The cover manufacturers (the ones I've looked at) generally seem to recommend cleaning with a hand dishwashing soap each year. They tend not to mention applying UV stabilizing protectants, though they don't caution against it either. Their licensed installers all offer it in their maintenance plans. I take the approach that the vinyl will degrade quicker without it. To what degree, I do not know. I do it every 2-3 years.
Throw in a trichlor float or a bottle of Clorox to buy yourself a little time. Seems schedules and product availability for everything is wacky right now. Some pool builders have supplies of liquid chlorine too... might want to call around to them too for a side deal. Best wishes getting your SWG going!fighting with pentair and local service co to replace the flow switch on my IC40 under warranty. There's no liquid chlorine to be found in my area right now and my salt cell isn't producting because the thermistor failed already. Because it's under warranty i don't want to go hacking it up to bypass the thermistor or spend $100 on anew swtich off the internet. Pool service co is booked out a month so who knows. Guess i'll just have to bite the bullet on this one which annoys me greatly. Otherwise the pool is lovely
NOT CLOROX!! Clorox has additives that really mess up the pool. Only add plain, unscented, NOT splashless, no Cloromax bleach to a pool. Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Home Depot and the like have liquid chlorine in the garden section, aka liquid shock.
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You can add liquid chlorine and at least use a net or brush to mix it aroundWatching it turn green, and staring at the concrete pad that is waiting for the new pump that I will be installing after a trip to Lowe's for some pipe fittings
Don't let it get TOO much of headstart on ya!