diff --git a/app/components/post_preview_component.rb b/app/components/post_preview_component.rb
index 80ea2205e..8a272613a 100644
--- a/app/components/post_preview_component.rb
+++ b/app/components/post_preview_component.rb
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@ class PostPreviewComponent < ApplicationComponent
       "data-id" => post.id,
       "data-has-sound" => post.has_tag?("sound"),
       "data-tags" => post.tag_string,
-      "data-pools" => post.pool_string,
       "data-approver-id" => post.approver_id,
       "data-rating" => post.rating,
       "data-large-width" => post.large_image_width,
diff --git a/app/controllers/pools_controller.rb b/app/controllers/pools_controller.rb
index c6ed65d98..d307424ba 100644
--- a/app/controllers/pools_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/pools_controller.rb
@@ -45,11 +45,8 @@ class PoolsController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def update
-    # need to do this in order for synchronize! to work correctly
     @pool = authorize Pool.find(params[:id])
-    @pool.attributes = permitted_attributes(@pool)
-    @pool.synchronize
-    @pool.save
+    @pool.update(permitted_attributes(@pool))
     unless @pool.errors.any?
       flash[:notice] = "Pool updated"
     end
diff --git a/app/models/pool.rb b/app/models/pool.rb
index 01995915c..f8da79b7c 100644
--- a/app/models/pool.rb
+++ b/app/models/pool.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ class Pool < ApplicationRecord
   validate :updater_can_edit_deleted
   before_validation :normalize_post_ids
   before_validation :normalize_name
-  after_create :synchronize!
   after_save :create_version
 
   deletable
@@ -130,7 +129,7 @@ class Pool < ApplicationRecord
     self.post_ids = version.post_ids
     self.name = version.name
     self.description = version.description
-    synchronize!
+    save!
   end
 
   def contains?(post_id)
@@ -161,7 +160,6 @@ class Pool < ApplicationRecord
 
     with_lock do
       update(post_ids: post_ids + [post.id])
-      post.add_pool!(self, true)
     end
   end
 
@@ -171,7 +169,6 @@ class Pool < ApplicationRecord
     with_lock do
       reload
       update(post_ids: post_ids - [post.id])
-      post.remove_pool!(self)
     end
   end
 
@@ -181,29 +178,6 @@ class Pool < ApplicationRecord
     Post.joins("JOIN (#{pool_posts.to_sql}) pool_posts ON pool_posts.post_id = posts.id").order("pool_posts.pool_index ASC")
   end
 
-  def synchronize
-    post_ids_before = post_ids_before_last_save || post_ids_was
-    added = post_ids - post_ids_before
-    removed = post_ids_before - post_ids
-
-    added.each do |post_id|
-      post = Post.find(post_id)
-      post.add_pool!(self, true)
-    end
-
-    removed.each do |post_id|
-      post = Post.find(post_id)
-      post.remove_pool!(self)
-    end
-
-    normalize_post_ids
-  end
-
-  def synchronize!
-    synchronize
-    save if will_save_change_to_post_ids?
-  end
-
   def post_count
     post_ids.size
   end
diff --git a/app/models/post.rb b/app/models/post.rb
index 562019170..ed4315a7e 100644
--- a/app/models/post.rb
+++ b/app/models/post.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ class Post < ApplicationRecord
   NOTE_COPY_TAGS = %w[translated partially_translated check_translation translation_request reverse_translation
                       annotated partially_annotated check_annotation annotation_request]
 
+  self.ignored_columns = [:pool_string]
+
   deletable
 
   before_validation :merge_old_changes
@@ -561,23 +563,23 @@ class Post < ApplicationRecord
         case tag
         when /^-pool:(\d+)$/i
           pool = Pool.find_by_id($1.to_i)
-          remove_pool!(pool) if pool
+          pool&.remove!(self)
 
         when /^-pool:(.+)$/i
           pool = Pool.find_by_name($1)
-          remove_pool!(pool) if pool
+          pool&.remove!(self)
 
         when /^pool:(\d+)$/i
           pool = Pool.find_by_id($1.to_i)
-          add_pool!(pool) if pool
+          pool&.add!(self)
 
         when /^pool:(.+)$/i
           pool = Pool.find_by_name($1)
-          add_pool!(pool) if pool
+          pool&.add!(self)
 
         when /^newpool:(.+)$/i
           pool = Pool.find_by_name($1)
-          add_pool!(pool) if pool
+          pool&.add!(self)
 
         when /^fav:(.+)$/i
           add_favorite(CurrentUser.user)
@@ -777,35 +779,6 @@ class Post < ApplicationRecord
       pools.undeleted.present?
     end
 
