Product test
Kicking out the cartridge: this sand filter pump now cleans our pool water
by Martin Jungfer
No fuss needed: Bestway’s cordless underwater vacuum makes cleaning easy
21-7-2025
Translation: Elicia Payne
When you find dirt in the swimming pool, it can ruin the fun. So I’ve recently started using Bestway’s underwater vacuum cleaner, because there are many things it does well.
Despite the pool liner and powerful sand filter system, dirt collects in our above-ground swimming pool from time to time: drowned insect corpses, leaves blown by the wind or grass clippings that stick to the soles of swimmer’s feet.
All of which irritates me, because I’m the family’s self-appointed pool hygiene officer. And that’s why I bought myself a new cleaning device: the Lay-Z-Spa pool and whirlpool vacuum cleaner from Bestway.
It comes with a rechargeable battery and integrated dirt container. It doesn’t need a power cable and I don’t have to connect any hoses, as is the case for robot cleaners that move around the floor in larger pools. Put simply, it works by ensuring water is sucked in via a rapidly rotating plastic plug and pressed out of the appliance through a filter.
The Bestway device can easily handle my round pool with a diameter of just over three metres, as I discovered after several weeks of testing. I like the fact it’s very light and slim, weighing just over two kilogrammes.
There are just four parts to it:
- a telescopic handle
- a motor unit with the battery
- a dirt trap filter
- a suction head with the wheel and brush
The box also contains a power supply unit with a cable for charging. It takes just under five hours to recharge a completely empty battery. You can tell it’s fully charged by the LED, which changes from red to green. Once full, it then runs for a good 45 minutes. I usually only need five to ten minutes for a clean, so I can manage with very little charge.
Vacuuming requires patience
The wheels at the bottom of the suction head help you move the cleaner across the pool floor. At least a little. They’re made of hard plastic and don’t have much grip. What’s more practical is that I can swivel the head and give the curved edges a good clean. And with a length of just under 1.60 metres, I can also easily reach the middle of the pool. With larger pools and shorter arms, on the other hand, the range will be limited.
The brushes in the suction head are more well-intentioned than really helpful. I occasionally get better results from scrubbing the walls and floor of the pool faster with a proper brush.
By the way, I don’t have to worry about which power level I should select while vacuuming, because there’s only one. The vacuum cleaner is either on or off.
Cleaning with a garden hose
The only issue with the perforated cylinder is that sand can find its way through the small openings and settle on the edge of the transparent container. That or it flows back into the pool.
Finally, I’d like to share one important tip: only switch off the pool vacuum once you’ve taken it out of the water. If you press the off button while it’s still in the water, there’s a good chance that the dirt previously sucked in will flow back into the pool.
In a nutshell
No miracle, but does a good job
For a whirlpool, a garden fountain or a small pool, Bestway’s Lay-Z-Spa is worth considering. You shouldn’t expect miracles from the suction power. But, because the vacuum cleaner’s light and durable, it’s become routine to use it regularly. Since then there’s been significantly less dirt in the pool.
Pro
- Long running time
- Light-weight
- Reasonable suction power
- Easy to clean
Contra
- Only one power level
- Hard plastic wheels
Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
