves.

 

[rodeo65]

We moved into a house with an inground pool last year but most of the houses in the neighbourhood with similar aged kids have pools also and it was "old hat" so no one really came by. My kids spent way more time swimming than any kids from nearby houses.

As far as friends go, my rule is no parents, no swimming. I'm not a lifeguard and my house is not open swim time. They are still young enough that I can get away with it - not sure what we'll do in three or four years. When we moved in the diving board was already attached and my rule was jumping only. Deep end is eight feet. This year, though we're not even putting it up.

Change house has lots of towels and a couple of extra suits and to dry they get hung on the fence around the pool. Not the most attractive, but it does the trick. I wash them once a week like all other laundry.

I also make everyone stop at the bathroom before going outside. I don't remember too many times that anyone had to come in but they just had to dry off well before they did.

Not sure how we'll handle snacks this year. We have a small bar fridge that I may put out in the change house. This year has been a big year for increased appetites, so I'm sure I'll need more than I used to put out last year.

 

[cassandrap83]

What about people coming in to use the bathroom? We have a pool home, with a door that goes directly from the pool deck to the bathroom, so it's a non-issue.

Drinks? Snacks? We have an outdoor dining set on the pool deck so whatever snacks/drinks just get put there. Once we get into a permanent home (non rental) we have toyed with the idea of getting a soda/water vending machine!

Neighborhood kids? My kids are still young, but I would never take on kids that couldn't swim & be responsible for watching them.
Anything else you want to share?

What about pool safety for teens? What rules do you have and how do you communicate them with visitors to your pool? Whenever anybody (teen or small child) comes over our house, we always inform them of our 'house rules' so I assume we will do the same with the pool when the time comes.

 

[Jeniferdwn]

I have never started the neighbors swimming thing. the only ones with kids the same ages of my kids don't speak to us and we don't visit (wife is a @#$%^ and DD is spoiled and foul mouthed). I will say this. Check with your insurance co to see the specifics. Our previous neighbor let her two teens and all of their friends climb our fence while we were on vacation and go swimming unsuperivised. They broke the diving board, busted/tore every float, broke the kids water toys an the thermometer. She never saw the problem and didn't understand why I was so upset. The insurance comp and the police (I filed a police report because her son was into drugs and I didn't know what else might come up since they got so upset with us and she didn't want to pay for the damages) told us that we were responsible for injuries and/or death even if someone broke into our house or if they were trespassing. They did strongly suggest that we put padlocks on each gate and no trespassing signs on each side/corner of our yard. It wouldn't clear us but would help in case we needed it.

Friends aren't allowed in the pool if they can't swim unless they wear a vest or have a parent there. My dd is not a baby sitter and is not responsible for other kids. Sunscreen is a must. Freeze pops are in the shop freezer outside. Bathroom is on a brick floor about 3 feet from the back door. We are very careful around the pool because DS fell in and almost drowned. Rules can change as I see fit!! and then there's the old standby....my house, my rules, just because I said so!

 

[Pamlur]

When my kids were younger, my ex and I decided to have an inground pool installed. We had a 6-foot wood fence, with two gates; one was padlocked on the inside and one on the outside (next-door neighbors helped with upkeep, they had a key to come and go).

I used the next-door neighbor's son's age as a basic guideline; anybody under his age had to have a *SWIMMING* parent in attendance in order to swim. A couple of neighbors would have been happy to come sunbathe but couldn't swim, so the other parent had to come along, too. My ex was a certified lifeguard, so every once in a while he would let some kids come swim without parents, but that was always up to him.

There was a bathroom just inside the back door, so that wasn't a problem. I had a ton of towels, and a shed that held the pool toys. I don't remember a snack problem at all, so I guess I just didn't feed them. If the adults gathered out there at night (which happened a lot), I'd run an extension cord and put the coffee maker out there with us.

Where we are now, there aren't a lot of kids and I have grandchildren now. As the sub-division fills up, we will think about new rules, but I do have a bathroom that opens directly off the pool deck.

 

[Goofycampers]

We have a screened porch that overlooks the pool and I keep a wooden clothes rack out there for wet bathing suits and towels. In the SC heat they dry pretty quick especially if I turn on the ceiling fan so the kids will use the same towel all day. As far as friends go my 10yr old knows no one is allowed anywhere near the pool without an adult...period. My teens will usually only swim if they have friends over and its never been a problem. They've had the pool their whole lives so the rules are ingrained in them. BTW, those with new pools..you'll love it!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thank you for all of your thoughts and suggestions.

For the people who have retractable clothes lines in their tubs, where did you buy them?

 

[JessicaR]

Thank you for all of your thoughts and suggestions.

