These Automatic Pool Cleaners Are Ingenious, Affordable, & Eco-Friendly

Having a pool is awesome, unless you’re the one who has to clean it. Bugs, leaves, grass clippings, you name it—when summer hits, all that muck is going to end up in your pool. Sure, you could hire a pool service or buy a robotic cleaner, but both those options are really expensive. Luckily, there are some pretty ingenious but affordable automatic pool cleaners out there to make your job a whole lot easier.

Whether you like to keep your pool all to yourself, or you’re the kind of person who extends an open pool-party invitation to everyone you know, there are a number of amazing products that can keep your pool clean without breaking the bank or your back. And because they work by utilizing pressure from your pool’s return jets, they require no extra power, which is great for the environment as well as your wallet. So if you’re spending more time cleaning your pool than swimming in it, but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, take a look at the following pressure-powered automatic pool cleaners.

The Pool Python - Automatic Pool Cleaner & Pressure Powered Skimmer

The Pool Python automatic pool cleaner is an amazing surface skimmer that uses the power of your pool’s existing water-return jet to capture debris floating on the water’s surface. It quickly and easily removes dirt, leaves, and other muck, effectively doubling the cleaning power of your filtration system without producing dangerous suction or clogging your existing skimmer/drains. And because it requires no additional pumps or electricity, it saves you money as it lessens your environmental impact.

The Pool Python works with a standard 1.5 inch female return jet, but you you can purchase an adapter if your pool has something different. It’s easy to install for both solid-walled above-ground pools and most inground pools. And it’s also long and narrow, which means it can sit flat against the side of your pool, taking up less real estate.

PoolSkim

The PoolSkim automatic pool cleaner looks like a bucket floating in your pool, but it’s way more than that. It connects to your pool’s outflow return jet, which is where water flows back in after going through the filtration system. The power of the water jetting back into the pool creates a venturi suction effect, which attracts floating debris like a magnet. The debris then falls into the bucket and shoots out the bottom into a net. When the net gets full, you simply detach and empty it.

The rim of the PoolSkim bucket is self-adjusting, which means you don’t have to worry about maintaining exact water levels. Like the automatic pool cleaners on the list, it attaches to a standard 1.5-inch threaded return jet and comes with male and female attachments. But don’t worry if your pool only has a straight unthreaded pipe. You can purchase an adapter kit.

Pooldevil Pro

If you’re looking for no frills automatic pool cleaners, the Pooldevil Pro is for you. Like the PoolSkim and the Pool Python, it uses your pool’s return jet to create a suction effect that attracts debris floating in your pool. However, instead of a sleek design that minimizes the aesthetic impact, the Pooldevil is just a net attached to a floating ring at the end of a hose. But it is simple, cheap, and effective. And while will have a long hose floating in your pool, that’s better than leaves and dead bugs.