LAS VEGAS--I used to try cleaning my godmother's pool with long, unwieldy nets and hoses, and always gave up in frustration. iRobot's Mirra 530 would have been a huge help. Now being shown off at CES 2013, it improves upon the company's Verro pool bots. With its rotating brushes, Mirra is designed to scrub any type of in-ground pool without using the pool's filtration system, a concept aimed at saving energy. Unlike the $1,099.99 Verro 500 PowerScrub, the $1,299.99 Mirra has wheels instead of treads and a more powerful suction and filtration system. Mirra can pump and filter about 70 gallons of pool water per minute and suck up debris as small as 2 microns. Its iAdapt Nautiq technology allows it to suss out the dimensions of the pool and choose the most efficient way to rid all surfaces, from the bottom to the waterline, of everything from hair to bacteria. It can hug walls, handle steps, and automatically dodge obstacles. Also, it won't get its 60-foot floating power cord tangled up.

When you yank it out of the water, you just empty the two filter canisters of debris, then drop it back in next time. Mirra will be available this spring in select countries, along with iRobot's Looj 330 gutter-cleaning robot, which is already on the U.S. market. Our editors bring you all the news from the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show. A powerful Wi-Fi router with a friendly price tag Sony announces new 4K TVs, and much more at CES 2014 (pictures) The D-link Gaming Router gives you what you need to pwn the noobs LG Hecto Laser Projector: Truly big-screen TV All CES 2013 Stories Microsoft AI's next leap forward: Helping you play video gamesIt's a steaming hot day and you're about to cool off with a quick dip. A long, tall glass of your favourite tipple is waiting poolside. Only one problem: the pool is filthy. Are you going to spend the next hour laboriously cleaning the slime, grime and leaves? Or will you hightail it to the nearest pool shop for a pool cleaner?

I think we all know the answer to that. We've not tested pool cleaners, but you can see our pool fence reviews here. Do your research before diving in Pool cleaners sit in sun and chlorine for most of their working life (which does sound a little like a good holiday…) and can clock up more than 1000 km a year. Some cheaper models may not last the distance. pool cleaner hose connectorWhen CHOICE tested pool cleaners in the past, we found several were prone to getting blocked and others neglected some areas of the pool.the best robotic pool cleaner reviews Pool cleaners can't clean a very dirty pool, so you won't get out of this task altogether. pool filter cartridge spray cleaner tool

Give the pool a good manual clean at the start of each swimming season or when you haven't run the pool cleaner for a while. Suction, pressure or robotic? There are three types of pool cleaner out in the market: suction, pressure and robotic. Suction cleaners attach with a hose to your skimmer box and use the suction created by your filtration system to suck up grime. pool cleaning jobs in west palm beachMost pool cleaners you'll come across are suction models.best vacuum cleaner for pet hair south africa There are two kinds of suction cleaners:what the best way to clean up pine needles Inertia driven suction cleaners clean in a random pattern. While they will cover every inch of your pool, it may take some time.

They work well in pools with curved walls and no sharp corners. The popular Zodiac and Kreepy Krawler models are this type. Geared suction cleaners, such as The Pool Cleaner model, move in a pre-determined pattern and will clean your pool surface in the shortest time possible. They can easily get into tight corners which makes them suitable for smaller pools with lots of steps and sharp ledges. Geared cleaners have more moving parts than the random pattern models, so they will probably need more maintenance. Cheaper than other types of pool cleaners. If you leave them permanently in the pool, they fill up the skimmer box, meaning extra effort for the pump (and potentially damaging). When they are attached, the skimmer box isn't taking in anything from the surface of the pool - which means everything goes to the bottom, making more work for the suction cleaner. Pressure cleaners are more powerful than suction cleaners. Most models operate with an additional booster pump which needs a separate hose connection in the pool wall.

These can be expensive to retrofit so look at another model if your pool doesn't already have one. Pressure cleaners that connect directly into your existing pool pump may put strain on the filtration system. Can reach into tight corners. Collect everything from fine sand to rocks and leaves. Can be faster than suction cleaners. More expensive than suction cleaners. Probably need more maintenance. Robotic or electric self-propelled cleaners Robotic pool cleaners run on electricity so you'll need a power point close to the pool. Good for large pools. Can be inconvenient – you need to place them into the pool for a cleaning session and then remove them. Don't tend to filter water while cleaning. Probably the most expensive of the automatic pool cleaners. Other features to look for when buying a pool cleaner Your pool cleaner should be able to cope with different pool shapes and sizes by adjusting hose buoyancy and main flow.