Try Using Natural Cleaners
If youre not one for harsh chemicals, there are plenty of natural and organic options for removing stubborn stains on your pool liner. White vinegar or organic dish soap are great alternatives and can help you tackle most mildew and stains with less health and environmental impact. Theyre also cheaper than many of the other cleaners you can buy.
Pro tip: Be careful when using any cleaner to avoid bleaching or fading your liner. Always follow your manufacturer instructions and test new cleaning products on a small area before moving forward.
Another Cause Of The Liner Stains
It may not always be black algae or metal oxides causing the stains. Dye-producing organisms may be the culprits as well. These organisms will pitch camp at the backside of the pool liner. When they release the dye, it will wick through the liners fabric and form blotches.
Bottom Line
Black stains on vinyl pool liner are not the best sight. They are telling you that something somewhere is not alright. Find the problem and work on it using the methods discussed here or find yourself a self cleaning pool. If you do it right, you should not have any black stain problems and will be able to keep your pool clean. Always make sure you know the cause of the stains before trying to remove them and follow proper pool care suggestions to maintain your new pool or newly renovated pool.
Testing The Pool Wateris It Metal Staining Or Algae
Before taking any action to undergo treatment for metal stains, you need to be certain of its metal staining. Green or black stains might indicate metal stains, but they may also occur due to green or black algae. Do the vitamin C test by using ascorbic acid to determine whether its metal staining or not:
Recommended Reading: Why Is Pool Chlorine So Expensive
Can You Have A Saltwater Vinyl Pool
If you have a vinyl liner, youll be happy to know you can use a salt chlorinator system in your pool without taking any extra precautions. The liner will be exposed to lower levels of chlorine, so it may even extend your liners lifespan. However, many inground pools have galvanized walls behind the liner.
How To Identify Pool Stains
Pool stain removal starts with identifying the types of stains youre dealing with. Most pool stains fall into 3 main categories:
- Organic pool stains
- Caused by everything from leaves, dirt, bugs, and berries, to algae, worms, and bodily oils
There are also waterline stains and mineral stains . Well explain how to remove these later in the post as well.
The color of a stain indicates what type of stain it is. And by recognizing a few color combinations, you can diagnose your pool stains faster.
To identify the type of pool stain youre dealing with, match its color to one of the descriptions below:
Green or green-brown pool stains
Usually caused by decomposed leaves, twigs, algae, or other plant life. Sometimes caused by decomposed bugs or critters.
Red or blue stains
Bright red or blue stains are usually the leftover remains of decomposed berries
Blue-Green or Teal stains
This distinct color combination is produced by copper.
Dark red or Brown stains
Dark wine colored splotches are the result of iron.
Black or purple-ish stains
This coloration is only produced by manganese
Also Check: Can You Heat An Above Ground Pool
Prevent Vinyl Pool Stains
Preventing pool liner stains requires vigilance! Watching the pool like a hawk for foreign objects, keeping it clean and keeping it balanced are the main ways to keep stains off of your pool liner, with special attention to how you add pool chemicals.
Foreign Objects: When my kids were young, they knew what things they could not bring in the pool. This list included hair clips, bobby pins and soccer cleats. Also not allowed were Barbie dolls and plastic swords, or any non-pool toy that not only could stain a liner but puncture it as well. Other things Ive found include lawnmower wheels, barbecue tongs, a sunken July Fourth firework. Take it from me: Anything made of metal will rust and anything with a color can stain a pool liner.
Keeping It Clean: Almost anything on your liner or steps long enough is going to make a stain. Leaves, berries, twigs and sticks all leach out colors but are easy to remove with high chlorine and a little brushing. Worms or dead animals are a more difficult stain to remove and may require a stain remover chemical.
Adding Chemicals: Many vinyl staining problems occur immediately after large-scale water balance adjustments or shocking of the pool. Ive taken calls from dozens of folks, panicked at sudden stains that appeared after adding pool chemicals. To avoid this, I always add chemicals separately, at least four hours apart, and always add large doses in small increments over 24 hours time.
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.
Read Also: Inground Pools Mississippi
How Do I Remove Leaf Spots From My Pool
For the most effective way to remove organic stains from your pool, follow these steps: Test and balance your pools pH and alkalinity. Use at least 2 pounds of calcium hypochlorite pool shock to shake up the water. Wait a few hours for the shock to circulate. Apply 12 cups of granulated bleach to the stain.
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.
Read Also: How To Replace Pool Tile
Looks Like Algae On Vinyl Liner But Will Not Brush Off
cmyoch said:I did have my water tested initially and it showed no metal. I don’t always trust their tests though because I always seem to be walking out of there with $100 worth of chemicals. I’ll go today and purchase some Vitamin c tabs to test it though. Last night’s test shown PH at 7.2, Alk at 120, and Stab at 150. I don’t have a calcium test. is this a test that comes in a liquid test kit or do I have to have the pool supply store test it for me?
How Do I Remove Organic Stains From My Pool
organic pool stainsthe poolyour poolorganic stainspoolsorganic stain
Also question is, how do I get rid of brown stains in my pool?
And brown stains concentrated on the bottom can likely be attributed to dirt stains, typically enhanced by calcium buildup. The first step to deal with organic materials is to shock your pool, and scrub it. This will take care of organic material present in the pool, and the scrubbing will take care of the stains.
Also, how do I remove metal stains from my pool? You can remove these stains with ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C.
Simply so, what causes brown stains in swimming pools?
The causes of brown stains in the swimming poolThe first possible cause is that the concentration of iron is too high. This iron concentration needs to be under 0.2 mg/L, otherwise iron oxides build up due to air oxidation. A second possibility is the presence of brown algae.
Will pool shock remove stains?
