How to vacuum a swimming pool with a hose

Using a hose to vacuum your pool

On a hot day in the summer, it’s hard to beat the refreshment of diving into the coolness of a crystal-clear backyard swimming pool. Regularly vacuuming your pool ensures clean water that is ready for you whenever you want to take a quick dip.

Not interested in buying a ready-made vacuum set-up or just need a quick way to clean out debris? Here’s how to vacuum a swimming pool with a regular garden hose.

Why your pool needs to be vacuumed

Even if you have made a habit to remove floating debris every day, it’s inevitable that dirt, leaves and other backyard waste will sink to the bottom of the pool. When this happens, the debris will begin to decompose, clouding the water.

Decomposing debris and accumulated dirt can also clog the filter and make your pool harder to clean in the long term. Debris can even damage the filter if it’s not cleared quickly.

Even small inflatable pools need to be vacuumed regularly to ensure the cleanliness of the water and the safety of the swimmers.

What supplies do I need to vacuum my pool?

First, you’ll need a good-quality hose that reaches the length and depth of your pool. Most small to medium-sized residential pools will only need a 25-foot hose, but a larger pool might need much longer. You will also need a pool vacuum bag to collect large debris and dirt as you clean.

Finally, an extendable telescoping pool pole allows you to reach the deepest end of the pool with ease. It should be lightweight, sturdy and easy to maneuver.

Steps to cleaning your pool with a hose

If your pool has a filtration system, make sure it is turned off to give dirt and debris time to settle before you vacuum. Assemble your supplies, making sure the hose you selected is long enough for your purposes.

Attach the hose to the vacuum bag via its bypass valve. Depending on the bag you purchase, this can be located in a different area, but you are looking for a piece of plastic that is threaded to attach a hose. Attach the telescoping pole to the vacuum bag as well.

Next, you’ll need to get all of the air out of the hose to create a vacuum suction. First, place the vacuum bag with the hose and telescoping pole into the pool. Then you can remove air from the hose in one of two ways:

If you use the second method, you’ll see bubbles come out of the vacuum bag, but know that if you are not using a hose that fits the return jet exactly, this might not work. If this happens to you, go back to the first method to remove air from the hose by holding it underwater.

Once the air is out of the hose, lift the loose end of the hose out of the pool and lower it to a drain area. This draining will create a pressure vacuum that allows you to begin cleaning.

Start at the deepest area of the pool where debris is most likely to accumulate. Use the telescoping pool pole to move the hose back and forth along the bottom of the pool with a slow, steady sweeping motion. Moving too quickly will stir up debris further, so take your time. If you do cloud the water with too much movement, take a break to allow the debris to settle before continuing to vacuum.

The vacuum bag should fill up as you continue this sweeping motion. Once the pool is vacuumed, remove the vacuum bag and empty the debris onto a compost pile or in a trash can. Rinse the vacuum cleaner bag thoroughly and allow it to dry before storing it to prevent mold or mildew.

Of course, if you want an even simpler method for vacuuming a pool with a hose, you can skip all of the extra steps and supplies and simply use your garden hose. Submerge the entire hose into the pool until all of the air is removed from it, then lift one end out. This creates a suction that you can use to vacuum your pool with the other end of the hose.This method is not as thorough as using a vacuum bag but will work in a pinch.

Best supplies for vacuuming your pool

Best garden hose for vacuuming your pool

Gilmour Pro Commercial Hose: available atAmazon

This heavy-duty hose has a 3/4-inch diameter that allows small leaves and dirt clumps to pass through without clogging. At 75 feet, it’s long enough to reach most backyard pools, too.

Best vacuum bag

Aquatix Pro Premium Fine Mesh Bag: available atAmazon

This bag features fine mesh that traps even the smallest particles. Use the drawstring to ensure a tight seal on your vacuum.

Best telescoping pole

Aqua Select 6-18 Foot Telescoping Pool Vacuum Pole: available onAmazon

This lightweight extendable pole can be used for vacuuming or with a skimmer attached for daily clean-up of floating debris.

Best wall-mounted leaf catcher

Intex Deluxe Wall Mount Surface Skimmer: available atAmazon

The more pool debris you catch before it sinks to the bottom, the less frequently you’ll need to vacuum. This wall-mounted skimmer attaches to the filter pump for automatic skimming.

Best automatic vacuum for above ground pools

OT QOMOTOP Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner: available atAmazon

This rechargeable automatic pool cleaner is a great option for when you just don't have time to vacuum by hand. With a rechargeable battery and a runtime of 90 minutes, you can clean pools up to 860 square feet with a depth of 6 feet 6 inches.

Suzannah Kolbeck is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

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