Pool Stain Removal 101
Want to make pool stain removal easier?
The secret is all in the technique. Keep reading to learn how to remove organic, metal, rust, mineral, and other stains from your pool, the right way.
Just like ketchup splotches and oil droplets seem to find their way on to every white T-shirt you own, pool stains follow a similar path. At one point or another, no matter how careful you are, odds are youre going to find one somewhere in your pool maybe along the walls or spread across the shallow end stairs.
And if youre reading this article, then you probably found a stain and want to remove it. If so, youre on the right track.
Pool stains are common and appear for a number of reasons. So they arent necessarily a sign of bad maintenance. Everything from leaves and dirt, to minerals and bodily oils, can cause pool staining.
And when stains appear, they range in color, from bright green, red, and blue smears, to dark brown and red blobs.
But luckily, removing pool stains is simple when you know what youre looking for. When you can identify a pool stain, removing it becomes much easier.
And thats what this post is all about.
So if youre ready to learn how to remove pool stains and prevent them from ever coming back again, keep reading. This post is for you.
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.
How To Get Rust Stains Off Bottom Of Pool
Pool Team
Getting rid of rust stains from the pool can be difficult. Its crucial that you know a few things about the pool surface and the stain. Whether you have a plaster, vinyl or fiberglass pool, understanding how they stain goes a long way in helping you deal with different kinds of stains. Here are a few tips on how to get rust stains off bottom of pool.
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Get Ph And Alkalinity Back To Normal Levels
Ascorbic acid is strong and will definitely bring down pH and TA levels. If the pH and TA are not way out of balance, you can use 20 Mule Team Borax to raise the pH without affecting TA and an alkalinity increaser to bring the TA up to recommended levels when it gets low. Add these chemicals slowly while testing until they get to recommended levels since you dont want pH or TA to get out of balance.
Remember that pH should be maintained between 7.4 and 7.6 to avoid metal staining. I prefer using LaMotte ColorQ Pro 7 digital pool water test kit since it is very accurate and fast in taking all chemical readings. If you get your pH and TA out of balance by mistake or they get troublesome to balance, here is more about how you can balance pH and TA.
Leslies Stain And Scale Remove
Leslie’s Stain and Scale Remove is an amazing stain removing chemical that’s safe for all surfaces, and works to remove scale and stains from calcium carbonate. Better than a no-drain acid wash, this proprietary blend of polymers cleans and protects your pool without the use of acids or phosphates. It removes built-up mineral film scale, waterline marks, and scale stains in just 2-4 weeks.
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Organic Stains Are Very Common In Pools
When a stain is a brownish green in color, it typically means it is related to something organic. The most common cause of organic staining is something like a leaf, algae, or a dead worm that lies on the surface of the pool. The organic matter and tannins cause the surface of the pool to stain and discolor. Sometimes these stains can be removed by simply shocking the pool with chlorine and scrubbing the stain with a stiff brush.
If this method does not lighten or remove the stain, a natural ascorbic acid based product or diphosphonic acid based pool stain remover can be used. Ascorbic acid is found in citrus juice. The vitamin C is what helps remove the stain. Using these products will help remove more stubborn stains but may require some tough scrubbing or even draining the pool so you have better access to the discolored area.
To prevent future organic stains, the most effective thing you can do is keep the pool free of debris and critters by vacuuming, brushing, and netting the pool regularly. If a pool stain is not of the organic variety, it is most likely caused by metals in the water.
The following are some common sources of metals and minerals that may eventually end up in your pool water:
How To Get Rid Of Organic Pool Stains
As the identification test indicated, chlorine is the solution here. But because the amount you use for regular sanitizing isnt enough to remove stains, youll need to super chlorinate the water. To do that, youll use pool shock.
Important: Remember always to shock at dusk, or at night, for best results.
Note: If youre not sure of your pools volume, you can use a pool calculator to figure it out.
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Why Use A Professional
It is important to hire a professional to handle your swimming pool acid washing. When done properly, acid wash removes algae stains. If it is not done properly, it can damage the finish.
The pool algae stain removal process can discolor the finish or cause chipping and flaking when done by inexperienced individuals. This is a result of leaving the pool acid wash on too long or applying when the weather is not conducive.