A super simple way to get rid of most organic pool stains is to shock the pool and give your pool a little TLC with a good brushing. This ‘bleaching’ removes most organic stains in concrete pools. Sprinkle granular chlorine shock right over an organic stain to make it disappear instantly.
Also Check: What Is Pristine Blue Pool Chemicals
Can I Clean My Pool With Bleach
bleachdotheswimmingthepool
Instructions
Fructuoso Juhra
Also Check: Does Target Have Pool Supplies
How To Clean Vinyl Pool Liners
21 July, 2017
Warning
Never use an object with shape edges or abrasive materials to clean your vinyl liner. Doing so will weaken the liner and may even puncture it.
Proper use of chemicals and regular monitoring of your water will help reduce chemical damage, metal stains and algae growth. But you will still need to clean your vinyl pool liner on a regular basis to keep it looking its best. Regular cleaning will keep dirt to a minimum, though you may still need to do some heavy-duty cleaning once or twice a season. With the right cleaning methods, your vinyl pool liner will look good for years to come.
Use a nylon pool brush to scrub down your entire liner on a weekly basis throughout the swimming season. A brush without any sharp edges is best, such as the deluxe wall brush available from Save on Pool Supplies. A liner is susceptible to tearing, so sharp edges can easily cause damage.
- Proper use of chemicals and regular monitoring of your water will help reduce chemical damage, metal stains and algae growth.
- Regular cleaning will keep dirt to a minimum, though you may still need to do some heavy-duty cleaning once or twice a season.
Apply a mild cleanser directly to dirt on your vinyl liner, or rub it on with a soft cloth. You can use a regular vinyl cleaner like Armor All Cleaner, or you can buy a specialty cleaner like Bio-Dex Quick ‘n Thick.
Related Articles
You May Like: Pool Spiders
Get The Pool Cleaned Professionally At Least Once A Year
The most efficient way to clean your pool liner? Have someone else do it! The advanced equipment professionals use goes beyond what you are able to do with your own cleaning accessories and water testing kits. A good cleaning service will also inspect your liner and all your parts to make sure your pool is in good working order, potentially saving you money on serious maintenance issues down the road. We recommend having a professional check out your pool at least once a year.
We hope these tips help you keep your pool cleaner and save you time, money, and energy throughout the swimming season. If your pool liner has seen better days and you need a replacement, were here to help. LinerWorld has a wide selection of bold, colorful liners for your above ground swimming pool.
For more about cleaning and maintaining your swimming pool, check out these links
Read Now:
How To Remove Stains From A Vinyl Pool Liner
Theres nothing quite like the look of a pool with a spotless vinyl liner and perfectly balanced, crystal clear water. But that idyllic moment might only happen when you first install a liner, unless you know how to remove stains from a vinyl pool liner.
Of course, cleaning your pool is a regular part of your swimming pool maintenance. But, until you know how to get rid of vinyl liner staining, you can do all the cleaning you want and your pool water and lining still wont look its best.
Read Also: Bioactive Cyanuric Acid Reducer
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.
How To Remove Metal Stains
Most types of metal pool stains can be removed with an acidic stain remover that is usually applied directly to the affected area. Use a pool stain remover that is designed to treat metal stains, and follow the manufacturers instructions exactly.
If you have metals coming in through your water source, youll likely need to utilize metal sequestrants which bind metals and help prevent them from causing stains. There are a variety of common sequestering agents on the market that can be effective in treating stains just remember that they do wear down in your pool water over time, so youll need to keep adding them.
Read Also: Where To Buy Sustain Pool Chemicals
How To Remove Yellowstainsfrom A Pool Liner
In order to remove the yellow stains from the liner/PVC membrane, the following treatment must be done:
1st week:
1- Increase the water level of the pool to cover the stained area
Day 1 :
2- Perform shock chlorination at 10 ppm of free chlorine
3- Adjust the pH of your water to 7
4- Pour into a skimmer 1 cap of metal inhibitor for every 50 m³ of water
Day 4:
5- Pour a new dose of 40 ml of FERAFLOC for every 50 m³ of water
Day 7:
How To Identify And Remove Pool Stains
A dirty pool is bad enough. But a stained pool? Yuck! How is that even possible? Youre good about cleaning your pool, balancing the water, and keeping the sanitizer level steady. You shouldnt be seeing any stains on your pool walls or floor.
If only that were the case. The truth is, you can be super vigilant about maintenance, and your pool can still end up with stains. The good news is, all you need is a good pool stain remover. The better news is, you can take steps to prevent future pool stains. The key is knowing what caused the stains in the first place.
Don’t Miss: Building My Own Inground Pool
Wannabebob Bobd Upload A File Photo Must Be In Jpg Gif Or Png Format
Swimming pool tile often becomes stained and dirty at the waterline. The spruce / michelle becker when you are fortunate enough to have a backyard swimming po. By tony carrick bobvila.com and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a p. A swimming pool in your own yard is an investment in your lifestyle. Read more in this buyers guide and find out the top picks. As refreshing as inflatable pools are on their own, they can be made even better with a few key accessories. Everything you need to know about owning, setting up and maintaining above ground pool for your home. Safety should be a primary concern of every pool owner. Wannabebob bobd upload a file photo must be in jpg, gif or png format. Sunny days spent splashing around and having fun. It is available in a variety of colors and is highly durable and resistant to outdoor elements. Concrete is also slip resistant, making it a safer construction choice when building a pool. Are they hard to install???
Read more in this buyers guide and find out the top picks. Ive been offered what seems to be a great deal on a 15×48 oval above ground pool . Sunny days spent splashing around and having fun. But before you start installinng, get to know all the different types of pools out there. Diy home improvement is a very satisfying activity.
