Mudder's_Mudder

Yes. Get a pool service. [Well, you didn't specify cheap tips.... ]

Seriously. When we had a pool (started off with chlorine, converted to salt water, then went back to chlorine), we used a pool service off and on over the years. That was the cleanest (meaning blindingly sparkling, shimmering clean) the pool ever looked. I know they used a granular superchlorinator that worked longer and better than the liquid we used. The granular required more "babysitting," though. We did use a Polaris at all times, too, but there were always areas of the pool floor, and of course all of the walls, that the Polaris didn't reach that had to be brushed down periodically.

We had an awful time with airborne oak and pine pollen in the spring that turned the pool surface yellow. I don't know that there's any way to avoid that if it's a problem in your area. Our pool service twice a year used an effective liquid cleaner that's sold in pool stores for the coping. Don't remember the name, but it comes in a tube and IIRC is a blue gel.

One thing I did learn: a clean pool depends on (1) the proper balance of chemicals in the water at all times and (2) keeping organic debris, which degrades quickly, out. No getting around that. The water has to be tested every week with the full assay, not just pH and chlorine level. Make sure your filter material (ours was sand) is changed as often as recommended. It also helps, if the pool is used often (better for the water quality) and by lots of people, to have the swimmers at least rinse off before using the pool (I'm not kidding!). Some things depend on whether you have vinyl, gunite, tile, or heated water--advantages and disadvantages to each. We had extensive refurbishing done to ours over the years and picked up useful tips from pool contractors, pool stores, and even the neighbors. Good luck--and now you know why we will never own another house with a pool, LOL!


Back to cleaning tips...

For sterling silver jewelry (only silver; I don't do this with gemstones + silver): Add hot water and baking soda to a clean glass container lined with aluminum foil and big enough to hold the pieces of jewelry so they don't touch each other. Let soak a few minutes. When the tarnish is off, rinse the jewelry thoroughly in cool water, dry well, then polish with a clean, soft, lintfree cloth. Amazing.

Ellemenope: Nah. Just some wonder material brought to us by earthly chemists.

Signed,
Chemist's_Mudder