Your swimming pool remembers.
They remember the sun-kissed afternoons, the laughing splashes, the serene evenings. After a while, however, there’s the rest of it—boring spots and that gritty chalkiness that scrubbing with all your might can’t quite manage to erase. The once-vibrant centerpiece of your yard starts to look tired and neglected. That bright, beautiful blue you got hooked on now seems faded and washed out.
How do you get that sparkle back?
To give the pool a deep, dramatic rebirth, many go with a very strong process called acid washing. It’s a rigorous cleaning process that will make the pool shine like new. But do you necessarily want an acid wash on your pride-and-joy pool?
Below is your comprehensive guide to getting all the information on this. Your pool is the focal point of your backyard, where memories are created. It should only receive the finest treatment, and our aim here at Specialty Aquatic Tile Cleaning is to help you do that.
The Good Side: A New Beginning for Your Pool
So why would you acid wash your pool? The reason is as clear as the water will become. It’s about restoring lost beauty.
It removes the toughest stains
An acid wash can serve as a reset button for your pool’s look. The process of acid washing is known for breaking down the stubborn stains that won’t naturally go away. They can range from the dark green discoloring of algae that has penetrated the surface, to the unattractive brown and reddish lines deposited by metals in the water. These might include rust-colored lines from iron fittings or a greenish tint from copper pipes.
It’s the most effective method for removing efflorescence—that white powder that seems to spread across your tile and plaster, making your pool look worn and aged. This chalky residue appears when moisture brings mineral salts to the surface of the plaster, creating a stubborn, crusty layer. Generally speaking, it’s the only effective treatment for deep stains.
It Smooths Rough Buildup
Have you ever trailed your hand down your pool wall and found it feels gritty and rough? That unpleasant sensation often happens because of calcium deposits and mineral deposits that accumulate over the years. This texture can be abrasive on feet and swimwear, making a leisurely swim less pleasant. Not only do these layers of residue feel rough, but they’re also the perfect place for new algae and other contaminants to form.
An acid solution gently dissolves these hardened mineral deposits. The washing dissolves the calcium away, and the pool surface is once again smooth, clean, and comfortable.
It Brings a Radiant New Look
Over time, your pool’s surface becomes laden with microscopic particles and contaminants that cause the plaster to discolor. Acid washing strips away a very thin layer of the existing plaster—less than a sheet of paper—to reveal the new, bright, and stain-free surface below.
The impact is dramatic. The colors come alive again, the white gleams, and the entire pool glistens with renewed vitality. The transformation is often so complete that friends and family will ask if you had the entire pool resurfaced. It’s as close as you can get to having a new pool without the expense of a complete resurfacing.
What to Know Before You Start
While the results can be breathtaking, an acid wash is a job that involves genuine hazards. You have to understand the rough side of this process, and that’s why this work should only be performed by seasoned experts.
The Chemicals Are Potent
The most common acid used for this purpose is hydrochloric acid, though you might know it as muriatic acid. This works well but must always be handled carefully. Muriatic acid is particularly effective because of its strength in dissolving metallic and mineral stains that other cleaners can’t touch. Sometimes, for less demanding jobs, a less aggressive chemical like phosphoric acid is used, but it doesn’t always provide enough power.
The success and safety of the project depend on getting the mix perfect. The ratio of acid to water in the solution must be ideal. Too little, and it won’t clean effectively. Too much, and it will etch and ruin your pool surface forever. It’s about having the knowledge to use the right strength for the right problem.
Safety Is the TOP Priority
This is not a do-it-yourself project for a Saturday afternoon. Acid washing creates strong, invisible fumes that are harmful to breathe. Direct contact with the acid can cause severe chemical burns to the skin, and the vapors can irritate the eyes and damage the delicate tissues of the respiratory system. If adequate ventilation isn’t provided and proper safety precautions aren’t followed, these fumes can become hazardous for everyone in the area, including pets and neighbors.
That’s why professionals always don special protective gear. This includes a high-quality respirator mask to protect the lungs, acid-resistant gloves and boots, and full-face masks. A simple dust mask is completely insufficient for this kind of job.
Effort and Skill Are Necessary
Aside from the safety concerns, the work itself is not simple. It’s hard work and requires finesse to produce good results. The constant scrubbing against a ticking clock is physically demanding and requires stamina. The acid solution needs to be applied evenly and quickly to avoid leaving streaks and blotches. Too much time in one spot can lead to etching, while moving too quickly might not clean the area properly.
The entire surface must then be scrubbed with a stiff bristle brush to lift the stains, all while working against the clock before the acid has to be washed away.
Our commitment to you here at Specialty Aquatic Tile Cleaning, with experience since 1998, is to always use the most delicate method that will get the job done right. We’re committed to keeping your pool’s life intact and therefore only recommend an acid wash when it is the safest and best solution.
A Look at the Process
To illustrate what this work entails, here’s a quick overview of what an expert would do. This is for informational purposes only—do not try this on your own.
1. Draining and Sweeping
The pool must be drained completely. A plaster surface exposed to direct sun and heat for too long can crack, so this step is done efficiently. After it’s empty, a broom is used to sweep and clear out all loose debris.
2. Mixing the Right Solution
Then comes the most important part: slowly mixing the acid solution. A pro will assess your pool’s condition and calculate the correct ratio, usually around one part acid to ten parts water.
3. Washing and Scrubbing
The pool walls are lightly wetted first. Then, working from the top down, a special sprayer is used to apply the acid solution in small sections. It’s then scrubbed quickly with a stiff bristle brush to work the solution in and remove the stains and residue.
4. Rinsing and Balancing
The whole surface is thoroughly rinsed with water to stop the acid’s action and push it to the bottom of the pool. The acidic water that collects is then neutralized with soda ash to raise the ph to a safe level. Discharging highly acidic water can harm local plant life and ecosystems, so neutralization is an environmentally responsible step before draining.
5. Refilling and Finishing
The pool is refilled with fresh water. Finally, the water chemistry is tested and rebalanced to make sure the water is completely safe and ready for you. There is nothing like that first glimpse of a perfectly clean and freshly filled pool.
Trust the Experts with Your Pool
Acid washing is a powerful and effective method for removing deep stains and embedded calcium deposits, giving your pool a second life. But its effectiveness and safety depend entirely on perfect execution. It’s a serious task involving heavy chemicals and should be done professionally to guarantee you and your investment are safe.
Don’t let obstinate stains detract from the enjoyment of your backyard oasis. Investing in professional care is an investment in your property and in the countless hours of enjoyment it provides. At Specialty Aquatic Tile Cleaning, we promise to treat every job with the care and attention it deserves. Contact us today for a complimentary bid, and let us restore the shine to your swimming pool for many summers to come.