Robotic Pool Cleaner

Making pool cleaning easy

Pool cleaning.  Now, there's a job.  Nets, brushes, rakes, vacuums, headache, backache, crying... we've all been there, and not many of us enjoyed the experience.  So what can we do to ease the intense pain of cleaning the pool?  We could hire a pool cleaner?  But those muscular tanned youthful men always end up stealing your wife (or husband) - I've seen it in the 'movies' - so that's most definitely out of the question.  How about a robotic pool cleaner?

A Robotic Pool Cleaner?

"Maybe in 2050", I can hear you saying, "and I'll send C3PO down to the shops so that he can pick one up".  Very funny.  But actually you can go and buy one now.  They're out there, they work, they're not that expensive, and they mean you no longer have to cry while the pool is being cleaned.  Result!

Really?  What is it then?

Well, it's not an android with a brush.  That would be silly because the water would make the joints rusty.  No, it's actually a stand-alone unit that goes into the pool (well, you drop it in there), and then plug it into a nearby power point.  Unlike other automated pool cleaning devices the robot is not attached to the pump, and is not reliant on any existing pool machinery or infrastructure.  It swims on its merry way and, through a process that can only be described as 'drinking', filters all the water, removing nasty bits of detritus, debris, and muck.  These bits of much are deposited in bags on the side or back of the robotic pool cleaner, and you can empty them when you retrieve the little fella' from the pool later. Very nice indeed.

They're fun, too

All robots need some kind of controlling brain, and robotic pool cleaners are no exception.  Version are available that include a microchip to control their route around the pool - as a natural progression from this you can get remote-controlled versions.  Now you can tell little Jimmy to go play with the robotic pool cleaner, and he'll actually be happy - before when you told him to go and play with the brush, net and vacuum he was less than receptive.  But the likelihood is that you'll be doing all the playing, anyway.

As a bonus they come with great names:  'Robo-Kleen Robotic Pool Cleaner', 'Aqua bot', and 'Kreepy Krawly' are some of my favourites.  Come back here later for reviews of these.

Is there an easier and more fun way to clean you pool?  If there is then I strongly suspect it is illegal.