Pool Socks or How To Get Iron Out of Your Pool

I was skeptical, but I was impressed by the power of socks to help clean my pool, particularly getting the iron out. If you have ever had unsightly brownish water due to high iron content in your water, you might want to give this a try. If nothing else, you got wet socks.
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Pool Tips and Tricks Playlist
• Pool Tips and Tricks

[@myralondon1272]

Thank you so much. Cheap and easy way to light brown water to beautiful and blue. We have well and set up new pool. 4,000 gallon pool took 3 socks. Shhh we won't tell boyfriend we used his white socks. But it worked great 2 days all it took.

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Excellent glad it was a solution for you.!

[@amandawille8438]

I am trying this

[@kellykaspar3627]

You can also put the socks over the hose when refilling the pool and filter it out before it goes in. This works really well for us when topping it off. 😊

[@wakeupandhuman1800]

🎉🎉🎉 great tip!

[@sandrasturzenacker4500]

I added pillow stuffing to the inside of the sock and it pulled out even more gunk. Thank you! This is saving my pool!

[@lisawest6575]

I used two socks but the one sock crunches up at the bottom. It took out more stuff than iron. I’m keep it there for a while.

[@kaseybruce553]

Thank you so much for this!! This actually worked! In less than 24 hours our pool is almost clear.

[@goleafs365]

Thanks for this tip. I was skeptical trying. But wow, can't believe how well it works!!

[@Hobbitbuilds]

I was surprised as well!

[@michellehlavaz3332]

Thank you for this fix! Our iron was SO high. The one addition I would make is that you can add polyfill to the inside of the socks. Also, clean your filter often using iron out in a bucket.

[@publictoilet1970]

Thank you!! So glad I found this. Starting today!

[@anitaprudnikow2088]

This is so awesome. I put 2 socks on and in one hour the socks where so brown. 👍👍👍👍 thx for sharing

[@gunnette19]

Thank you so much just found this ..Im about to fill a pool for the first time and we have well water ..never thought of the iron till I saw some posts in a pool group..definitely going to try this

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Thanks, hope it helped

[@kristinawilliams2294]

THANK YOU!!!! WORKED GREAT!!! Back to swimming in the pool again!!

[@jadiusatreu]

Awesome, glad you are back in the water!

[@smutbaker6731]

I've been doing this for a couple years except I use 2 socks and stuff them with stuffing from a cheap pillow. Got tired of cleaning 2 times a day, so bought a handled basket from $ Tree and put a pillow 1/2 full of stuffing in it. Then put a sock over inlet hose and stuffed it down into the pillow stuffing(which is still in the case that is cut open on one end). Hung basket to pool frame with zip tie. Works well and can let it go for 2 days before cleaning.

[@kellywinship176]

Thank for for your tip!! We are trying right now!! ❤️

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Awesome, hope it turned out good for you.

[@ericapeterson3748]

Great tip!! Thank you for sharing :)

[@amberkurtz4032]

This worked so well! Thank you!

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Glad it helped!

[@davidnunez8777]

Awesome. I'm going to use the socks on the hose filling the pool. 3 pairs for $1 at Dollar Tree. I may even try more socks for better filtration. In theory it should work.

[@bobnleahfrain]

Did it work?

[@seattle40]

Just did it... had chocolate milk when I added chlorine... 2 days with socks and filters... It WORKS !!

[@amydraper6898]

The socks really do work! My water was clear when delivered, then I put a floater with chlorine. 2 days later, was getting browner by the day! Went online, got iron out for pools at Job Lots for $3.99 and a bag of tube socks. The iron out separrated the iron, dropped to bottom of pool. Then ran and rinsed my filter for 4 days with 4 tube socks on outlet, just secured outlet hose from my pump directly back into pool, I affixed with zip ties. Crystal clear water again! If it happens again, I may just try the socks and not the iron out for pools. Its so EASY and cheap! No need to make a hime made bucket with pillow stuffing, just use tube socks!

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Yeah my water looked great and then I added chlorine.

[@builtontherockhomestead9390]

Don't have a pool, but that is a creative idea. Saw you on Merriwether Forager Texas.

