Keeping your pool looking sparkly blue does not happen by itself, unless you hire a swimming pool service company to come out to your house every few weeks. If you dont have that kind of money, then be prepared to spend a few hours per week maintaining your pool.

Chemical balance is the main ingredient for efficient pool maintenance. Check for chemical balance at least once a week, experts call it the "shock treat". A regular shock treatment will save you out-of-this-world problems later on. Regular means once a week, but you may need to
do it more frequently if you:

1. See any algae
2. Smell something that's unpleasant
3. Had pool visitors lately
4. Had heavy rains or windstorms
5. Had swimmers complaining of red, burning eyes

Take off debris and other elements everyday. Once a week, plan on scrubbing the walls and floor and shove the dirt towards the drain. Do vacuum the pool completely. When you're done, wait 20 minutes and then vacuum again to make sure the dirt residuals are taken care of. Test the pH and rectify it if necessary.

If the prospect of cleaning and maintaining your pool every week does not interest you, then spend the extra money to hire someone who will do it. Don't think that just because your pool is brand new, you can postpone the maintenance to the next season. The pool has to have healthy water with a good pH balance, without which you'll end up with a gaping hole of endless problems to grapple with.