If you are in need of swimming pool acid washing, it is best to use Plaster Tech. We have trained technicians that know how to apply the pool acid wash properly to give you the best results.
What Causes Pool Plaster Discoloration
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Shuwei Ommerborn
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How Does A No
A no-drain acid wash is arguably the best method to restore your swimming pool to its former glory without damaging its surface in any way. It is also much more cost and time-effective than many other stain removal methods.
As the name implies, it refers to acid washing the pool without draining it. A no-drain acid wash uses three types of acid Muriatic Acid , Sulfuric Acid , and a dry acid called Sodium Bisulfate to lower the pH of the pool water to around 1.0 and an alkalinity level close to 0. However, the most common acid used in muriatic acid. The use of these acids in the pool water creates a corrosive water environment that strips off a thin layer of plaster from your pool, exposing the newer, cleaner layer of plaster underneath.
At Creative Pools, we can help you remove those stubborn stains in your pool with a no-drain acid wash. If you live anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, give us a call at 373-7665 to speak with one of our pool experts today.
How To Remove Black Algae Stains From Pool Walls
Some stubborn stains may be left on the pool walls and other services when you remove the matter from your swimming pool. At the time you were reporting the algae, it seemed like it might be mustard/yellow since it clung to the walls and was not green.
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Pool Plaster Etching And Scaling
You might have a problem with etching if your pool surface becomes excessively rough. Etching happens when lines and dents are literally carved into your pool plaster over time. This is caused by improperly balanced pool chemistry, particularly low pH, alkalinity, or calcium, and it’s one of the reasons why we emphasize the importance of taking care of your pool correctly.
Scaling is another problem and can occur as a result of high pH, alkalinity, or calcium. This can lead to a buildup of calcium and other minerals in your pool. Not pretty.
Heres how to avoid scaling in your pool:
- Brush the pool walls regularly
- Pre-dilute acid before you add it to the water
- Dont add salt within 30 days of replastering your pool
- Never allow salt to sit on fresh plaster
The most important takeaway: make sure your pool is clean and your water chemistry is balanced. Regular and consistent maintenance goes a long way and can preserve your plaster longer.
Green Or Green/brown Stains
Leaves, grass clippings, and other organic plant materials in the water often cause these types of stains. Keep up with regular pool cleaning to prevent excess plant debris from settling to the bottom of the pool. Use a pool rake/leaf skimmer, automatic pool cleaner, and/or a leaf vacuum to remove the debris.
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Last And Most Accessible Solution
While you are on the swimming pool, carry a towel or microfiber brush with you and scrub that pools wall area. You can do it a minimum twice a week. Regular base cleaning provides a fruitful result to remove all kinds of stain from the pool. Removing algae stain, you should figure out the stain category of your pool. And by maintaining all the above steps, you can solve the algae stain problems accurately.
Stain Removal In A Plaster Pool
If you own a concrete or plaster swimming pool, or are about to become the proud owner of a plaster-surfaced pool, we have some pointers to help you keep it looking like paradise.
Plaster pool finishes are traditionally the most popular swimming pools dating all the way back to the very first backyard pools. Typically a mixture of cement and fine, crushed marble sand, otherwise known as marcite, its a durable resistant surface.
Perhaps best of all, they can be sculpted into almost any shape your budget can afford. Additionally, gunite pools are very sturdy and strong because of the steel framework.
However, the plaster finish on a gunite pool needs to be replaced about every 15 years and that can get quite pricey for a surface that is a bit rough on the skin due to its natural, porous nature. Oh, yeah, about that porous surface
Smoother surfaces, like vinyl or fiberglass, are less prone to stains because they do not lend themselves as easily to cozy little nooks and crannies for metals, oils, or organic debris to eventually coagulate into an unsightly, rash-like stain on your pool plaster.
Lets get on with it how to remove stains in a plaster pool, and the best methods to prevent plaster pool staining.
A great product for removing metal from your pool is Metal-Free by Natural Chemistry. It is one of the strongest products available for sequestering metals. It works especially well on well water, is not affected by pH or temperature, and is All Natural.
