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Pool Care & Maintenance: Expert Guides

Smart Outdoor Living - Keep your yard looking its best.

JohnAlexander · 01/07/2026

Pool Stairs Cleaning: How to Remove Every Stain by Surface and Type

To clean pool stairs, scrub with a nylon brush and a diluted bleach solution (4 parts water to 1 part bleach) for algae, a wet...
JohnAlexander - 30/06/2026

The Pool Owner Guide: What Owning a Pool Actually Takes

Owning a pool comes down to running four systems at once. Water chemistry, circulation, surface cleaning, and safety....

The Pool Owner Guide: What Owning a Pool Actually Takes
JohnAlexander - 25/06/2026

Why Your Robotic Pool Cleaner Isn't Picking Up Sand and How to Fix It

Sand left on the pool floor after a cleaning cycle usually points to one of five causes, in...

Why Your Robotic Pool Cleaner Isn't Picking Up Sand and How to Fix It
JohnAlexander - 24/06/2026

Will Baking Soda Raise Pool pH? What to Actually Expect

Yes, baking soda will raise pool pH, but only a little, and often not until your alkalinity is...

Will Baking Soda Raise Pool pH? What to Actually Expect
Pool stairs collect algae, calcium, and oils faster than the pool floor

Pool Stairs Cleaning: How to Remove Every Stain by Surface and Type

JohnAlexander

Pool Stairs Cleaning: How to Remove Every Stain by Surface and Type

JohnAlexander
The Pool Owner Guide: What Owning a Pool Actually Takes

The Pool Owner Guide: What Owning a Pool Actually Takes

JohnAlexander

The Pool Owner Guide: What Owning a Pool Actually Takes

JohnAlexander
Sand left on the pool floor after a cleaning cycle usually points to five checkable causes.

Why Your Robotic Pool Cleaner Isn't Picking Up Sand and How to Fix It

JohnAlexander

Why Your Robotic Pool Cleaner Isn't Picking Up Sand and How to Fix It

JohnAlexander
Will Baking Soda Raise Pool pH? What to Actually Expect

Will Baking Soda Raise Pool pH? What to Actually Expect

JohnAlexander

Will Baking Soda Raise Pool pH? What to Actually Expect

JohnAlexander
Adding an alkalinity increaser around the pool perimeter

Pool Alkalinity Increaser: What It Is and How to Use

JohnAlexander

Pool Alkalinity Increaser: What It Is and How to Use

JohnAlexander
Sodium bicarbonate is the same compound sold as pool alkalinity increaser

Sodium Bicarbonate in Pool Care: What It Does and How It Affects pH

JohnAlexander

Sodium Bicarbonate in Pool Care: What It Does and How It Affects pH

JohnAlexander
Testing water chemistry is the first step in any weekly pool care routine

Weekly Pool Maintenance Schedule: Every Task, in Order

JohnAlexander

Weekly Pool Maintenance Schedule: Every Task, in Order

JohnAlexander
Testing hot tub pH and alkalinity before adding anything

How to Raise pH in a Hot Tub the Right Way

JohnAlexander

How to Raise pH in a Hot Tub the Right Way

JohnAlexander
A large residential pool tests every aspect of a robotic cleaner's design

Best iGarden Pool Cleaner for Large Pools and Long Cleaning Cycles

JohnAlexander

Best iGarden Pool Cleaner for Large Pools and Long Cleaning Cycles

JohnAlexander
A pool robot can clear cloudy water when the cause is physical debris, not chemistry

Can iGarden Pool Robots Help With Fine Particles and Cloudy Pool Water?

JohnAlexander

Can iGarden Pool Robots Help With Fine Particles and Cloudy Pool Water?

JohnAlexander
Mild cloudiness right after shocking is part of how the treatment works

Cloudy Pool After Shocking: Why It Happens and How to Fix It

JohnAlexander

Cloudy Pool After Shocking: Why It Happens and How to Fix It

JohnAlexander
Leaves and daily debris are two different problems, and one cleaner needs to handle both.

Best iGarden Pool Cleaner for Leaves and Daily Debris

JohnAlexander

Best iGarden Pool Cleaner for Leaves and Daily Debris

JohnAlexander