For the people who have retractable clothes lines in their tubs, where did you buy them?

I got mine on amazon its 40ft, (we use it outside). They have the tub size also. I know Target and Walmart also sell them.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=pd_lpo_..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=17DJ84SN95CX9TNRBVV6

 

[TanyaS]

This thread is extremely timely as I am sitting by our brand new pool watching my two youngest swim.

I bought a dozen white towels and an outdoor cabinet and plan to have the kids take turns washing, folding and putting away the towels during the summer. Wish me luck, but that is my good intention regarding pool towels.

I'm still working on my rules for diving, horseplay and other issues.

I'm not sure how I'll feel about having the younger kid's friends swim without parents this summer - right now I don't mind "lifeguard duty" too much because it's the only time I stop working and just sit (not doing dishes or folding clothes) and is kind of nice.

Looking forward to hearing more advice on this topic.

 

[kacaju]

What about people coming in to use the bathroom? (ie wet floors) My back door leads right onto carpet I just ask that they dry off as best as possible. i put non skid mats in the bathroom...tile floor, I don't want them falling

Drinks? Snacks?
Water, pitchers of iced tea, lemonaide powered drink mix (cheap stuff)
Snacks, those freeze pops in the clear plastic tubes...buy a huge box and they are in the downstairs freezer. Huge containter of cheap pretzels, cheese puffs. always invite them after lunch (this way you don't have to feed them)....many times my kids friends bring snacks

Neighborhood kids? Never had that much of a problem

Anything else you want to share? towels get hung to dry anywhere, oer the chairs, over the fence.

What about pool safety for teens? What rules do you have and how do you communicate them with visitors to your pool?
Teens are allowed in the pool as long as I am home (or dh) I turn off my air and open all the back windows so I can hear them while I do housework and I am always looking out in the yard for them.
My 11 year old I will still be outside doing yardwork while they are in the pool....younger kids I would always invite the moms to come and watch their own kids in the pool.

Answers inside the quote

 

[kkmcan]

we keep pool towels on a small bakers rack on the porch. we have a security fence around the pool so we hang them over the fence to dry. Then they get refolded and put back on the rack. I wash and dry them every so often. I just threw out a couple of towels that have been thru 3-4 summers and are either torn, faded or threadbare.

I will hand out popsicles and lemonade for snacks only. My house is not a cafeteria!

My rules are no more than 3 friends invited over at a time. An adult has to sit outside and watch everyone (that is either me or my dh, we take turns or sometimes we sit out together).

I do not put sunscreen on other kids. They have to do that before coming over. Applying sunscreen is such a pain in the butt to put on my own kids so I definitely don't want to spend 40 minutes applying it to 3 other kids as well.

Kids have to get along or go home.

No running or diving at all! Scares me half to death to think what could happen.

Everyone has to clean up the pool toys and put them away before getting out. We own a lot of diving type toys- the ones that sink to the bottom- so everyone has to round them up and put them back in the deck box.

 

[JLTraveling]

I was 9 when my parents built the house with the in-ground pool, and I don't remember it being a bit complicated at all. We had an 8 foot privacy fence, which was the law in FL/our town to avoid "attractive nuisance" issues--if someone broke in and drowned, it was their own fault since we had that fence.

The pool deck connected to the tiled family room and kitchen, just had to cross a strip of carpet to get to the bathroom, and everyone was responsible for drying off before we hit that carpet. It got damp now and then, but it was Scotch Guarded, so no biggie.

Before coming in (other than quick bathroom runs), we had to shower off in the outdoor shower. That got the chlorine, etc out of the swimsuit. Then towel off real well--in the FL sun, the suit and towel were mostly dry within a couple of minutes. Hang the towel over the regular bathroom towel bar and the suit over the shower head--ready to go again later that day. I was always responsible for my own suit, so often I'd wear it into the regular shower when I was done for the day...wash it out with a little body wash, hang over the shower head, and it was dry by morning.

We only had a few kids in the neighborhood, and they could all swim, so they were allowed over pretty much whenever. My parents always provided towels, sunscreen, pool toys and snacks/drinks. We had a pass-through window between the kitchen and the pool deck, and a patio dining set, so often one person would dry off and go into the kitchen to hand stuff out.

Pool toys were kept in the garage, with a back door just off the pool deck. Everyone helped clean up before we got out. I think I was 11 or 12 when I was first allowed to swim alone (with a parent in that part of the house keeping an eye out). Swimming with no parents home--around age 13 or 14, and ONLY with the buddy system.

It all seems overwhelming now, but you'll develop a rhythm that works for you and it'll be second nature in no time.