A dirty pool can quickly kill your desire to take a dip in the water. Dirt can be in the form of floating leaves, debris accumulation, and of course, pool liner stains. Just like the unsightly wine stain on your precious white carpet, stains on your pool liner can go a long way in detracting from the appearance of the pool. Fortunately, cleaning them is not that hard a task. In this blog post, we will be looking at different ways of removing various pool liner stains. Keep reading to find out how to clean pool liner.
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How to Remove Stains from Your Pool Liner
Pool liner stains can be broadly categorized into two classes: organic stains and metallic stains. Each type has unique telltale signs, and requires different methods of removal. Here is all you need to know about how to remove each type of pool liner stain.
How to Remove Organic Stains from a Vinyl Pool Liner
Organic pool liner stains come from the accumulation of organic waste on the pool surface.
This includes such things as leaves, mud, fallen berries, bacterial build-up, bugs, and algae. Typically, organic stains are green or brown.
This kind of stains are generally easier to deal with than the metallic stains.
However, it is best to get rid of them promptly to avoid extensive damage to your pool liner.
Follow these steps to remove organic stains from your pool liner:
- Start by removing the source of the organic stains in your pool. If there are any leaves or twigs on the water, use a skimmer to get rid of them. Be sure to clean the filter thoroughly to remove any organic matter that might be stuck there.
- Brush the surface of the liner to loosen the dirt. This will make it easier for you to vacuum and remove dirt particles.
- Use a vacuum cleaner specifically made for swimming pool liners to suck out all the particles.
- Make sure that your water chemical levels are balanced to prevent further damage to your vinyl pool liner.
- Use a pool shocker to remove any remaining stains.
- In case the stains on the liner prove to be too stubborn, you can try out any of the following advanced stain removal measures; Use a vinyl stain remover to dissolve the stain. Most such products are alkaline to prevent damage to the vinyl cover since it is quite delicate.
- Wipe the stain using a washcloth and a dedicated pool liner cleaner. Be careful not to upset the chemical balance in your pool when you use cleaning products. Watch out especially for a drastic increase in chlorine levels since it is a potent bleaching agent.
- Use an eraser attached to a pole to rub out the stain.
- Ask a professional pool expert for help in removing the stain on your liner.
How to Remove Metal Stains on Your Pool Liner
Metal stains are a tad more challenging to remove than the organic ones.
They are usually caused by the corrosion and rusting of metallic pool parts and accessories. These include things like handrails, pipes, ladders, and pool heaters.
You can quickly identify the cause of a particular stain based on its color.
For instance, stains caused by the corrosion of copper parts have a blue-green appearance, whereas those brought on by corrosion of metal have a reddish-brown color. Manganese, on the other hand, creates black stains.
If the stains on your line do not fit neatly into one color or the other, you can use a stain test kit to identify the metals that are causing damage to your liner.
To get rid of metal stains on your liner:
- Identify the source of the stain. This will help you assess the type of metal that is causing the damage more accurately, and you will be better able to choose an efficient stain removal technique.
- Remove all the dirt and debris in your pool and ensure that your chemical levels are balanced.
- Use a metal stain test kit if you are still uncertain about the type of metal that is causing damage. Alternatively, enlist the help of a professional to ascertain the offending metal.
- Remove the metals using a sequester.
- Fix the source of the problem: remove the rusty ladder that is lying near your pool or get your pool heater checked for any issues.
- If you find metals in your water, use a sequester once a week to remove them. This will prevent further staining of your liner.
Attention!
If the stains prove to be particularly stubborn, use a dedicated metal stain remover to get rid of them.
Ensure that the product you use is suitable for vinyl liners to avoid damaging your liner accidentally.
When you are removing stains from your pool liner, do not, by any means, drain your pool.
Removing all the water may cause the vinyl liner to come up loose or shrink. In the worst-case scenario, the walls of your pool could collapse.
If your liner is very heavily stained, you may consider replacing it altogether. This is especially viable if you have had it for more than five years. If you opt to replace the liner, make sure to get the job done by a professional.
Tips for Preventing Stains
One of the best ways to keep your pool liner stain-free is to ensure that the chemicals in your water are balanced. Additionally, use a pool cover to keep out leaves and other debris when you are not using the pool. This will prevent the formation of organic stains on your liner.
Clean your pool regularly, taking care to remove any dirt and grit that could potentially stain your liner. Use a metal sequester at least once a week to get rid of any metals in your pool water. Also, shock your pool occasionally to keep it clean and stain-free.
Conclusion
Getting rid of pool liner stains is an essential part of pool maintenance. Fortunately, knowing how to clean pool liner is not that difficult. A big part of stain removal includes regular maintenance tasks like getting rid of metals and debris in your pool.
If you encounter stubborn stains, you may need to use specific cleaning products like stain removers and erasers. Just be sure to use products that are suitable for vinyl, since harsh chemicals can easily damage the material.
Always strive to keep the chemical levels in your water balanced since an imbalance accelerates the formation of stains.
If you follow the tips above, you will find it much easier to remove stains from your pool liner.
