One of the regular and required tasks that comes with owning a pool is cleaning it. But, if you own a small pool, an inflatable pool, or a spa, standard-size automatic pool cleaners will prove to be too big and bulky for the job. Smaller areas require smaller pool cleaners. To most efficiently meet your dirt and debris cleaning needs, the most appropriate option would be cordless, hoseless, automatic pool cleaners that work independently of your pool's pump and filter system.

Larger automatic pool cleaners are most often powered by electricity from the home, or by the suction created from a pool's pump and filter system. Either way, pool owners are obliged to handle a fairly cumbersome machine and many feet of cords or hoses. More substantial devices as well as long cords and hoses are a welcome addition when the area to be cleaned is significant, but not when it comes to cleaning smaller pools and spas. Many of the automatic pool cleaners designed for smaller spaces are lightweight, easy to maneuver, free of cords and hoses, and powered by standard batteries. Some pool cleaners come equipped with rechargeable batteries, a more environmentally sound choice, and some even operate without any batteries, but rather by drawing debris up into a capture chamber through a siphoning process.

Handy additions to look for in automatic pool cleaners designed for smaller spaces include reusable filter bags for collecting debris and a telescoping pole for easy cleaning of deeper areas in the spa or pool, or the ability to fasten your existing telescoping pole. In addition, look for the length of time that the pool cleaners will run before new batteries are required -- some stay charged for as little as 30 minutes, while others can clean for up to 3 hours or longer on a single charge or set of batteries. Length of operation time may not be a significant factor if the pool cleaner will be used in a spa or as a spot cleaner in a larger pool. If the pool cleaner will be used to completely clean a small to medium-size pool, though, length of operation time will be an important consideration.

Another characteristic to consider when deciding among automatic pool cleaners for small spaces is the size and shape of the cleaning head. What is the size and shape of your pool or spa? Are there small niches or tight angles into which you would want a pool cleaner to fit? Will you be using your pool cleaner for spot cleaning only, or will it also be used to clean an entire pool? Some pool cleaners are made with a narrow head, and these are ideal for cleaning spas and for spot cleaning any size swimming pool. Other pool cleaners for small spaces have a wider head, but often come with a crevice or corner attachment to reach tighter spaces. These work well as spot cleaners in any size pool, but they can also successfully clean small to medium-size pools as a whole.

In sum, when it comes to small pools, inflatable pools, or spas, choosing the most suitable automatic pool cleaner depends largely on your own needs: how would you like your pool cleaner to be powered; how long do you need a single battery charge to last; and what features will help you most efficiently clean your specific pool or spa? No matter what size your pool or spa, cleaning it is a necessary job, and using the most suitable pool cleaner for the job will save you time and effort.