[@JUST_MORELLA]

Great video!! Thanks!!

[@markcurrier3469]

Couldn't believe the change over night thank you

[@Hobbitbuilds]

It's wild, right? I'm assuming the weave of the socks, thickness and the cotton catch a lot of the finer particles.

[@siyabongamthembu1983]

Omw Thanks, tried it, my pool is Sky Blue!!!!!!!😎😎😆😆😊😊😋 Unbelievable 🌊⛱☀️

[@freshair3865]

Cool trick! 👍

[@dule880]

Thanks for the video. I got a really big pool 4.5m wide and 1.2m tall and the water is literally brown. I will try this hopefully it works

[@joeymowery]

Did it work well for you?

[@dule880]

@@joeymowery Yes it did

[@annagarza5115]

I tried the bucket it worked only thing is the top popped off 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 sooo I found your video did the sock thing and bam my water looks good!!! Thank you 🙏

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Glad to help

[@joannlangford4719]

Okay, amazing tip. Have expenses swim spa and horrible well water. Been doing my best with rinsing filters and cleaning. Even got an RV system to run water through first. Well Mr. Smarty pants. Put three old tube socks on hose that I place in spa at the end. The water is about 50 percent cleaner going into spa! You are the best!

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Thanks. It's actually one of those weird hacks that actually work.

[@johnlenz2921]

Holy heck this was a lifesaver for my hot tub! We went from chocolate soup to crystal clear overnight. Thank you so much for posting this video!!! Definitely subscribing. 👍🏼

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Thanks! Yeah, I was surprised at how well it works. I felt a little silly at first, but it's not silly if it works!

[@jessicaharr1455]

Is that true? Our pool is chocolate soup atm I just put the 3 socks on. I'm worried I'm gonna run out is socks

[@Hobbitbuilds]

@@jessicaharr1455 rinse and repeat!

[@justinjohnson1047]

Did u have to change the socks within the 24hour period?

[@justinjohnson1047]

If so how often?

[@LibraReina.]

I am so happy that I came across this video, I was skeptical but it’s amazing how well it works.. the pool was brown and you couldn’t even see the bottom now it’s crystal clear all because of socks, it only took 3 days to get all the rust out it was so worth it. Thanks for sharing

[@mcnater]

How often Did you rinse the sock out?

[@LibraReina.]

@@mcnater I didn’t… I just went through a bunch of old pairs of socks I didn’t care for or had lost matches and would change them out… I do it this year as well.. set the pool up filled it and put socks over the filter caps and the pool is staying clear but the socks will turn brown from collecting what would be in the pool if I didn’t have them on… if your pool is already green/brown it will work it will just take a few days rotating the socks out once their dirty

[@mcnater]

@@LibraReina. ya ok. My pool is brown and the socks are instantly dirty. It’s crazy because it never did this in previous years. Not sure what changed at our house.

[@LibraReina.]

@@mcnater yeah it sucks.. I’ve noticed covering it every single night helps a lot too… it’s the pollen and things from the air that’s landing in it that eventually turns it greenish or brown.. do you have city water or well water ? And yeah when it’s brown it takes ALOT of socks and a few days to clear up all the way even with pool shock.. but it will.. just takes ALOT of socks at first… I used to wash the load of dirty socks and reuse them because I didn’t have enough socks.. the first day you will switch them out the most but once it gets clearer you won’t have to as much and won’t use as many socks a day .. I hope the socks work for you too… and be been doing it 3 years now and just have them on at night even in a clear pool because it does collect the debris and get the socks brown but all that brown is what would be in the pool

[@laurenlove999]

I used pieces of white felt pads in my pool and it sucked up the natural oil from when u shower. It definitely removed the oil in my pool. I reuse them

[@idk-rx9zq]

SUCH A LIFESAVER!! THANK YOU ♥️♥️

[@millermatic140]

Just filled mine last night. City water. In the morning notice the water was very clear but a light green tint to it. I shocked it and added some PH increaser. A few hours I tested it and my chlorine and ph was at ideal level but still the same color but very clear water to where u can see the wrinkle in the liner. I went and checked my filter and noticed for the second time it was brown at the bottom so I pulled it out rinsed it off and placed it back. I will try this sock method literally right now. By the way... is it still safe for swimming? I mean it’s not like Mountain Dew green. But is ok to swim around iron/copper??

