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National Post

Review: Polaris Freedom Plus is the best robotic pool cleaner we've tried

Article content When we opened our pool this year, we were hit with the perfect storm of spring mess. We use a tarp cover, but with all the snow we got this winter, some areas came loose and the pool ended up collecting dirt and debris. On top of that, strong spring winds and rain blew in leaves, maple keys, fine sand and dirt from our patio stones during the opening process. Add in the fact that we live in a heavily treed area and constantly have a rotating cast of neighbourhood kids tracking in grass and who-knows-what, and it was clear we needed some serious cleaning power. Article content Article content Article content We'd used a corded robotic pool cleaner in the past, but after a few years, the cord had become a tangled, sun-damaged mess. When it finally stopped working altogether, we were told it would cost over $400 just to replace the cord — not the motor, not the body, just the cord! That didn't make much sense to us, so we went back to manual vacuuming last summer. We were never really ready for guests, especially pop-ins (which always happens when you have a pool) and once the fall leaves hit and we realized there was no chance we could keep up. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content The biggest win? No cord. Not having to untangle, wrap or worry about UV damage is a total relief. We can easily store it outside as long as it is out of direct sun and rain, just as recommended, and the cordless design makes using it effortless. Article content The remote control and app functionality are the cherry on top. We can start, stop and change cleaning modes from our phones or from across the patio with the remote — no bending over wet pool edges, no guesswork. The robot charges in about four hours and runs a full cycle of both floor and wall cleaning on a single charge. Article content