• Use a variety of cleaning techniques to keep the pool looking its best.pool image by Anne-Marie Walker from Fotolia.com
  
  Throughout the swimming season your pool needs regular cleaning to maintain a healthy environment for swimmers and an appealing appearance. There are several ways--from automatic cleaners to manual labor--to keep the water sparkling clear and keep debris off the floor and walls of the pool.
  
  

Backwashing

• One of the most important elements of pool cleaning is sanitary water. Even if your pool is not used regularly for swimming, many particles can get into the water through the air. The pump sucks water through the filter to prevent these foreign objects from remaining in the water, but when the filter becomes dirty it may not be able to adequately remove the impurities.
  
  Use a technique known as backwashing to clean the filter. This is not a regular cleaning procedure and only is done one to three times throughout the season in a private residential pool. By turning off the pump and switching the valve to the backwash setting, the water flows backward through the filter and forces the dirt and other impurities out of the filter through the drainage line.
  
  Backwashing is done when the pressure gauge rises eight to 10 pounds above the normal level and it can be completed in about three minutes, according to the Pool Center website.
  
  

Vacuuming

• Vacuuming is a very effective way to remove visible dirt and debris from the bottom of a swimming pool. Pool vacuums work by utilizing pressure from the pool's pump. A hose connected to the skimmer runs to the vacuum head, which typically is attached to a telescoping pole that will allow you to reach all points in the floor of the pool.
  
  This technique can be used while you are in the pool, but be careful not to move around too much as you can easily disrupt the settled debris.
  
  

Skimming

• Skimming can refer to use of a leaf net or the built-in skimmer.
  
  A built-in pool skimmer works automatically as long as the pump is running. Circulating water pushes debris to the surface and past the skimmer opening. Gentle suction pulls the debris into the opening, trapping it in the skimmer basket where it can be emptied out on a daily basis.
  
  Use an aluminum-framed mesh net, usually about 16 inches wide and attached to a telescoping pole, to manually skim the pool. It will collect leaves and other debris from the surface of the pool before each use.
  
  

Auto Cleaners

• Auto cleaning works in much the same way as a standard pool vacuum. The difference is that once you have it hooked up and running, you simply let it do its job. Auto cleaners roll along the bottom in a random fashion while sucking up any loose materials without disturbing the water around them.
  
  

Brushing

• Use a brush to scrub down the bottom and sides of a pool manually when algae or other build up appears. When regular cleaning and proper pool chemistry are neglected, this may be required to get the pool looking good again.