[@debbiespetfarm]

we just bought a new home with a well well after we put up our new pool and filled next day the pool was like light brown .so i am going to try this scock trick ..now after we get all this iron stuff out brown styff is it ok then to use clorine for the pool and daily shock this well stuff is all new to me thanks for any help

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Yes you can add chlorine now, it will just react until it's all out.

[@catchtyphoon]

I will have to give this a try in the morning. What do you use to shock the water then? I heard one should use something specific for hard water.

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Check out Trouble Free Pools. That website has lots of info, the best place to start is their Pool School. Their forums are great too.

[@ninawade3055]

I use the sock Method all so

[@amyfnsuezq8710]

Perfect use for those lonely socks that lost their match. I don't use one on the pump thing but I use it on the vacuum inside the mesh bag.

[@lynnfolsom7376]

Okay...this may be lengthy but I filled my 6050 gal pool with well water through a purchased filter thing that the water went through. Was good for 5000 gals. Maybe should have ran the water through more slowly because when I added chlorine... whamo! Instant gross brown water. Tried the sock thing and changed regularly...took less than 4 days and it is crystal clear today. Amazing. My question now is this....if I test the water and balance the Ph and alkalinity before adding chlorine, would I still get that brown reaction as soon as I add the chlorine? And also....do I always need to keep socks on it and also...do I have to run my pump continually still? I have run it continually since I started trying to clean it up with the socks. This is AMAZING!!!!

[@Hobbitbuilds]

So iron and chlorine will turn your water brown, if you have filtered most of it out adding chlorine again shouldn't be an issue. If it does start to turn, you'll have to keep filtering again. Once you don't get a reaction from chlorine and it stays clear, you should go to your normal pump schedule without the socks.

[@418laylah]

You could also put it on the end of your hose while filling the pool. I also use green to blue chemicals, it works but terrible for those poor 🐸s

[@anacampos2100]

I do the sock with polyfil inside it and i do one sock it works amazing

[@Hobbitbuilds]

I'm about to slam my pool, I may try that to help vacuum the algae.

[@nataliayoung2062]

Please could you tell me where to attach the socks to? I need help to get rid of the iron and to turn my water clear. Thank you 😊

[@TheDilly2010]

I have found putting a swiffer sweeper dry cloth in the middle of the filter and wow how much drown was on it this morning more than the filter itself

[@naiefelyemeni1986]

will this help keep water clear and not getting green/cloudy?

[@thereyney]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Hobbitbuilds]

awesome, glad to help.

[@aaronsg71]

Cool! For copper also???

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Now for that, I do not know.

[@tukulitozakayamas2103]

does it filter algae ?

[@user-bh2gs3ce2w]

I just took a large tea container/jug less than a gallon. Filled it with pillow stuffing. Then i cut a hole in the cap. Screwed the cap back on. Than i put holes in the bottom of the container pushed the hose through the cap and filled my pool

[@user-bh2gs3ce2w]

The iron is filterd through the stuffing

[@precant9756]

Try a paint filter mesh, you'll be amazed.

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Now that is something I haven't considered! Great rec.

[@RockwishAga]

Does the water turn green’ish everytime you put chlorine in? Or you filter it out and it’s gonna be clear everytime you put chlorine?

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Once you get the iron out you will be good to go. There won't be any color change.

[@MissDimples03]

Hello how long does it take to clear the water I just started filling mines and it is really brown it’s half way filled now but my kids wants to go in it ASAP

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Took me about 24 hrs

[@MissDimples03]

The Bearded Hobbit thanks so much

[@justinjohnson1047]

Did u replace your socks throughout the day? Or just leave them on for 24 hours

[@lilmama4426]

Hey did yalls immediately turn green when the chlorine was introduced? My well water was clear an hour ago and after turning on the pump/salt thingamagig the water turned green really, really quickly.😕 Thanks for the video.😊

[@Hobbitbuilds]

If adding chlorine and the pool goes green, that's usually a sign of metals in the water reacting with the chlorine. Try the pool socks and run for 24hrs. Keep cleaning and changing filter/ clean filter.

