Blog image Blog image

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
Homeowner preparing  shock a backyard salt water pool in the evening

Salt Water Pool Shock: What to Use and When to Do It

JohnAlexander

Salt Water Pool Shock: What to Use and When to Do It

JohnAlexander
Homeowner testing pool water the morning after shock treatment before swimming

How Long After Shocking a Pool Can You Swim?

JohnAlexander

How Long After Shocking a Pool Can You Swim?

JohnAlexander
A cloudy pool after over-shocking, with the homeowner checking chlorine levels

Can You Over Shock Your Pool? What Happens and How to Fix It

JohnAlexander

Can You Over Shock Your Pool? What Happens and How to Fix It

JohnAlexander
How Often Should You Shock Your Pool?

How Often Should You Shock Your Pool?

JohnAlexander

How Often Should You Shock Your Pool?

JohnAlexander
Homeowner vacuuming dead algae residue from the floor of a backyard swimming pool after shock treatment

Does a Pool Vacuum Remove Algae? What It Can and Cannot Do

JohnAlexander

Does a Pool Vacuum Remove Algae? What It Can and Cannot Do

JohnAlexander
Person brushing algae from a swimming pool without using a pool vacuum

How to Remove Algae From a Pool Without a Vacuum

JohnAlexander

How to Remove Algae From a Pool Without a Vacuum

JohnAlexander
Homeowner testing pool water beside a backyard swimming pool with light algae buildup before copper algaecide treatment

Does Copper Kill Algae in a Pool? How It Works and When to Use It

JohnAlexander

Does Copper Kill Algae in a Pool? How It Works and When to Use It

JohnAlexander
Black Spots In Pool Not Algae: What They Are, Why They Happen, And How To Fix Them

Black Spots In Pool Not Algae: What They Are, Why They Happen, And How To Fix Them

JohnAlexander

Black Spots In Pool Not Algae: What They Are, Why They Happen, And How To Fix Them

JohnAlexander
Red Algae in Pool: How to Get Rid of It for Good and Keep It From Coming Back

Red Algae in Pool: How to Get Rid of It for Good and Keep It From Coming Back

JohnAlexander

Red Algae in Pool: How to Get Rid of It for Good and Keep It From Coming Back

JohnAlexander
Mustard Algae in Pool: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent It

Mustard Algae in Pool: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent It

JohnAlexander

Mustard Algae in Pool: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent It

JohnAlexander
Pool owner skimming dog hair from the water right after a dog swims.

Pool Cleaning With Dogs: How to Handle Hair, Oils, and Equipment Wear

JohnAlexander

Pool Cleaning With Dogs: How to Handle Hair, Oils, and Equipment Wear

JohnAlexander
Pool Stain Identification: What That Color Is Actually Telling You

Pool Stain Identification: What That Color Is Actually Telling You

JohnAlexander

Pool Stain Identification: What That Color Is Actually Telling You

JohnAlexander