This hot summer has been all about the swimming pool and here are some ideas to help keep the pool both clean and fun for the rest of the season.
Keeping the pool sparkling clean between weekly servicing has become easier with two new water robots I purchased several months ago.
The first was the Maytronics Dolphin Sigma electric pool vacuum ($1,449).
This vacuum is a powerful little workhorse. It climbs the pool’s walls and scrubs the floor and the waterline tile and brings up all the debris — tree needles, leaves and flower blossoms — that might be on the bottom.
Everything is gathered into twin filters with fine mesh that captures fine particles, even pollen and that shimmering film that sometimes floats on the surface.
It plugs into a nearby outlet and has an app for those who like to schedule cleanings, although it’s easy just to push the on/off button on the motor.
It has struggled a little to climb the walls of the deep end and it doesn’t seem to be able to fit on the top two stairs, which are curved, but a pool brush is easy enough for that when necessary.
Leslie’s Pool Supplies in San Rafael and Novato carry the Polaris line of robot vacuums.
The Polaris PCX 868 iQ with the caddy normally costs $1,249 but there’s a $50 manufacturer mail-in rebate available through Sept. 2.
Just know that while robot vacuums are wonderful, they do not maintain a pool’s water quality.
If you still stand over your pool to manually skim it, there’s a better way. It’s called the robot skimmer.
After a lot of research, I decided on the Betta SE Plus solar-powered pool skimmer for $329.
There are no batteries to buy or recharge, there’s no electric cord and there’s no reaching into the middle of the pool for an escaped leaf or a spread of fir needles. And it works in both conventional and saltwater pools.
It’s solar-powered with a topside basket that’s easy to remove and empty.
Realistically, there’s no way anyone can skim the pool all day long like this robot does, keeping the surface spotless.
It just cruises around the pool and gobbles up large leaves, flimsy flower petals and the dreaded fir needles that otherwise would sink to the bottom or clog up the filter.
There have been a few windy evenings when I’ve watched leaves blow off the trees and drift into the pool but the robot has captured every one.
I love this skimmer. It’s a game-changer.
Inflatable floats are practically pool staples, but PoolCandy takes them a step further.
It has a line of motorized, inflatable floats for adults and children.
New this year is the Splash Runner Pro Luxury Pool Lounger ($249). It has battery-operated dual motors with propellers that are secured behind a protective safety grill, holders for both a cup and a waterproof phone, and twin hand controls that let you navigate around the pool. It can hold up to 350 pounds. PoolCandy sells it online for $249 but Leslie’s Pool Supply has it on sale for $139 online.
An inflatable “inner tube” model is also available for $149.99.
For those who prefer to pedal around a pool or a lake, PoolCandy has a nonmotorized pedal runner ($79) that is a high-backed lounger with two foot pedals.
For children, there’s the Jet Runner, like a little jet ski, a unicorn, a pink flamingo and a dinosaur. For even younger children, there’s the Little Tikes line of motorized floats — a car and a speedboat — that parents can control with a remote control. They range in price from $129 to $149.
Online reviews are generally positive but some purchasers had issues that seemed to be resolved later by customer support.
The dog days of summer are here, so we can’t leave out our pups.
Peteast Splash Pad comes in various round sizes that simply hook up to a garden hose.
The hose fills up the inflatable ring that encircles a shallow, environmentally friendly (no BPA or phthalates) nonskid, thickened PVC play area, or pool.
Because it’s so shallow, even small dogs can enjoy it.
The force of the hose water sends little jets of water into the pool, where it collects.
Once the pool is filled, the hose can be turned off and water-loving dogs can lie about and relax. Children can play with them in the pool, too. Just make sure your dog’s nails are trimmed before using.
Sizes range from 51 inches ($17.99) to 97 inches ($35) in diameter on Amazon, where it has scored both an Amazon’s choice and overall-pick rating.
If you have a beautiful or interesting Marin garden or a newly designed Marin home, I’d love to know about it.
Please send an email describing either one (or both), what you love most about it and a photograph or two. I will post the best ones in upcoming columns. Your name will be published and you must be over 18 years old and a Marin resident.
PJ Bremier writes on home, garden, design and entertaining topics every Saturday. She may be contacted at P.O. Box 412, Kentfield 94914, or at pj@pjbremier.com.