[@lilmama4426]

@@Hobbitbuilds Thank you so much. I couldn't up the sock like you did b/c I have a jacked up neck)back & easily can't reach it) but I did try something that might be helping a lil, I put a pool sock around the skimmer basket and it's crazy how much it catching. We picked up some metal out treatment, and a couple other things to try & clear it up. Sure wish I'd known to use a filter with well water when I filled it.🤦🏻‍♀️Well hopefully get it figured out at some point before summer ends lol. Thanks again!

[@Hobbitbuilds]

@@lilmama4426 Great! Glad it's working out for you. Sounds like with a little time it'll be much clearer!

[@puertoricotesaluda]

Hello I like you video but I did get to see were you put the sock.you put the sock where the water comes out im sorry a yet confuse and this is my first time have a pool thank you

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Yes sock goes over the jet pumping water back into the pool.

[@puertoricotesaluda]

@@Hobbitbuilds thank you

[@kellywhaley3761]

i do this

[@inkencyde5252]

Hi! I assume i got a lot of iron from my well water. It’s getting green or brown if added chlorine into my pool. Let’s say if i use this method and it turns clear, is it okay if i added some chlorine again? Will it turn brown again?

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Yes add chlorine. If it turns brown, that means there is still some iron. Just keep filtering. Letting your chlorine get too low will allow algae to grow.

[@jasonp.brunke3601]

Don't add chlorine... thats crazy... it takes a long time to get your pool clear... use "iron out" in powder form... you'll probably need 4 large containers of it... pour it all in and run filter on high... clean filter every 2 hours until water clear... don't add any choline until u can test the water and have zero metals... chlorine and iron are worst enemies...

[@Hereismytwocents2011]

If anyone uses the chemicals for getting out iron, keep in mind, if you have the paper filters, it can cause the filter to stick together and mess up your pump. The sock method works, and no chemicals to harm anything.

[@WaJoa]

How often should I swap out the socks or just let it do it's thing?

[@Hobbitbuilds]

When it looks dirty, change it or rinse out.

[@nataliayoung2062]

Hello! Could someone please tell me where to attach the socks to? My pool was filled 2 days ago and after testing the water, they found a pretty high level of copper to it. So trying to clean it up and get rid of it the most I can. But still don’t know where to attach the 3 socks to? Please help, my 2 daughters are ready to go back to swimming. Thanks 😊

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Place them over the water jet that is coming back into the pool.

[@fallofthefairytale]

So this might be a stupid question, but do the socks have to be white?

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Hmmm, good question. As long as the dye doesn't come out you should be fine.

[@raymondborges2126]

Did he put it on the outlet or inlet

[@Hobbitbuilds]

I did the outlet.

[@Serenoj69]

Coincidentally I exactly put such a sock on that intex cleaning kit. Someone used a glove and I had no glove so I used t a sock and it works pretty much like you say: a lot better. It is also pretty easy to attach. Just a shoelace (I used the roap from the original bag) and it won't go anywhere. It does a much better job!! I live in The Netherlands and such water with iron is unacceptable over here. So as and aside: isn't such water bad for your health and if you can filter it out with a sock, why can't the watercompany do it for you? Or is it not that simple?

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Depends on the water that comes through, well water here where I live can have high iron

[@veronicawo3033]

Well water is often used by farmers who want the iron for their crops in my area.

[@dinardaily7563]

One sock with polyfill works even better

[@smartt]

I’d use a cheap sump pump on pool steps. Better that go than your pool pump.

[@poppop4022]

Instead of putting that kind of pressure on an expensive pool pump, use the same method with a cheaper sump pump with a small hose and just place it on pool step.

[@homevalueglass3809]

Cool, usually I'll dump a whe bottle of clarifier in the pool and run the filter and in a couple days the pool turns from green to blue except this year none of the stores or even amazon has type a filter because of covid and everyone's doing a pool this year. And all I have for a filter is an old crusty one from last year. So will maybe try using a sock filter until I can get a paper one.

