Properly maintaining your spa is one of the best ways to avoid costly repairs down the road. But what equipment do you need to keep your pool or spa in proper condition? More importantly, what purpose do these tools serve? The following checklist will put you in the know.

· Hand-held vacuums—Operate using simple hydraulics and without the need for batteries or wires. They are positioned over sediment and debris and squeezed or primed to draw in sand and small pebbles. Some models feature an internal vacuum motor powered by a rechargeable battery.
· Cartridge filter cleaners—Attached to the end of a standard garden hose, they feature soft rubber ‘fingers’ that separate the cartridge pleats, sending streams of water between them.
· Water fill filters—Attached to a garden hose when refilling the spa with water, a spa filter traps fine particles.
· Brushes—Attached to a standard or telescopic pole, non-scratch spa brushes feature a rubber edge and soft bristles in a semi-circular design to clean hard to reach areas inside the spa.
· Pads & mittens—Specially designed to remove built-up grease and grime in spas without damaging the surface of the spa shell.
· Scum sponges—Made from absorbent foam, they float on the surface of spa water and soak up oils and lotions preventing scum from forming along the waterline.
· Skimming net—Collects pollen, foam and insects from the surface of spa water.

All maintenance tools mentioned are available from your local pool and spa dealer and many come prepackaged in a convenient pool or spa maintenance kit.