Domakihub How to vacuum your pool (the right way)
Brushing stirs up dirt; vacuuming removes it. Here's how to manually vacuum a pool without losing suction or sending dirt back in.
Reviewed by Domakihub pool pros · 2026-06-23 · 4 min read
Manual vacuuming is the most reliable way to get debris off the floor of a pool. The trick most people miss is priming the hose first — skip it and you suck air, not water. The video above demonstrates it; the steps below are the order that keeps suction strong.
What you'll need
A vacuum head, a telescopic pole, a vacuum hose and your skimmer (or a dedicated vacuum plate). Brush the walls and floor first so the vacuum picks up loosened dirt.
Vacuum your pool in 5 steps
- 1
Assemble the gear
Clip the vacuum head onto the pole and attach one end of the hose to the head. Lower it to the bottom of the pool.
- 2
Prime the hose
Hold the free end of the hose in front of a return jet until water flows out the other end and the bubbles stop. This fills the hose with water so you get suction, not air.
- 3
Connect to the skimmer
Keeping the hose full, plug the free end into the skimmer suction port (use a vacuum plate over the basket if you have one).
- 4
Vacuum in slow, overlapping passes
Move the head slowly across the floor like mowing a lawn. Going fast just stirs the dirt back up into the water.
- 5
Finish and clean up
For a very dirty pool, vacuum 'to waste' so the dirt bypasses the filter; otherwise backwash or clean the filter afterwards and empty the pump basket.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted pool pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- Vacuum to waste or through the filter?
- Light debris: through the filter is fine. Heavy dirt or algae after a green-pool treatment: vacuum to waste so you don't clog or recirculate it.
- Why is my vacuum losing suction?
- Usually air in the hose (re-prime it), a clogged pump or skimmer basket, or a low water level letting the skimmer pull air.
- How often should I vacuum?
- Once a week in season is typical, plus after storms or heavy use. A robotic cleaner can cut this down.