How to Assess & Remove Pool Liner Stains
Your pool liner is directly responsible for giving your pool that amazing glow. As much as you love the color and look of your pool liner, stains are a common occurrence for every pool owner. Vinyl pool covers are subject to some wear and tear over the lifetime of your pool and are meant to be replaced every five to nine years. However, if your pool liner still has some life in it, but has stains, we’ve curated some tips on how to remove them and if liner replacement is really necessary
How to Identify Pool Liner Stains
Stains in your pool can manifest due to a combination of several factors. The most common types are from organic sources such as outdoor debris like mud, leaves, and algae. These stains are typically brown or green and can be easily avoided and taken care of with scheduled maintenance and basic cleaning.
For stains in which the source is less obvious, looking at the color will help you identify what could be the probable cause. If the stain you are looking at is not coming from an organic source, metal could be the culprit. Copper, iron, and manganese can all affect your pool liner in different ways. Just like a corroded penny, copper stains will be a blue-green color. These stains can come from the pipes in your system, be the result of poor-quality pool salts, or be caused by your pool heating system. Iron-based stains are yellow or reddish-brown. Be mindful of items in or around your pool that are rusting such as handrails. Stains coming from manganese are black or purple and are typically a result of well water in your pool.
How to Remove Organic Pool Liner Stains
There’s no doubt that cleaning and treating organic stains is easier than tackling metal-based ones. By first ridding your pool water and filter of foreign debris, you will be able to see the stain and pinpoint where exactly it is coming from to be mindful of the area in the future. Vacuuming the surface and scrubbing the walls and pool floor will also help treat and get rid of the organic stain. During this process, it is essential to test your pool water. Investing in a test-kit that measures the level of chlorine and pH will be beneficial to minimize the appearance of stains before attempting to scrub it or use powerful shocking chemicals.
For tough organic stains, you may have to use pool stain removers. Make sure to purchase one that can be used on your specific pool liner as they can cause more damage than good if not used properly. As always, be sure to store these chemicals properly as they can pose potential hazards to children and pets.
How to Treat Metal Pool Liner Stains
Before draining your pool, identifying the type of stain is elemental to the process. Metal-based stains are trickier to treat as a chemical imbalance can occur in the water. Testing and balancing the chemicals in your water will ensure that the stain does not get worse or results in you needing to change your liner. Using metal removing cleaners for your specific liner will be the best solution to your stain. Although metal stains can be tedious and pose cleaning challenges, finding one early can help you identify corrosive pipes or chemical imbalances that can lead to bigger issues later on.
If the metal stain does not seem to go away after your cleaning efforts, it may be time to call in a local pool professional from Shoreline to investigate and treat the situation. Getting professional advice will help you locate problems that are greater than simple debris and can help you decide if changing your pool liner is necessary.
Pool Liner Care for a Crystal Clean Look
As pool owners and professionals, we can all agree that there is nothing better than seeing a perfectly clean and glistening pool liner. Taking care of your pool liner is key to making your pool the center of attention. To avoid the build-up of stains on your pool liner, it’s worth creating a schedule that you can follow every week. Simply knowing how to identify a metal or organic stain can help you save time and money in the long run, even if you call in a pool professional to treat it. With these quick tips, you’ll be able to keep your pool liner in the best shape possible and get the most out of your outdoor space for years to come!
