How do I store a pool cover for the summer?
Clean the cover, let it dry, check it for damage, then fan-fold it into the bag it came with. Hang the bag off the ground so mice and rodents cannot get at it, and keep it away from chemicals and heat. Lower the deck anchors before you pull the cover off the pool, and fix any damage before fall.
Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Lower the deck anchors first
Lower deck anchors before moving the cover to prevent damage to the cover.[1]
Step 2: Lift by the webbing
Move the cover by its reinforced webbing and straps, never by grabbing the paneled material.[1]
Step 3: Clear the surface
Remove all leaves and debris from the cover's surface.[1]
Step 4: Hose and brush
Spray the cover with a hose and gently brush to loosen dirt.[1]
Step 5: Let it dry
Spread the cover on a clean, shaded surface until it is dry on both sides.
Step 6: Inspect for damage
Check the mesh, straps and webbing for damage and arrange repairs now rather than in the fall.[1]
Step 7: Fan-fold into the bag
Fold the cover and store it in the bag included with your order; fan folding is recommended.[1]
Step 8: Hang the bag up
Hang the bag off the ground to avoid mice and rodents, away from chemicals and heat.[1]
The short version: clean it, dry it, fold it, hang it
Storing a winter or safety cover well is mostly about not damaging it on the way off and not letting it sit dirty, wet or chewed on all summer. Remove it carefully, clean and dry it, fold it into its bag and hang the bag in a cool spot. The ten minutes you spend now decide whether the mesh and straps are still sound in October.
The cover also has to come off for good reason. One manufacturer's warning reads: "REMOVE COVER COMPLETELY BEFORE ENTRY OF BATHERS - ENTRAPMENT POSSIBLE."[1] A half-removed cover is not an option.
Take it off without damaging it
Lower deck anchors before moving the cover to prevent damage to the cover.[1] The same manual says: "never grab the paneled material, always move the cover by using the reinforced webbing and straps."[1] It is also best done with two people, so the cover is lifted off the water and the coping, not dragged across them.
Sweep or pump off standing water first so you are not lifting extra weight.
Clean it
Remove all leaves and debris from cover's surface.[1] Spray cover with a hose and gently brush to loosen dirt.[1] A soft brush and plain water is enough for most covers. Avoid harsh detergents, which can strip coatings or leave residue; if you need more than water, check your cover's care sheet first.
Spread the cover on a clean lawn or tarp, in the shade where you can, and let it dry on both sides. Wet fabric folded into a bag is the usual cause of mildew and a musty smell, and long direct sun can age the fabric.
Inspect it while it is laid out
This is the best time to look for damage, because the whole cover is in front of you. The warning labels on the same maker's covers say: "INSPECT COVER ANNUALLY FOR DAMAGE - DO NOT USE IF DAMAGED."[1] Check the mesh, the stitching, the straps and the webbing, and note the buckles and springs. For small mesh tears see how to repair a torn mesh pool cover. For anything bigger, the manual's advice is: "Contact Tara for any repairs that may be needed."[1] Repair now, not in October.
Fold it and store it
Fold cover and store in the bag included with your order.[1] Fan folding is recommended.[1] Pleat the cover back and forth rather than rolling it, so the fabric is not creased along one line all summer.
Where the bag goes matters too. Hang bag off the ground to avoid mice and rodents.[1] Keep cover away from chemicals and heat.[1] That rules out the shelf beside the chlorine and the corner by the heater. Put the anchors back to flush and clean them so they are ready for the fall.
Putting it back
When the pool closes, check the cover again. The manual's instruction is: "Never raise the deck anchors prior to reinstalling, as damage may occur by dragging the cover over raised anchors."[1] Lay the cover over the pool, then raise the anchors.
Stop and call a pro if
- The mesh, straps or webbing are torn, frayed or brittle beyond a small patch.
- Anchors are loose, cracked or have pulled out of the deck.
- Springs will not compress evenly or the straps will not tighten.
- The cover is an automatic or rigid cover. These have motors, tracks and housings and are not folded away for summer; ask the installer.
- You are unsure the cover is safe to use. The CPSC notes that pool covers add another layer of protection,[2] but a damaged one is not a barrier.
Getting help in Virginia
If you want a repair estimate before fall, read what pool cover repair costs in Virginia. For cover problems that show up in use, see why an automatic pool cover will not close. More guides are at pool and spa answers and pool maintenance pros.
When you are ready, describe the repair you need and local pros will quote it.
Common questions
- Do I need to dry a pool cover before storing it?
- Yes, as far as practical. A cover folded wet is the usual way to get mildew, odor and weakened fabric by fall. Hose it off, brush it gently, spread it out in the shade and fold it only once both sides are dry.
- How should I fold a mesh safety cover?
- One manufacturer says to fold the cover and store it in the bag included with the order, and that fan folding is recommended.[^tara] Fan folding means pleating it back and forth like a paper fan so the fabric is not creased in one place.
- Where is the best place to keep the bag?
- Off the ground and out of the heat. The manufacturer says to hang the bag off the ground to avoid mice and rodents, and to keep the cover away from chemicals and heat.[^tara] A garage wall hook away from pool chemicals and the water heater works for many homes.
- Can I leave the cover on the pool and just not use it in summer?
- Not if people will swim. The manual warns to remove the cover completely before bathers enter, because entrapment is possible.[^tara] Take it off, store it, and use other barriers such as the fence and gate while the pool is open.
- What should I check before putting it back in the fall?
- Look the cover over for damage that happened in storage. The manufacturer also says never to raise the deck anchors before reinstalling, because dragging the cover over raised anchors can damage it.[^tara]
Sources
- [1] Mesh Safety Cover installation and care instructions, Tara Safety Covers, Inc. (manufacturer's manual). Checked October 27, 2026.
- [2] Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools: Preventing Child Drownings (Publication 362), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Checked October 27, 2026.
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