Case : Remove A Recent Isolated Brown Stain
If the brown spot is isolated and recent, you can try the following method:
- Put on gloves.
- Use a slow chlorine roller.
- With a mask, dive into rubbing the stain with the chlorine pad. If the development of the micro-fungi is recent, there is a chance that the stain will fade.
- If necessary, repeat the operation if the stain reappears.
Use One Chemical At A Time
In a bucket full of water, dissolve the chemicals and pour the mixture into the pool as you sieve, it, to trap undissolved substances. The chemical should dissolve in the pool water to avoid staining of the vinyl liner. Before the addition of another chemical, the previous chemical should be dissolved entirely. This is because when two undissolved chemicals come into contact in high concentration, they bleach the liner. Chlorine tends to settle in the deep parts of the pool. It requires sufficient circulation time to prevent it from bleaching the vinyl pool liners.
Chemicals that take time to dissolve like Calcium Hypochlorite settle down the pool surfaces and can cause staining. Also, adding huge amounts of hydrochloric acid to balance the waters pH levels can be corrosive to the vinyl liner, causing damage. When an acid mixes with pool water, it destroys the liners printed patterns. Following the above guidelines will earn you a stain-free vinyl liner.
How To Clean Ring Around Pool Liner
Use Clorox 2 to get rid of the ring around your pool liner. Clorox 2 is less aggressive and can help remove rings on your pool liner effectively.
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Take Special Care: Your Waterline
Yet another somewhat forgotten pool area is your waterline. This area does stay dry most of the time, but should be tended to differently. This area is often protected with tiles but can still gather dirt as bacteria and debris rise to the top. The dirt can either stain your pool or end up affecting the waters cleanliness. So, dont forget to skip that crucial part.
Pool Stain Removal Guide

Even sparkling clean, perfectly balanced pool water cant hide unsightly stains in your swimming pool. Whether you have a vinyl or plaster pool, stains are common and can be prevented and treated with the right tools and products. If youve started noticing a dingy film on your tiles or ugly discoloration on your pool walls, its time to learn how to remove pool stains.
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Lower The Ph Of The Water To 68 And Stop The Filtration
To remove the brown stains that appear behind the liner, it is necessary in all cases to lower the pH of the water to 6.8, which will dilate the pores of the liner and make the masonry more accessible for treatment.
Measure the pH of the water using your pH tester.
If the pH is higher than 6.8, add pH minus.
Check the pH with your pH meter: it should then be equal to or below 6.8
Stop filtration.
How To Clean A Vinyl Pool Liner
Cleaning a vinyl pool liner can seem like an overwhelming task. A vinyl liner is especially tough to clean because its all in the details. However, there are steps you can take to make the process much easier and quicker.
Many factors go into cleaning your pool: water temperature, pH level, and the type of dirt or debris in your pool.
A stain eraser tool designed for cleaning pool liners can also make a big difference in the appearance of your liner and help it look new.
Mix the baking soda with some hot water to form a thick paste before applying with a sponge to remove all dirt, stains, and mildew on your pool liner.
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How To Clean Vinyl Liner Stains
You can get liner stains from all the sources mentioned above. The above information will help you to know the type of stains and then you decide the cleaning method. Also, all these types of stains can be removed easily when not severe. Here are some basic ways to get rid of all the above types of stains.
Step One
Clean the stain: Cleaning is the first thing that you need to do to clean the stains. A clean filter and clean pool can be a good start to get rid of the stains.
Step Two
Get the water chemistry: Once the cleaning is done, the next step is to balance the chemistry of the pool water. Make sure that the pH level, alkalinity, and the calcium level is proper. Any imbalance will lead to stains.
Step Three
Shock your pool: Once you are done with cleaning and balancing the water level, you can complete the process with a pool shock. You can use either diluted chlorine shock or non-chlorine shock for this purpose.
Try all these safe and effective methods. Even if you do not get the desired benefit, you should never consider draining or washing to get rid of the stain. These methods will not help much.
Final Words
Stains And Discoloration In A Vinyl Liner Pool
Aboveground and in-ground pools both use vinyl liners and are susceptible to staining from minerals, organic materials and chemical damage.
I find that pool owners generally fall into two groups: the stain averse and those who dont seem to notice stains in their pool, or are not bothered by pool stains.
If you are in the stain-averse group and would like to remove stains in a vinyl liner pool, read the following tips.
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How To Get Rid Of Metal Pool Stains
Metal stains can be a little more difficult to get rid of, but its not impossible.
How To Remove Pool Stains
Removing organic pool stains
Good news: Of all pool stains, organic pool stains are the easiest to remove
That said, youll still need to use a little elbow grease to get rid of them. Luckily, whether youre trying to remove leaf stains or algae stains from your pool, theres a simple method to follow.
You can remove most organic pool stains by:
Simple enough, yes, but it can be improved.
For the most effective organic pool stain removal, follow these steps:
For especially tough organic stains use an enzyme treatment. They can be purchased at any pool store, and help break down organic matter thats too tough for just chlorine.
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Tips To Prevent Pool Liner Stains
- Keep your pool chemistry balanced
- Keep debris out of the pool, and dont let leaves or dirt sit on steps or pool floor
- Use metal sequesters to keep metals from building up again if youve had problems with it in the past
- Try using a pool cover to keep dirt and debris out
- Brush and vacuum your pool once a week
- Shock your pool regularly
At River Pools, we manufacture world class fiberglass pools for customers across North America. In our experience, fiberglass pools are easier to maintain, and they resist algae better than plaster and vinyl pool liners.
If you’re interested in exploring your fiberglass pool options, feel free to check out our catalog of models, try out our fiberglass pool pricing calculator, or request custom pricing using the button below.
And don’t forget to download your free ebook to get an in-depth comparison of fiberglass, concrete, and vinyl liner swimming pools.
Prevent & Treat Pool Stains With Ease