-    def belongs_to_pool?(pool)
-      pool_string =~ /(?:\A| )pool:#{pool.id}(?:\Z| )/
-    end
-
-    def belongs_to_pool_with_id?(pool_id)
-      pool_string =~ /(?:\A| )pool:#{pool_id}(?:\Z| )/
-    end
-
-    def add_pool!(pool, force = false)
-      return if belongs_to_pool?(pool)
-      return if pool.is_deleted? && !force
-
-      with_lock do
-        self.pool_string = "#{pool_string} pool:#{pool.id}".strip
-        update_column(:pool_string, pool_string) unless new_record?
-        pool.add!(self)
-      end
-    end
-
-    def remove_pool!(pool)
-      return unless belongs_to_pool?(pool)
-
-      with_lock do
-        self.pool_string = pool_string.gsub(/(?:\A| )pool:#{pool.id}(?:\Z| )/, " ").strip
-        update_column(:pool_string, pool_string) unless new_record?
-        pool.remove!(self)
-      end
-    end
-
     def remove_from_all_pools
       pools.find_each do |pool|
         pool.remove!(self)
diff --git a/test/unit/pool_test.rb b/test/unit/pool_test.rb
index 6bf9492d6..f13335583 100644
--- a/test/unit/pool_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/pool_test.rb
@@ -68,13 +68,6 @@ class PoolTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     should "initialize the post count" do
       assert_equal(@posts.size, @pool.post_count)
     end
-
-    should "synchronize the posts with the pool" do
-      assert_equal(@posts.map(&:id), @pool.post_ids)
-
-      @posts.each(&:reload)
-      assert_equal(["pool:#{@pool.id}"] * @posts.size, @posts.map(&:pool_string))
-    end
   end
 
   context "Reverting a pool" do
@@ -94,19 +87,15 @@ class PoolTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       assert_equal([], @pool.versions[0].post_ids)
       assert_equal([@p1.id], @pool.versions[1].post_ids)
       assert_equal([@p1.id, @p2.id], @pool.versions[2].post_ids)
-      assert_equal([@p1.id, @p2.id], @pool.post_ids)
+      assert_equal([@p1.id, @p2.id], @pool.reload.post_ids)
     end
 
     should "update its post_ids" do
       @pool.revert_to!(@pool.versions[1])
-      assert_equal([@p1.id], @pool.reload.post_ids)
-      assert_equal("pool:#{@pool.id}", @p1.reload.pool_string)
-      #assert_equal("", @p2.reload.pool_string)
+      assert_equal([@p1.id], @pool.post_ids)
 
       @pool.revert_to!(@pool.versions[0])
       assert_equal([], @pool.reload.post_ids)
-      assert_equal("", @p1.reload.pool_string)
-      #assert_equal("", @p2.reload.pool_string)
     end
   end
 
@@ -125,7 +114,6 @@ class PoolTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       context "by #attributes=" do
         setup do
           @pool.attributes = {post_ids: [@p1.id, @p2.id]}
-          @pool.synchronize
           @pool.save
         end
 
@@ -138,10 +126,6 @@ class PoolTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
         assert_equal([@p1.id], @pool.post_ids)
       end
 
-      should "add the pool to the post" do
-        assert_equal("pool:#{@pool.id}", @p1.pool_string)
-      end
-
       should "increment the post count" do
         assert_equal(1, @pool.post_count)
       end
@@ -155,10 +139,6 @@ class PoolTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
           assert_equal([@p1.id], @pool.post_ids)
         end
 
-        should "not double add the pool to the post" do
-          assert_equal("pool:#{@pool.id}", @p1.pool_string)
-        end
-
         should "not double increment the post count" do
           assert_equal(1, @pool.post_count)
         end
@@ -171,7 +151,6 @@ class PoolTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
 
           @pool.update_attribute(:is_deleted, true)
           @pool.post_ids += [@p2.id]
-          @pool.synchronize!
           @pool.save
           @pool.reload
           @p2.reload
@@ -181,10 +160,6 @@ class PoolTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
           assert_equal([@p1.id, @p2.id], @pool.post_ids)
         end
 
-        should "add the pool to the post" do
-          assert_equal("pool:#{@pool.id}", @p2.pool_string)
-        end
-
         should "increment the post count" do
           assert_equal(2, @pool.post_count)
         end
@@ -205,10 +180,6 @@ class PoolTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
           assert_equal([], @pool.post_ids)
         end
 
-        should "remove the pool from the post" do
-          assert_equal("", @p1.pool_string)
-        end
-
         should "update the post count" do
           assert_equal(0, @pool.post_count)
         end
@@ -223,10 +194,6 @@ class PoolTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
           assert_equal([@p1.id], @pool.post_ids)
         end
 
