Those who have owned a pool at any time in their lives know the peaceful value they bring. You have a place to unwind and relax at the end of the day and a perfect spot to host parties and gatherings. Everyone will want to visit you and your pool.
You also understand that with great reward comes great responsibility. Pools do not maintain themselves. In particular, you need to keep your pool clean.
When you notice stains on the waterline tile, it’s time to start scrubbing. But where do you begin, and exactly what are you attempting to remove?
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about cleaning the waterline tile in your pool.
What Are Water Line Tile Stains?
The best backyard designs come with basic maintenance and some small hazards. In the case of a swimming pool, you need to clean the waterline tile regularly.
The gunk and grime on the waterline tile is a collection of the things you put in the water including mineral deposited or scale, sunscreen, and body dirt. If you have hard water, then you’ll also have the same hard-water deposits or stains in your pool that you’ve noticed in the sinks and tubs of your home.
When water evaporates, the scale of the mineral deposits sticks to the sides of your pool. They will look like gray scum, and they do not scrape away easily.
The calcium deposits consist of either calcium carbonate or calcium silicate.
Calcium carbonate is the white, flaky deposits left on the tile. This deposit is the easiest of the two types of calcium to remove.
Calcium silicate, on the other hand, is gray and does not flake away. If the calcium silicate has been on your tile for a while, you will have to work hard to remove it. It just sticks more than calcium carbonate.
The pool staining will also have a variety of colors if you have a chemical imbalance in your water. Your pool maintenance company that routinely cleans your pool can add cleaning the water line to their to-do list if you want to avoid the hard work yourself. They have blasting tools that remove the stains quickly.
If you leave the stains too long, you will end up having to replace the tile, so take care of your tile as soon as you notice the stains.
When to Clean Pool Tile
Always plan on cleaning the tiles at the beginning and end of your pool season.
Then, as soon as you notice the tile at the waterline has discoloration, clean it. Then put yourself on a cleaning schedule be it monthly or weekly. Plan on cleaning regularly to avoid letting the stains build up more over time.
Start Simple and Small
To keep water line tile clean, start simple and small. The job can look overwhelming if you let it go too long, so start with some basic steps.
Remove Natural Matter
If leaves, grass, or other natural materials have gathered in your pool, remove them. Use your net skimmer or pool vacuum to remove as much as you can. You’re not just cleaning the gunk on the waterline, after all.
Remove Water
To access the stains, drop your waterline a bit below its normal level. Then tackle the stains. You can lie down on the deck and try to scrub the stains upside down or you can jump in the water and start working.
Work in Increments
If you have a big problem, you’ll need time. Looking at the problem as one big stain makes the job feel overwhelming. Instead, tackle the pool stains one part at a time.
Break your pool up visually. Maybe you will work on one side at a time or work on one side until you reach a particular spot. Have those increments in mind as you start.
Use Simple Tools
You do not have to purchase any fancy tools initially. Try some of the cleaning supplies that you already have. Here’s a list of a few things that might work:
- Toothpaste
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Borax
- Baking soda
Use a toothbrush or a stiff-bristled brush to scrub away at the stains. Begin with one cleaner, and if you don’t make any headway, switch to another.
Scrubbing these stains and scum away takes patience. They didn’t accumulate overnight so they most likely won’t disappear immediately either.
Get Serious With Serious Tools
If these basic tools won’t work, try a pumice stone. A pumice stone made of ground volcanic rock will chip away as you scrub with it. Make sure you wet the stone and keep it wet as you scrub or you may scratch your tile.
Work with a light touch. Scrub the gunk in a circular motion along the waterline.
Then look into using a tile cleaner containing sulfamic acid. CLR and Lime-Away are the most common cleaners you’ll find in regular department stores. These contain harsh chemicals, so use them with extreme care.
If you’ve used pool chemicals recently, wait on the sulfamic acid. Once you clean your tile, wait a few days before you add chemicals or swim in the water.
Call the Experts
If you’ve exhausted your resources or simply don’t feel like working on the tile water line on your own, call in the experts. A professional pool maintenance company will have the experience and resources to vanquish your stains and have your pool looking new again. Many use a high-pressured baking soda blast, something non-caustic but effective, to eliminate the stains.
A Beautiful Pool
When you clean your waterline tile, you put the centerpiece of your backyard oasis back intact. You can enjoy a swim or a dip and relax in the pool once again.
If you’re looking for the best pool maintenance company in the greater Katy, Texas area, contact us. We work hard to build and design pools for our clients’ budgets and tastes. We also have pool services that can get your pool looking new once again.
