Owning a pool should be a luxury, not a burden. If you’re fed up with pool maintenance and you don’t have the money to hire a pool cleaner, it could be time to explore a few hacks. Below are just a few tricks that can make keeping your pool clean easier.
Use a skimmer sock
Skimmer baskets may be effective at catching larger debris, but they don’t filter out fine contaminants like dust and pollen and hair. This is where a skimmer sock comes in use. It’s a mesh liner that goes over your pool basket that is able to catch all these small debris. Using a skimmer sock can often extend the life of your pump and filter, plus many skimmer socks can be easily removed and cleaned.
Soak up oils with tennis balls
If people are regularly diving into your pool with sunscreen on, you could find that the water gets oily quickly. A solution to this could be tennis balls. Placing a couple clean tennis balls in your skimmer basket could help to make your pool less oily – the felt covers on the balls will absorb most of the oil. Replace the balls once they get visibly discoloured and slimy. It’s worth noting that you don’t have to use tennis balls and that there are specialist pool balls you can buy (but you may be able to buy tennis balls more cheaply).
Try a pool clarifier
Pool gone cloudy? Using a pool clarifier could help to rectify this. This is a chemical product that helps to bind tiny solid particles in your pool, turning them into larger clumps that can be much more easily removed. It is easier than having to mess with pool chemistry (although it may not always be enough). Shop for pool clarifiers online and consider stocking up on a few bottles to quickly deal with future cloudy situations.
Cover your pool when not in use
An inground pool cover could save you hours of pool maintenance per year. This is a protective barrier made of mesh, vinyl or slats that you put over your pool when not in use. It keeps debris out, reducing the need for regular skimming. It also prevents water evaporating in the heat and also stops UV rays breaking down chlorine in the pool. On top of this, it can have safety benefits – you don’t have to worry about kids or pets falling in the pool.
Splash out on a robotic cleaner
Instead of manually scrubbing down the surfaces of your pool, it’s now possible to outsource this job to a robot. These specialist machines work a bit like Roombas, moving autonomously and sucking up debris into a built-in bag. They’re fitted with brushes that allow them to lift dirt and algae from your pools walls and floor. If you do decide to buy a pool cleaning robot, make sure to invest in a top quality one that has smart navigation and good suction power. Corded robotic cleaners are generally more powerful but you may need to watch them to make sure the cord doesn’t get tangled.
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