Drying a pool robot properly

Dry means dry all the way inside. Wiping the outside isn't enough.

Maytronics links dampness to degradation and damage in the motor and the internal parts.¹ Its storage checklist starts by saying no water should be left inside the cleaner.²

Drain first

Drying starts with draining. Tip the robot so water runs out of every outlet, and use the drain port if your model has one. The steps are on the page about cleaning and rinsing.

How long?

The sources don't give one drying time that fits every model.

One maker's guide says to let the unit sit "with the filter removed and the lid open for several hours".³ That's a starting point, not a rule. Wet weather, a damp garage or a big robot with a lot of hollow space can all stretch it out.

Some cleaners take longer than others. If your manual gives a time, use it. If it doesn't, ask the maker's support team.

Where to dry it

Pick a spot with moving air, out of the sun. Maytronics says "intense exposure to the sun can damage some of your robot" and recommends storing it out of direct sun, rain or frost.²¹

The sources differ here. iGarden's drying advice says "ideally in a sunny spot", while Maytronics says to keep the robot out of direct sun when storing it.³¹ Follow your manual. If it doesn't say, a shaded spot with moving air avoids the sun risk Maytronics describes.

Maytronics also says to store the cleaner upside down once it's dry.¹ Follow your manual if it says otherwise for your model.

The filter: in or out?

The makers differ. iGarden says to dry the unit with the filter removed and the lid open.³ It also says the basket can stay inside once it's fully dry.³ Maytronics' winter advice is to put the cleaned filter back in the unit.¹ Follow your own manual on which order to use.

Speeding it up

A fan helps. The same iGarden guide suggests pointing one at the unit, and says a fan can be used when you're short of time.³

If you run out of time

Sometimes a cold snap arrives before the robot is dry. The guide's fallback is simple. "Drain all visible water, remove the filter basket, prop the lid open, and point a fan at it overnight."³

The guide admits it's not ideal. Still, it says this beats sealing wet parts into a cold space where water will freeze inside.³

Don't take that as permission to skip drying. It's a rescue plan, nothing more.

Don't seal it up wet

Avoid sealing a damp robot into a bag or bin. iGarden warns that sealing wet parts into a cold storage space lets water freeze inside the housing.³ See storing a pool robot where it freezes for what freezing does to trapped water.

The power supply

On corded models, the power supply must stay out of water too. Maytronics says its power supply "is splash-proof but cannot withstand immersion in water".² Keep it away from the wash area, and don't rinse it under a hose.

Then put it away

Once it's dry, choose a place. Garage, shed or basement are weighed up on the next page in this set.