Acid Wash Pool Cleaning

We find that most of our clients in Southern California require a pool cleaning about once every five years. Doing so will help prevent against permanent staining. Not all pools, however, are ideal for an acid wash pool cleaning and Pool Tile Cleaning So Cal can quickly determine the best and least abrasive treatment for your pool.

What is Acid Wash Pool Cleaning?

An acid wash is a popular choice for removing tough stains from plaster and Pebble Tec pools. An Acid wash consists of a mixture of water and muriatic acid. The acid makes contact with the pools surface and gently removes a small layer, revealing a fresh layer of plaster underneath. This type of cleaning is intense and best-suited for removing tough surface stains from plaster and Pebble Tec.

How often Should My Pool Be Acid-Washed?

Due to the nature of an acid wash, this type of cleaning should not be performed on a regular basis. A yearly treatment, for example, would shorten the normal lifespan of a plaster pool by removing a layer each year. However, an acid wash can be a great tool for restoring a clean look on a dirty surface. We recommend, for both plaster and Pebble Tec pools, that you have it acid-washed every five years as needed.

Plaster Pools

An acid wash is not always the best option for cleaning. An acid wash should not be considered when the plaster is very old and thin. The best results can be achieved when the plaster is in good shape. Although an acid wash works well on most stains, some stains are too deep (such as staining from rebar) to be cleaned. The stains may be penetrating through many layers of plaster, and therefore should not be acid-washed.

Pebble Tec Pools

Pebble Tec pools are also acid-washed when they have stubborn stains. An acid wash pool cleaning is very effective on Pebble Tec pools with obvious dirt staining, rust stains and light calcium buildup on the pool interior. The Pebble Tec surface is much stronger than a plaster surface and can withstand an acid wash more regularly. Acid washing will not remove calcium water lines! Check out our bead and salt blasting process for cleaning calcium from the waterline.

Can I Do It Myself?

Pool Tile salt blasting is not a do-it-yourself project. Our equipment has been custom made for pool tile salt blasting, and we use Kieserite for the best results. Let Pool Tile Cleaning So Cal take all the mess and frustration out of cleaning and removing Calcium from your swimming pool tile, pebble Tec, real & artificial rock, brick, coping, glass tile, flagstone, fountains, etc…

Our Process:

1. First we drain the water completely from the pool, removing any leaves or debris as the water level drops.

2. Once the pool is empty, we spray the pool walls with water.

3. We then pour an acid/water mixture down the side of the wall (applying to one section at a time.

4. After about 30 seconds of allowing the acid to do its work, we scrub the wall using an acid brush.

5. We then rinse the wall and continue working around the pool until every section has been treated.

6. The acid-wash water at the bottom of the pool is neutralized using soda ash.

7. The mixture is pumped into a storm drain using a submersible pump.

8. The pool is rinsed once more, pumped, and refilled.