What Is the Best Thing to Clean a Pool With?

Anyone who owns a swimming pool knows keeping it clean is no easy task. Between falling leaves, dirt, and the occasional algae bloom, keeping a pool sparkling can seem like a full-time job sometimes. While traditional tools will be able to do the job, they can take a fair amount of time and effort. Over the last several years, robotic pool cleaners have changed the way people think about pool maintenance, allowing automatic, hands-free, and effortless operation for pool owners. In this guide, we’re going to explore the fundamentals of good pool cleaning, focusing on the most effective and convenient cleaner: the trusty robotic cleaner.

Old Standbys: Manual Pool Cleaning Tools

The world of robots is appealing, but it’s worth taking a moment to recognize the tried-and-true way to clean your pool. For decades, pool owners have used manual tools to do most of the heavy lifting. Although these tools are still useful, they demand a lot of time and attention to detail.

Skimmers

A skimmer is a straightforward instrument that is necessary for taking small debris and dirt from the top of the swimming pool. It typically features a long handle with a net attached to one end, making it a breeze to scoop leaves, bugs, and other debris that floats to the surface. Skimmers work, but they are slow, especially if your pool is surrounded by trees or other debris sources. Also, it doesn’t clean beyond the surface, so it’ll need help from you or other equipment to clean the rest of your pool.

Pool Brushes

It is important to scrub the walls and floor of your pool to help eliminate algae build-up and keep your pool sparkling clean. There are different types of pool brushes in different shapes and sizes, each built for specific surfaces. But scraping the pool does require some muscle and can sometimes take a while if it's a bigger or more complicated pool. You have to hit every last bit of the pool, a challenging and punishing process—especially without all the right extension handles.

Manual Pool Vacuums

Manual vacuums attach to the pool’s filtration system and are used to clean the bottom of the pool. While they’re effective at removing debris, they require constant attention to ensure they don’t get stuck or miss spots. They can also be cumbersome to maneuver, and they often take longer to get your pool clean than more modern alternatives do.While these tools do still have their place, they often leave something to be desired in terms of efficiency and ease of use. This is where robotic pool cleaners really shine.

Robotic Pool Cleaners: A New Era in Pool Cleaning

Over the past few years, robotic pool cleaners have transformed the pool maintenance game. They can accomplish time-consuming, manual tasks, all while operating independently. Let’s look at why a robotic cleaner may be the best investment for your pool.

Fully Autonomous Cleaning

The biggest selling point of robotic pool cleaners is they can do the entire cleaning of your pool alone. Since you simply need to keep the robot in the pool and start it, it does the cleaning for you. Robotic cleaners employ advanced algorithms to traverse the pool as they scrub the floor, walls, and waterline. They can even handle areas where manual tools are often missed, such as pool steps or tight corners. This enables hands-free programming, so you can enjoy your pool without spending hours maintaining it.

Thorough cleaning coverage

Robotic devices offer unprecedented coverage that our hands cannot reach. Most models have sensors that allow them to recognize dirt and debris, meaning that every part of your pool is cleaned. These flexible little dudes give just about everything from the bottom all the way up to the waterline and even the walls a good going over. They have advanced suction capabilities, too, which means they pick up both large and fine debris, leading to cleaner water all around.

Strong Suction & Filtration

Robotic cleaners are equipped with strong motors that provide powerful suction. That means they can get rid of everything from tiny bits of dirt to bigger clutter, like leaves and twigs. Not only do these robots clean the surfaces, but they also come with built-in filtration systems that purify the water as they scrub, lessening the load on your main pool filtration system. This will keep your pool not just clean, but also healthy and balanced.

Energy Efficient

Robotic pool cleaners come out to be one of the energy-efficient devices. Unlike suction-side or pressure-side cleaners, which depend on the pool’s pump, robotic cleaners feature their own power source. This means they place no extra strain on your pool’s filtration system, and they use less electricity compared with traditional means of pool cleaning. In addition to programmable timers, such pool robots often feature efficient designs, cleaning your pool without sending your energy bills through the roof.

Easier Maintainability

Robotic pool cleaners are very easy to maintain. When the cleaning cycle is done, all you have to do is empty the debris basket and rinse the filters. Some models also have easy-to-clean parts, which need little more than a quick rinse with a garden hose. This low maintenance requirement makes robotic cleaners one of the most convenient options for busy pool owners.

Other Pool Cleaning Options

Although robotic pool cleaners provide a lot of convenience and efficiency, they are not the only pool maintenance option out there. There are alternatives, depending on your budget and needs.

Suction-Side Pool Cleaners

These cleaners connect to your pool’s skimmer and utilize the suction from the pool’s filtration system to clean the pool. They tend to be more affordable than robotic cleaners but can be slower and not as effective at cleaning walls and tight corners. They also need a well-maintained filtration system to actually work properly.

Pressure-Side Pool Cleaners

These cleaners use the pressure from your pool’s return jets to propel themselves around the pool. Pressure-side cleaners tend to be more effective at picking up larger debris, including leaves and twigs. They, however, are usually slower than robotic cleaners and also need to be regularly maintained to make sure they work properly.This is especially useful for visible dirt or debris around the pool.

In-Floor Cleaning Systems

Some pools incorporate in-floor cleaning systems. They direct debris toward a central vacuum for easy removal. Though convenient and efficient, they can be costly to install and maintain.

Conclusion

There are no one-size-fits-all solutions for cleaning your pool. Skimmers and brushes can still work, but they are time- and force-intensive. For a more easy and all-in-one job, pool cleaners have proven to be the best choice for many pool owners. Swimming pool robotic cleaners are designed to clean every corner of your pool, are powerful, and have low maintenance. So if you own a large family pool or a small backyard oasis, purchasing a robotic cleaner is the best way to keep it in wonderful condition and free up time and effort!