(NAPSI)—You may find you can have more time and money for life’s delights when you heed these 10 hints on warm-weather fun:

1. Stay safe at poolside. Keep each child within arm’s length at all times; designate an adult as water watcher; ensure that the pool’s fence is always locked; and install both gate and pool alarms.

2. Liven up the landscape. Use shrubs for form, flowering plants for color and perennials for cheery blooms with little tending.

3. Beautify your backyard furnishings. If mildew appears on outside chairs and tables, wash the fabric and dry it in the sun. Then mix together equal parts lemon juice and salt; spread this on the stain. Dry the fabric in the sun again and rinse thoroughly.

4. Keep toys and tools neat. Two simple rules for avoiding backyard clutter: Air out wet things by storing them in big mesh bags or open-weave crates. Toss all the little bits into a clear plastic shoe organizer hung on a fence or nearby wall.

5. Exercise your right to a water workout. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just 21 minutes a day of exercising in a pool can cut your risk of chronic disease. Strength, endurance and balance are all benefits of using water as the resistance. A typical water exercise session of 40 to 50 minutes can burn up to 600 calories.

6. Keep pool maintenance simple. You can have a pool that’s sparkling clear and inviting with just three simple steps. A new product called SmartPAK from BioGuard provides the three-step care system in one simple kit. It includes chlorine, shock and algicide along with easy-to-read dosage charts to ensure that busy pool owners have the items they need.

7. Enjoy your special spa time. Place flameless LED candles around the edge of the spa. Take tunes into the spa with a floating speaker that connects wirelessly to an MP3 player. Add a soothing scent to the water with single-use aromatherapy packs.

8. Protect the environment. Always keep your pool water balanced with the right combination of chemicals. Overworked filters and motors waste energy and hike utility bills.

9. Keep pets safe. Before you let a dog jump in, make sure he can get out without damaging the pool or hurting himself. Also check with the vet. Swimming in a pool should be appropriate for the breed. Monitor the water. A typical dog can be the equivalent of about 50 swimmers in the pool, meaning extra vigilance is needed to maintain the chemical balance.

10. Keep things clean. A good pool care strategy involves circulation, filtration, cleaning, testing and chemistry. A BioGuard dealer can provide computerized water testing and recommend the best care system for your pool.

Learn more at www.bioguard.com and (800) 932-5943.

 

On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate (NAPSI)