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Vacuuming Your Pool & Spa

Posted by Watson's on Jul 1, 2022 12:00:00 PM

Nothing will ruin a relaxing dip in the pool or soak in the spa like seeing dirt and debris floating or settling at the bottom and having to postpone your fun to clean it out.

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It’s common for dirt and debris to get into your above ground pool, spa, or hot tub. From kids running in and out to storms carrying leaves and debris, it’s inevitable that dirt will find its way into your pool and spa.

An important part of maintenance for your pool or spa is consistent vacuuming. 

We’ve put together some easy steps for when and how to vacuum out both your pool and/or spa for a pleasurable swim or soak.

Before You Vacuum

Before you vacuum either your pool, spa, or hot tub, you’ll want to remove any toys or floating items as well as any large debris, like leaves and twigs. Pick out the toys and use a skimmer to clean out the large debris easily. Watson’s carries skimmer sizes to easily use for both a pool or a spa. If you have a larger pool, you can also get a telescopic pole to reach the center.

To get all the dirt out, you can consider brushing the spa or pool walls to remove any stuck on dirt that’s built up, especially around the water line. Just make sure to use a soft sponge that isn’t abrasive so you don’t damage the liner. 

Vacuuming Your Pool or Spa

Before getting out the vacuum, make sure your above ground pool or spa is ready for cleaning mode. Check your pump and filter and adjust any settings as needed, such as a waste option. If you don’t have that option, you’ll want to keep an eye on your filter when you clean so as not to clog your filter.

Next, you’ll want to make sure your vacuum is ready to work and in good condition. Keeping your vacuum well-maintained and inspecting before use will ensure a longer product life.

After inspection, for your above ground pool, you can start cleaning!

There are two types of vacuums you can use, manual or automatic. Watson’s offers vacuums and accessories for pools and spas in a variety of options and sizes, from handheld for spas to larger for pools.

Our Volt FX-4 model can easily be used for both and it’s lightweight, battery-powered operation allows for quick and easy spot cleaning of the sides or your full pool or spa. A rechargeable lithium battery means no cords or hoses needed and you can use for up to 45 minutes when fully charged.

Our Volt FX-2 model is perfect for hot tubs and spas. Weighing only three pounds and powered by D-cell batteries, this small yet mighty vacuum can clean up to 3x the amount of debris as other vacuums on the market.

For our above ground pools, the automatic Kontiki 2 is another option to keep your pool clean of dirt and debris through the use of a hydraulic motor. Using water flow, this pool cleaner creates pressure and a vacuum to pick up settled dirt and debris efficiently. It comes with two adaptors to connect to the skimmer or suction point.

If you’re looking for a vacuum that will work fast, look no further than our Volt FX-8 which has the most powerful motor. It runs up to one hour on a lithium battery, but you won’t need nearly that much time to get your above ground pool clean with this model. 

Our Spa Vac Ultra model, with streamlined design to pick up even the smallest of debris in your spa or hot tub is a popular choice.

Looking to make cleaning easier and less hands-on? Then you’ll definitely want to check out our selection of Dolphin brand pool cleaners. These robotic cleaners do the heavy lifting so you can enjoy other activities. Some models even include Wi-Fi options, allowing you to select your cleaning programs and manage all from your smart phone! From large debris to fine dirt and from the bottom of your pool to the walls and waterline, Dolphin pool cleaners are popular choice for above ground pool owners to keep their pools sparkling clean and clear!

Tips for Vacuuming

To begin cleaning, make sure all your hookups are attached correctly and have a tight seal so as not to lose any suction. 

When vacuuming your above ground pool manually, use long, smooth strokes across the pool floor in a slow motion so as not to spread or stir up debris and dirt from the vacuum head. For a spa, make sure you also vacuum slowly to avoid moving dirt around and needing to take more time to clean. You may need to go over it more than once if you have a lot of dirt.

Automatic vacuums are convenient in their plug and place design. Just make sure you’ve removed all toys and large debris so as not to clog the vacuum. 

After you’ve finished vacuuming your pool or spa, check and clean out your pump strainer basket of dirt. Adjust your filter settings back if you switched to the waste option. 

Make sure you thoroughly drain and clean your vacuum after use to keep it well maintained. 

You may also want to test your water chemistry, especially if there was a lot of debris or dirt in your spa or pool. 

For a quick tutorial for both manual and automatic pool vacuum cleaning, check out this video!

Cleaning Schedule

How often should you vacuum your spa or above ground pool? The most obvious is when it has visible dirt and debris build-up from a lot of use or if a storm or windy day carried debris in.

But apart from that, we recommend vacuuming your pool and spa at least once a week.

We also recommend covering your spa when not in use and covering your pool if you’re not going to be using it for a few days to avoid extra cleaning sessions. 

Vacuum Accessories

In addition to pool and spa vacuums, Watson’s carries accessories, including weighted vacuum heads and plates to assure you have the best and most efficient cleaning tools to get the job done quickly.

For all your pool and spa maintenance and cleaning needs, head into your nearest Watson’s superstore and talk with one of our experts. From size, shape, and style to maintenance and cleaning, our experts at Watson’s can help you find the perfect pool or spa addition to add to your outdoor oasis.





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