The last time I posted a question about vacuum cleaners, I was told (privately) it wasn’t an interesting topic—but that was five years ago, and I for one am still somewhat obsessed with the question, so it’s interesting to one person, at least. 🙂 I’ve bought two vacuums in the past ten years, and both were massive disappointments. Like the Dyson people (whose products are out of my price range), I just like things to work properly! Here’s what I want: a lightweight vacuum cleaner/electric sweeper for hardwood floors that also works on area rugs. Basically I want a broom that sucks up the crumbs and the dust. I’ve tried the Swiffer rechargeable SweeperVac, and if it had more suction power, it would be exactly what I’m looking for. Alas, its vacuuming capability is simply not up to the challenge posed by this particular family. It pushes the Cheerios around, doesn’t inhale them. Our Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner is supposed to work on hardwood, but it leaves a lot of crumbs behind (and yes, I’ve tried changing the bag). B

esides, it’s heavy and bulky and makes me terribly crabby. I’ve heard mixed reviews of Orecks. Their light weight is certainly appealing. But then, the Swiffer is so light you can practically twirl it like a baton. Orecks are real vacuums, though. The question is, do they suck? Sometimes dirt, sand and debris will enter your hot tub and there’s nothing you can do about it. You can prevent it from entering by showering and rinsing your feet before you enter, but sometimes you just want to get into your hot tub as quick as possible, and that’s understandable. The good news is, learning how to remove dirt from a hot tub isn’t as difficult as it seems. There are four ways that I recommend. Some are easy, some are homemade, and some cost money. Whichever you choose, the goal is a clean hot tub, so let’s dive in. If you have the extra cash, and a frequently dirty hot tub, I highly recommend purchasing one — specifically the Zodiac Spa Wand. Zodiac 5-400-00 SpaWand Hand Held Pool and Spa Cleaner (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

The reason I love this option so much is because, unlike other spa vacuums, it’s powered manually, meaning no batteries needed. It works by pulling on the top like a slide whistle which draws water up through a mesh screen. Then, when you push the handle back down, instead of it disturbing the area you’re trying to clean, it releases the water out of the sides near the top of the wand. vacuum cleaner bags bushPretty brilliant when you see it in action:vacuum cleaners in canberra BONUS: If you have a swimming pool, you can also use the spa wand for those hard-to-reach spaces, like behind ladders and on the steps.how much is a new kirby vacuum cleanerIf not, you can buy some silly putty eggs to pick up sand in your hot tub.

Yes, I’m not kidding! Silly Putty is waterproof, and if you press it down on some dirt and debris, it will embed into the putty, problem solved. The only downside to this method is you won’t be able to use it afterwards to press down on your favorite Beetle Bailey comic strip in the Sunday paper. For your crafty hot tub owners, you can make your own automatic spa vacuum by getting a short piece of hose and wrapping a stocking to one end and create a siphon. If you don’t want to use panty hose, you can simple create a hose siphon and drain the hot tub water into a bucket outside the hot tub. If you don’t know how to create a suction, check out this video: You can finally use this famous kitchen gadget that you seem to only use at Thanksgiving: a turkey baster. Perhaps the cheapest, multi-use method on my list. Simply use the baster to suck the dirt off the bottom and dispose outside of your hot tub. This method, along with the silly putty method, is time-consuming, but really easy to do, and you probably have a baster taking up space in your kitchen drawer right now.

Just make sure you wash it really good before using it to actually bast your turkey folks. Keeping your hot tub clean is very important if you want it to last long, and I know you do. Again, if you can prevent the dirt and debris from entering your hot tub, that’s your best bet, but sometimes s**t happens :-) I’d like to turn it over to you. Perhaps you have another method that works well too. If so, I’d like to hear it — and so would everyone else — in the comments below. (photo by Hot Springs Spas)There are four main methods of how to clean a swimming pool: mechanical, biological, chemical, and with the help of ultraviolet radiation. Mechanical cleaning of the reservoir eliminates mechanical debris. Biological cleaning normalizes the balance of nutrients in the water. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation kills bacteria and unicellular algae. Chemical cleaning normalizes the chemical composition of the water in the reservoir. This article will explain how to clean your pool and how to get pool water clear.

Check out how to build your own natural swimming pool yourself  –  Read more… The first stage comprises mechanical blockages by debris – fallen leaves, needles, twigs, the dried stems of plants, pollen, lint, as well as plastic bags and other household waste. All this garbage floats on the surface of the water for several days and then sinks and begins to rot. At the second stage the pool can already be considered “dirty”. Its surface is coated with an oily film and it usually gives off an unpleasant smell. Pools with very muddy water smell no better. The next stage is the loss of species diversity, i.e. the filling of the reservoir with one type of vegetation, which almost completely displaces all the others. Usually outdoor swimming pools are prone to duckweed, cattail (this plant with broad leaves and brown buds-cobs is often wrongly identified as reeds), and blue-green algae (with severe outbreaks of flowering they release toxins dangerous for animals, fish and humans).

