With regard to cleaning the pump filter basket, I've found that CarlD's advice concerning his Dolphin filter bag is just the thing. His quote:

"I take a five-gallon bucket of pool water, dip the bag in, turn it inside out and squish it a few times until the water is opaque. Then I dump the water (NOT back into the pool..) and repeat."

I used to spend ages using the hose to clean out all the itsy bitsy bits (and horrid worms) from the pump basket, but just a few dunks in the bucket and it's all done.

So thanks, Carl!