The table below is based on Arko’s recommendations for specific pool stain removal:
| Stain Color | Likely Source | Treatment | Notes |
| Blue-green stain on pool surfaces or in ... | Copper from algaecides, heat exchangers, ... | Granular treatments, such as citric acid ... | If water is blue-green and also cloudy, ... |
| Purple precipitate on pool water surface ... | Copper cyanurate when the cyanuric acid ... | Reduce cyanuric acid level to about 50 p ... | Draining water also addresses copper in ... |
| Brown stain on pool surfaces or in water | The most common source is well water tha ... | Same as for copper; if the source of iro ... | |
| Brown stains, some of which may be shape ... | Leaves and other natural materials that ... | Stains may disappear as pool chlorine le ... |
Can you use citric acid to clean a pool?
These stains all penetrate the surface of the pool and are virtually impossible to remove without an acid wash. A citric acid wash is most effective on a swimming pool that has been cleaned, with all debris removed, after it is drained. The acid wash is applied from a watering can used for flowers.
What is the best way to clean a stained pool?
Ascorbic Acid Treatment. This is how you use a large amount of Ascorbic Acid to treat staining in your entire pool. I cover using bulk Ascorbic acid and also using Natural Chemistry "Stain-Free" - which is Citric acid. This is a good treatment if your pool has a lot of staining and the spot cleaning is not an option.
What is acid wash for pools?
Citric acid creates clean, unblemished pool surfaces. Even under the best care and maintenance programs, swimming pools occasionally become stained. This occurs due to a variety of reasons, including environmental conditions and time. When swimming pools become stained, often an acid wash is applied to remove these stains.
Is that really a metal stain in your pool?
Is That Really a Metal Stain? Pool stains are caused by one of two possibilities: either organic matter like berries and leaves, or metal. One quick way to determine if your stain is in fact metal is to rub a bit of ascorbic acid on the stain—vitamin C tablets you might already have lying around should work great.
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Does citric acid remove iron stains pool?
Iron-based pool stains can be removed by using Ascorbic acid. Copper-based stains can be removed by using Citric acid.
How do I get stains off the bottom of my pool?
Mustard algae and most yellow/brown algae will like the bottom of the pool. The fastest way to get rid of these stains is to apply chlorine straight onto the discoloration. Scrub with a brush and watch it disappear. Run a water test to see what other stuff might be in the water, and treat accordingly.
What does citric acid do to chlorine?
Citric acid reacted with chlorine and produced trichloromethane. Over 1000 μg L−1 trichloromethane was produced after 30 min reaction with chlorine at 22 °C, while less than 35 μg L−1 trichloromethane was produced when Na-phosphate was used to adjust pH of chlorine.
Does acid remove pool stains?
We can acid wash a pool without draining the water or damaging the surface. Remember, many people mistakenly believe that acid washing is a 'cure all' for swimming pool stains. The truth is, it is not. In fact, in many cases, acid washing does not remove pool staining and this leaves clients furious.
How do I get rid of stains in my pool without draining?
0:051:11How do I get rid of stains in my pool without draining - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWork by lowering the ph and alkalinity to such low levels a corrosive water environment is createdMoreWork by lowering the ph and alkalinity to such low levels a corrosive water environment is created which will slowly eat away at soft materials like scale and stains.
How do you remove brown stains from a gunite pool?
0:362:17Brown spots on the bottom of the gunite pool - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd gloves on but take some muriatic acid. And dump it down the pipe. So that the acid. It's heavierMoreAnd gloves on but take some muriatic acid. And dump it down the pipe. So that the acid. It's heavier than water will flow right to the bottom. And sit right on those stains.
How do I clean my pool with citric acid?
Fill the can with 1 gallon of water and then add 1 gallon of citric acid, always in that order. The pool walls are wetted with water from a hose and then the acid mixture is applied one area at a time and allowed to sit for 30 seconds before scrubbing with an acid brush and rinsing that section.
What happens if you mix bleach and citric acid?
When mixed with any acid, it releases highly toxic chlorine gas. Most toilet bowl cleaners contain sodium hydrogen sulfate, an acid which will quickly liberate chlorine from bleach. The acrid fumes of chlorine can destroy lung tissue, cause the lungs to fill with water and in a sense cause death by drowning.
Can citric acid neutralize chlorine?
VITAMIN C DECHLORINATION Two forms of vitamin C, ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate, will neutralize chlorine. Neither is considered a hazardous chemical.
How do you remove brown stains from pool plaster?
For extreme staining or serious algae blooms, plaster pools can be cleaned with an acid wash with muriatic acid, or the safer to use Acid Magic. Acid washing removes a thin layer of plaster, exposing bright white and unstained plaster underneath. Having your pool acid washed will remove most surface stains.
What acid do you use to acid wash a pool?
Pool acid washing is a process where chemicals—mainly hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid—are combined with water and are sprayed onto your pool's surface to remove any grime and build-up. A professional pool cleaner will then use a brush to scrub out the staining and other grime.
Will muriatic acid remove stains in pool?
High pH levels are known to lead to the development of scale. Along with balancing the pH levels of your pool water, muriatic acid is strong enough to kill mold, remove rust stains, get rid of calcium deposits, and clean the surfaces of your pool.