A beautiful, sparkling pool is worth a thousand words especially on a hot, sunny day after a long Canadian winter. Your pool is open, the sun is shining, the barbecue is grilling. All is perfect for your first pool bash of the season, until you spot that stubborn blemish at the bottom of your liner that makes you reconsider everything. Don’t let eye sores like pool spots and stains ruin your backyard experience. Simply follow the steps below to get rid of your stains in a flash and, get back to having a splash!
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How To Treat Metal Pool Liner Stains
Before draining your pool, identifying the type of stain is elemental to the process. Metal-based stains are trickier to treat as a chemical imbalance can occur in the water. Testing and balancing the chemicals in your water will ensure that the stain does not get worse or results in you needing to change your liner. Using metal removing cleaners for your specific liner will be the best solution to your stain. Although metal stains can be tedious and pose cleaning challenges, finding one early can help you identify corrosive pipes or chemical imbalances that can lead to bigger issues later on.
If the metal stain does not seem to go away after your cleaning efforts, it may be time to call in a local pool professional from Shoreline to investigate and treat the situation. Getting professional advice will help you locate problems that are greater than simple debris and can help you decide if changing your pool liner is necessary.
Cover It Up Covering Your Pool
One of the best ways to protect your pool is by covering it up when not in use. The pool cover will protect your pool from any unexpected dirt or other types of debris. Furthermore, a pool cover can prevent your liner from the suns harmful impact, otherwise known as weathering.
Your guide to cleaning your pebble tec pool
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How To Clean Your Inground Vinyl Swimming Pool Liner
Youre taking a casual dip in your pool, diving in and enjoying the cool, refreshing water. Then you see it .. looming in front of you, lit clearly by the sunlight filtering through the water.
A stain large, brown and unsightly the terror of the deep, blemishing your pristine, crystal clear pool.
How To Remove Organic Pool Liner Stains
Theres no doubt that cleaning and treating organic stains is easier than tackling metal-based ones. By first ridding your pool water and filter of foreign debris, you will be able to see the stain and pinpoint where exactly it is coming from to be mindful of the area in the future. Vacuuming the surface and scrubbing the walls and pool floor will also help treat and get rid of the organic stain. During this process, it is essential to test your pool water. Investing in a test-kit that measures the level of chlorine and pH will be beneficial to minimize the appearance of stains before attempting to scrub it or use powerful shocking chemicals.
For tough organic stains, you may have to use pool stain removers. Make sure to purchase one that can be used on your specific pool liner as they can cause more damage than good if not used properly. As always, be sure to store these chemicals properly as they can pose potential hazards to children and pets.
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Removing Metal Stains From Tile Pool
When it comes to removing metal and calcium deposits from your pool, reach for a commercial tile cleaner.
When using any pool cleaner, make sure to use the proper safety precautions.
Black Staining From Algae
Black algae are tenacious organisms with a chlorine-resistant coating that require a number of steps to remove. They appear as a series of small black spots typically on the liners seams, near the steps on the ladder railings, or around light rings. Black algae do not usually grow on the vinyls smoother surfaces .
To remove these stains, first scrub the black algae using a nylon brush. Reducing the pH to a minimum 7.2 will increase the chlorines effectiveness. Then, super-chlorinate the pool and add a dose of a quaternary type algaecide. The pH should then be increased to a more neutral range to prevent the liner from wrinkling.
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How Do I Remove Green Algae Stains From The Vinyl Pool Liner
Green algae stains are the simplest to remove because you dont necessarily need any cleaner unless they again leave some discoloration on your liner after cleaning.
The Two Main Types Vinyl Pool Liner Stains

Before you begin your liner cleaning, it helps to know what type of stain you are dealing with. Liner stains generally fall into one of two categories. Organic stains are usually a shade of brown or green and are caused by things like dirt, leaves, algae, bugs and other organic matter.
Metal can stain your pool in a variety of colours. Metal stains may be caused by pool ladders, pipes, heaters and even the pool water.
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How To Clean Organic Liner Stains
Get rid of any debris in the water, vacuum the pool and clean the filter.
Use a soft-bristled brush to get rid of any easy-to-remove stains.
Balance the pools water chemistry.
Shock the pool.
Brush the stains again after shocking the pool.
For more stubborn stains, try pool liner stain remover, or a stain eraser tool, both of which should be available at your local pool supply store.
Case : Remove Larger Older Brown Stains
Pour calcium hypochlorite in a watering can and pour it as close as possible to the stains.
If the stains are at the bottom of the pool, use a rigid PVC hose and pour the bleach into the hose after positioning it over the stain.
Good to know: calcium hypochlorite can be found in pool supply stores. You can replace it with bleach, which has almost the same composition. Both are effective against bacteria, viruses and fungi.
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What Can Remove Stains From The Vinyl Pool Liner
There are lots of options available to remove stains from the vinyl pool. Most of these options do not require the assistance of a professional cleaner to implement, so you can save hundreds of dollars initially meant to hire the service of a professional pool cleaner. Although it is advisable to get your pool professionally cleaned at once a year. Some of these cleaners include Vinegar, Baking soda, Muriatic Acid, and Jacks Magic stain ID kit.
Regularly Monitor The Water And The Liner
Removing brown stains on a liner is all the more difficult as the damage is old and extensive.
Keep water always clear so that you can easily spot any unusual stain.
Regularly check that the water parameters are within the recommended standards: the pH, in particular, should be between 7 and 7.6 .
You should take action immediately if you notice any brown spots on the liner.
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