-        should "not affect the post" do
-          assert_equal("pool:#{@pool.id}", @p1.pool_string)
-        end
-
         should "not affect the post count" do
           assert_equal(1, @pool.post_count)
         end
@@ -289,29 +256,6 @@ class PoolTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       @pool.add!(@p3)
     end
 
-    context "that is synchronized" do
-      setup do
-        @pool.reload
-        @pool.post_ids = [@p2.id]
-        @pool.synchronize!
-      end
-
-      should "update the pool" do
-        @pool.reload
-        assert_equal(1, @pool.post_count)
-        assert_equal([@p2.id], @pool.post_ids)
-      end
-
-      should "update the posts" do
-        @p1.reload
-        @p2.reload
-        @p3.reload
-        assert_equal("", @p1.pool_string)
-        assert_equal("pool:#{@pool.id}", @p2.pool_string)
-        assert_equal("", @p3.pool_string)
-      end
-    end
-
     should "find the neighbors for the first post" do
       assert_nil(@pool.previous_post_id(@p1.id))
       assert_equal(@p2.id, @pool.next_post_id(@p1.id))
diff --git a/test/unit/post_test.rb b/test/unit/post_test.rb
index c218168b2..46f8fdc28 100644
--- a/test/unit/post_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/post_test.rb
@@ -751,7 +751,6 @@ class PostTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
               @post.reload
               @pool.reload
               assert_equal([@post.id], @pool.post_ids)
-              assert_equal("pool:#{@pool.id}", @post.pool_string)
             end
           end
 
@@ -759,7 +758,7 @@ class PostTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
             setup do
               @pool = FactoryBot.create(:pool)
               @post = FactoryBot.create(:post, :tag_string => "aaa")
-              @post.add_pool!(@pool)
+              @pool.add!(@post)
               @post.tag_string = "aaa -pool:#{@pool.id}"
               @post.save
             end
@@ -768,7 +767,6 @@ class PostTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
               @post.reload
               @pool.reload
               assert_equal([], @pool.post_ids)
-              assert_equal("", @post.pool_string)
             end
           end
 
@@ -782,7 +780,6 @@ class PostTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
               @post.reload
               @pool.reload
               assert_equal([@post.id], @pool.post_ids)
-              assert_equal("pool:#{@pool.id}", @post.pool_string)
             end
           end
 
@@ -797,7 +794,6 @@ class PostTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
                 @post.reload
                 @pool.reload
                 assert_equal([@post.id], @pool.post_ids)
-                assert_equal("pool:#{@pool.id}", @post.pool_string)
               end
             end
 
@@ -808,7 +804,6 @@ class PostTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
                 @post.reload
                 assert_not_nil(@pool)
                 assert_equal([@post.id], @pool.post_ids)
-                assert_equal("pool:#{@pool.id}", @post.pool_string)
               end
             end
 
@@ -1661,36 +1656,6 @@ class PostTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     setup do
       SqsService.any_instance.stubs(:send_message)
     end
-
-    context "Removing a post from a pool" do
-      should "update the post's pool string" do
-        post = FactoryBot.create(:post)
-        pool = FactoryBot.create(:pool)
-        post.add_pool!(pool)
-        post.remove_pool!(pool)
-        post.reload
-        assert_equal("", post.pool_string)
-        post.remove_pool!(pool)
-        post.reload
-        assert_equal("", post.pool_string)
-      end
-    end
-
-    context "Adding a post to a pool" do
-      should "update the post's pool string" do
-        post = FactoryBot.create(:post)
-        pool = FactoryBot.create(:pool)
-        post.add_pool!(pool)
-        post.reload
-        assert_equal("pool:#{pool.id}", post.pool_string)
-        post.add_pool!(pool)
-        post.reload
-        assert_equal("pool:#{pool.id}", post.pool_string)
-        post.remove_pool!(pool)
-        post.reload
-        assert_equal("", post.pool_string)
-      end
-    end
   end
 
   context "Uploading:" do
diff --git a/test/unit/post_version_test.rb b/test/unit/post_version_test.rb
index fa30ee0c5..d89664753 100644
--- a/test/unit/post_version_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/post_version_test.rb
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class PostVersionTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
 
       should "create a version" do
         assert_equal("tagme", @post.tag_string)
-        assert_equal("pool:#{@pool.id}", @post.pool_string)
+        assert_equal([@pool.id], @post.pools.pluck(:id))
 
         assert_equal(1, @post.versions.size)
         assert_equal("tagme", @post.versions.last.tags)