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How To Prevent Pool Stains:
- Keep leaves and debris out of your pool
- Vacuum the dirt as often as necessary, and dont let it sit on the floor for long periods
- Brush the plaster surface once a week
- Acid wash your pool every few years to refresh the plaster and keep the stains to a minimum
- Regularly test for metals in the water if youve had problems with metal staining in the past
Plaster is the traditional surface choice for concrete pools, but it can be a lot of work. Aggregate is a little bit more durable, and tile is the most durable option . Keep in mind that these are both more expensive than plaster, and your pool will still need to be resurfaced about every ten years or so no matter which option you choose.
If youre still shopping around for an inground pool, you might want to consider a high-quality fiberglass pool. The gelcoat surface of a fiberglass pool is smooth to the touch and, if made well, can last the entire lifetime of the pool. Check out our manufacturing process to see how our high-quality fiberglass pools are made for more information.
You can also visit our learning center, browse our catalog of models, or download our free ebook below to learn everything you need to know about fiberglass swimming pools. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions about concrete pool repair, pool plaster repair, or fiberglass pools, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
The Two Most Common Types Of Metal Staining Are Iron And Copper Stains
Iron comes from well water, pool equipment, and almost any pool chemical that is used to treat the water. Iron stains will be brown in color. They are purely esthetic and will not compromise the surface if left untreated. In some cases iron and calcium can form a compound that is referred to as iron scale. In this situation, the stain is covered by scaling so treatment must be applied to the calcium scaling as well the iron to remove the discoloration. This type of stain is textured and will get worse over time if left untreated.
Copper staining can come from city water, algaecides, and heat exchangers with copper piping that wear down over time and eventually feed copper into the pool. The color of the stain may be blue, green, black, brown, or even purple. A blue or green color typically indicates that the copper is still in sulfate form and will need to be oxidized before it can be treated. Copper stains are probably the toughest to remove but are completely esthetic and will not harm the surface of the pool if left untreated.
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Pool Stains Can Be A Major Annoyance For A Pool Owner
Whether they are caused by organic materials or metals, stains can be hard to identify and remove. All of the removal methods discussed above can be effective. Which one you choose will depend on the source of the stain, the severity of the stain, and the cost of products involved. The muriatic acid stain scrubbing device is something that can easily be made at home in less than an hour, it is inexpensive, and is a great way to spot clean stains on the surface of your pool. Instructions on building and using this device can be found below.
How To Remove Stains In Pool Plaster
How to remove stains in pool plaster? For extreme staining or serious algae blooms, plaster pools can be cleaned with an acid wash with muriatic acid, or the safer to use Acid Magic. Acid washing removes a thin layer of plaster, exposing bright white and unstained plaster underneath. Having your pool acid washed will remove most surface stains.
How do you get stains out of pool plaster without draining? A no-drain acid wash is arguably the best method to restore your swimming pool to its former glory without damaging its surface in any way. It is also much more cost and time-effective than many other stain removal methods. As the name implies, it refers to acid washing the pool without draining it.
How do I get rid of brown stains in my pool? A good rule of thumb is to use half a pound of ascorbic acid per 10,000 gallons of water in the pool. If the stain was caused by metal, the scrubbing would remove or at least lighten the stain. If the stains are still visible, add more ascorbic acid. Repeat this process until the stains are gone.
Are inground pools worth the investment? 1. Real Estate Value. Despite what you may have heard in the past, YES, an inground swimming pool does increase the value of your home. A few years ago, the National Association of Realtors stated that on average, an inground swimming pool will increase a homes value by 46%.
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How To Remove Algae Stains From Pool Walls
Springs on a nice cool pool give a great source of enjoyment as well as minimizes summer heat. Yet the proper maintenance of the pool is sometimes much difficult, especially in algae stains. The algae grow naturally in pools and make the pool dirty. So a systemic maintains the need for cleaning up the algae stains.
Usually, removing algae is not a tough job but its difficult to remove algaes stain, particularly its hard spot. Due to some organic metal mix up the pool water, these algae stain happen. If you maintain your pool cleaning regularly, you can expel from the problem quickly.
So if you want to get your pool beautiful again, you should have to be concern about its routine based washing.
So classify the causes of your algae stain by looking at their color. After identifying all sorts of pool stain, now we are talking about their clear methods.
There are various colors of algae that appear in your swimming pool. You will need the right direction to remove it, but it depends on the stains cause. The two main stain categories are metal and organic-based stains, which come in a mixture of colors.
