There are certain precautions to take in order to keep the pool water clean all summer long.  First it is always wise to add the appropriate amount of chemicals to kill unwanted bacteria and algae that can thrive in the much frequented water.  Make sure to keep up with the schedule of when to add more chemicals as every day the water is left untreated gives bacteria and algae the chance to rapidly reproduce.

Another wise decision is to purchase a pool cover that will keep debris such as branches, leaves, and pollen from falling into the pool.  Pool covers also keep unwanted critters such as frogs and flying insects from sneaking in.

Combining these actions with a filter can keep your water well-circulated and clear all summer long, and year long if desired.  Filters can trap any debris that might have accidentally been brought in as people enter and re-enter the water.  Lotions, suntanning oils, and sunscreens are also caught inside the filter to prevent slimy water.

One last quick tip is to always rinse off your body, especially your feet, before re-entering.  Dirt and other unwanted substances can quickly become the culprit behind cloudy or malodorous water. You can coordinate your bath accents to the pool decor, and it will all make a pool-spa look together.

By following these quick steps you can ensure you backyard pool will remain clean and inviting for as long as you wish.

The three basic types of automatic cleaners

The most popular type of automatic cleaners is the pressure pool cleaner. It uses a water pump to move along the bottom of the swimming pool to clean out debris. It is very efficient in removing large debris like leaves, twigs and even dead insects. The two disadvantages though are that it cannot filter small debris like sand and similar sized or smaller objects and it does not have the capability to scrub your walls. You will have to do that on your own.

Another popular type of pool cleaner is the suction cleaners. It uses suctioning to be able to move around and at the same time sucking in water to filter it from the smaller sized debris. It also has the capability to scrub the walls of your swimming pool. And is among the most inexpensive types of automatic cleaners. The downside though is that the debris bag is made specifically for smaller debris and although it works for the larger ones, it gets full and clogged up pretty easily.

The last of the three are robotic cleaners. It is the most expensive but the most effective. It uses electricity as the cleaner is powered through a waterproof cord. It efficiently cleans the water from almost all sizes of debris and can and will clean even the walls. Some models can even be controlled via a remote controller while most are just really fully-automated, able to navigate through the contours of the water hole.

Some tips to help keep your pool clean

Whether you have someone to take care of the cleaning for you or not, it helps minimize the cleaning costs if you keep your pool as clean as you can while you are using it. Aside from the more obvious manual picking of the debris like leaves and twigs with the use of a scoop or net, there are other things you need to take care of. What makes a pool dirty is not only confined with the debris, but with microorganisms as well such as bacteria and algae.

To keep the water in its cleanest possible state, make sure that you have the right pH balance, this not only leads to a more crystal clear water but this actually makes your disinfectant, like chlorine or bromine, work more efficiently. Make sure that you use the adequate amount of disinfectant and algaecide, to prevent swimmers from getting sick with bacterial and fungal infections. These microorganisms also contribute to the clouding of pool water and may even build up along the tile grout. Both are unpleasant to look at and really unhealthy.

Until you can afford to employ the services of a cleaning crew to do the cleaning for you or until you have purchased a pool cleaner, there is nothing left to do but to keep your swimming pool as clean as you can by not using it at all and keeping it covered.