As the proud owner of a swimming pool, the last thing you want is to spend more time maintaining the pool than you actually spend using it.

Maintaining your own pool is not rocket science. It isn’t difficult to do and takes no special talents or a PhD in chemistry. But it does require a certain amount of time and level of commitment to do properly. Without competent care at regular intervals, your pool can quickly morph into an unsightly stew of algae and floating debris that no one wants to look at, much less swim in.

Your primary pool maintenance tool is, of course, the pool’s filter. Read its instructions and get to know it well. The better you know your filter, the better you will be at managing your pool water’s balance, cleanliness, and clarity. Be sure to follow all instructions for proper filtration as well as recommendations for daily upkeep and running time, which typically varies by climate and amount of usage.

The other tools you’ll need are relatively inexpensive, easy to find and should last a long time. We did a little browsing on Amazon to see what’s out there and came up with these basics:

The Basics:

Telescoping pole: With various attachments, used for skimming the surface and cleaning the sides and bottom.
Pool skimmer attachment: Preferably with an extra deep net basket to prevent trapped debris from escaping. Most filtration systems include automatic skimmers built into the surface water intake. These do a very efficient job of suctioning debris from the surface, over time. But a telescoping skimmer can pick off freshly fallen debris in seconds.
Soft wall and tile brush attachment: Also adapts to your telescoping pole, to prevent algae, dirt, and calcium build-up. There are hundreds of other nifty attachments, including corner brushes (for obsessive pool cleaners like me, I guess.)
Pool vacuum attachment and hose to suction up dirt and debris that have made it to the bottom.
Pool water test kit: There are many of these on the market. Most check for chlorine, pH, and alkalinity, but you can test for other chemicals and contaminants as well. Or as many pool owners do, have your local pool store test the water for you.
Chlorine and other water treatment chemicals: Your pool water test kit will reveal which ones are needed and how much.
Floating chlorine dispenser, with controlled release, to dispense chlorine at prescribed levels. Simply dropping chlorine tablets into your pool skimmer basket can shorten the life of both.

Optional:

Robotic pool cleaner. If you don’t opt for one of these gizmos, you’ll have to perform this chore yourself, which is a boring, slow-moving process that requires patience to do properly.
A pool service to do everything for you. Let’s face it, there are loads of reputable pool services out there with rates that are very competitive. Delegating the work means no running back and forth to the pool store each weekend for those big yellow jugs of chlorine. No scrambling to find someone to “pool sit” while you’re away on summer vacation. Then seeing what happens to the pool after they forget to do it.