[@magillax2665]

Get yourself a bio diesel bag that fits your filter or skimmer 5 microns cost under $10

[@bhougland18]

Should you do this when filling the pool?

[@Hobbitbuilds]

I've never tried it, but I suspect if you already knew you had water issues it would help.

[@ii-ok3jo]

Why not just put the socks over the hose as you are filling the pool?

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Well, this go around I didn't know. I'm going to try that next summer on the refill. Though I'm sure I will ahve to still go through the pump as it cycles the water quickly.

[@deanapennington4683]

I actually used socks with the water hose filling it up but it didn't work. It got some but nothing like it does when you put it on your outtake. I've been using the sock method for 24 hours and do notice a difference but I have a 12000 gallon pool. Hopefully it will be clear in another day or so!

[@the_ap_1561]

Any regular sock?

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Cotton socks, cheap and easy

[@littlewillowhomestead113]

This didn’t work for us.. the poly fil in the bucket got our water crystal clear and it looked like mud before we started

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Glad you found a solution. Sounds like it was bad to begin with. 😕

[@perryplays35]

walmart rv in line water filters..

[@Hobbitbuilds]

This has crossed my mind. I use one on my camper. Should do the trick on filling.

[@jasonp.brunke3601]

I am a 35 year pool owner... I have a 30k gallon above ground pool... this is what you do... Do the bucket with pillow fill method... its cheap, easy... then... get yourself the Hayward leaf canister for your vacuum... fill the leaf sock with a ton of pillow fill... vacuum your pool for an hour or so... you will still have cloudy water, but the large particles will be cleared... now pour in a big bottle of the powder iron out around the sides of the pool... sometimes it takes 2 bottles for my huge pool... after a day of circulating the water passes, clean your filter, add chlorine... pool clear and done... NEVER add chlorine to a pool that has iron still in it unless you want a dark brown bubbly mess... iron and chlorine have a chical reaction you do not want to spend weeks to clean... follow my 1 day method... trust me, I have terrible well water with a lot of iron... it sucks... took me years to come up with this tried and true method... and yes u can also throw in algaecide when iron is still in water so u don't have a bloom... if u have a robot, even better... fill the robot with a sock or 2 of iron out and let that run instead of vacuuming... works just the same as the Hayward leaf canister... this way you will not have the sun bloom the algae, and you can get chlorine in the next day to kill the algae... you'll also save your filter by keeping that winter cover on until your pool is ready... now you all owe me $100 for this information...

[@echabot2721]

I have terrible well water as well. We filled our 9000 liter pool with our well water.. no filtering. Once it was filled it was brown of course. So we tried the sock and pillow stuff method and got it crystal clear within 2 days. Bit the whole time we had spa chlorine tablets instead of the pool ones. It was fine for a few days. Tests were OK but high pH and alkanity.. so a couple days go by and we ad the recommended algecide. A few hours later we ad the oxy sparkle shock. Slightly over the required amount. But minutes later the pool became very yellow. It got more worse as time went on. But it was not cloudy. Very clean actually. Also the sock was pretty clean after a while when it was initially crystal clear the water... so now that it's been yellow. We added metal plus.. recommended from a local pool store.. waited 12 hours. Then 300g of pool Supreme

[@eddiec2024]

Your 1st mistake was using well water. A lot easier to get a water delivery.

[@Hobbitbuilds]

Unfortunately, not available here.

[@paulastehley1151]

Eddie C I have 30k gallons. I can’t have water delivered every time I need to add water

[@eddiec2024]

@@paulastehley1151 sounds like you're in over your head

[@paulastehley1151]

@@eddiec2024 I am using the Culator in the skimmer. It's working!

[@amydraper6898]

I got water delivery, we didnt want to drain our dug well. It was light greenish upon delivery, assumed a chlorine tab would clear it up, as no chlorine registered on my test strips. The problem was, I added the tablet, it had some kind of chemical reaction with the delivered water. Brown water.

[@guycan100]

This is like a drag on story. WTH

[@zohranoori4334]

To much talking