An increase in gas in the reservoir is another sign of contamination. Fortunately, chemical contamination, for example with petroleum products, is not often found in pools. This problem is mostly caused by pools that are replenished by storm water flowing from major roads or ones located in areas with a significant number of industrial enterprises. Small amounts of gasoline from the lawnmower getting in the water is not so scary – this is quickly “neutralized” by microorganisms present in the pool. Random ingress of a small amount of gasoline from the lawn mower is not so scary – it is quickly “neutralized” by living in the pool microorganisms. There are two main reasons for the contamination of your pool. The first is when harmful organic matter, fungi and bacteria accumulate on the bottom. This significantly decreases the oxygen content in the water. The effects can be different, ranging from the appearance of an oily film on the surface to the growth of duckweed.

The second cause of pollution is the presence in the water of too many nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen, which are waste products of fish and animals, as well as the result of dead plants decomposing). The levels of such nutrients in the water can be reduced with underwater vegetation such as potamogeton or ceratophyllum. Landsape your swimming pool into environment – Read article Mechanical swimming pool cleaning is the easiest and cheapest way to get rid of excess aquatic plants, algae and debris. Mechanical filters operate by passing water through a container filled with a porous material (quartz sand, gravel, or special pellets). Organic particles and algae are removed by backfilling and deposited in the filter. The finer the filter material, the smaller the particles it sifts out. Another tool for mechanical cleaning can be even an ordinary net for catching floating debris. If you don’t want to do it manually, use the skimmer. The filtering part of the structure is a plastic tank with a grate at the bottom.

The skimmer is placed directly into a pool. Due to the fact that the upper edge of the basket is just below the surface, the device constantly draws in water and floating debris. The skimmer pump is responsible for discharging the liquid and any dirt is left on the grid. For mechanical cleaning of the bottom and walls you can use an “underwater vacuum cleaner”. At its core is a conventional vacuum cleaner, but it sucks in dirty water with different suspensions – bottom silt, algae, and the dead remains of plants. The cleaner is usually equipped with some additional accessories that allow algae to be cleaned off rocks or the insides of narrow slits to be vacuumed. When the container becomes filled with sludge, the vacuum cleaner should be turned off. Such a vacuum cleaner can only be used in pools with an artificial frame (concrete, polymeric form, or film). Pebbles on the bottom will not hinder the process if they have a diameter greater than 0.4’’ (10mm). Biological treatment is based on the biochemical decomposition of organic matter (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates) to methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide.

It is performed by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in special devices. Biological treatment filters can be found in the product range of almost all firms specializing in this sphere. In the biological filter chamber is a porous substance in which microorganisms are broken down. This is the main solution to the problem of a cloudy pool. Chemical cleaning of pool water is performed by adding different chemical reagents and makes it possible to restore the normal pH of the water to remove harmful ammonia and metal compounds, saturate a pool with oxygen and dissolve algae. When using chemicals it is recommended to strictly observe all the instructions concerning dosage because certain substances in excessive doses are harmful not only for the flora, but also for humans. The majority of such chemicals are created so that their residues are decomposed into water and carbon dioxide and, therefore, are harmless. The use of chemicals in many cases can be avoided if your pond is home to not only decorative but also useful plants.

For example, the so-called plant-oxygenerators (callítriche, hornwort, fontinalis, and elodea). They contribute to the saturation of water with oxygen. One other possible method of water treatment is the application of ultraviolet radiation, which affects the DNA of viruses, bacteria, and microalgae, thus effectively killing them. The UV filter design should be complemented by a mechanism that prevents the growth of algae on the lamp. This may be positioned along the lamp’s plastic rim, on the inner side of the foam and can be set in motion using a special handle on an external filter case. To maintain the intensity of UV radiation it is recommended to replace the lamp every one or two seasons. The level at which your pool will be suitable for plant life and swimming largely depends on the water you fill it with. Depending on its origin, the water in the pool will have different properties. First of all, it can have different levels of hardness and acidity. Water hardness is determined by the content of dissolved salts of calcium and magnesium.

Water that is too hard causes the formation of deposits on the working parts of the pump, fountain and filter equipment, resulting in it breaking down more quickly. Water that is too soft and poor in nutrients slows down the development of plants. Special indicators and test sets are sold in garden centers, which allow you to measure the level of water hardness. The normal level of water hardness in a pool is not higher than 7 mg• EQ/dm3 (200 dn). The acidity is determined by the pH level. A neutral pH is 7. Lower values for water are considered acidic, and higher ones – alkaline. From time to time the level of acidity of water in the pool should be measured, because it may change after precipitation, and also due to exposure to sunlight, which can contribute to the formation of new chemical compounds. Check out our algae in pool removal guide To get water for the pool best of pure spring or well if you are sure that they are clean. Springs flowing near highways, often contain oil impurities caught in them along with stormwater.

It is best to source water for your pool from a pure spring or well if you are sure that they are clean. Springs flowing near highways often contain oil impurities along with storm water. Centralized water supply systems, involving centralized treatment, contain large amounts of chlorine. Therefore it is recommended to pre-fill the tank, wait a few days until the chlorine disperses, and only after that to fill the pool. A good option is rainwater, as it is soft and does not contain lime, nitrates, or phosphates. This means that it is poor in nutrients, and algae will struggle to spread. Pools with flowing water do not need to be cleaned as thoroughly as those with stagnant water. Harmful conditions occur less frequently in conditions of constant water change. The illumination of the pool also impacts on this. Full cleaning of the basin includes all three essential stages: mechanical, ultraviolet radiation, and biological. The sequence of stages can be changed: first can be applied treatment with ultraviolet radiation, then mechanical cleaning and biological filtration.