Have you ever heard of acid washing your pool? It is sometimes referred to as ‘drain & clean’. This is an extreme way to clean your pool and is usually necessary only if your pool has turned dark, strange colors. Sometimes this happens if your winterizing process was done incorrectly or if your pool has been stagnant and unused for a long period of time.
No sure if your pool needs and acid washing? Refer to this general rule of thumb: can you see the bottom of the pool? Does the pool appear significantly stained on the walls and floor? If you can treat the stains with regular cleaning and chemicals, you do not need an acid wash. If the staining is persistent and not easily cleaned with normal maintenance, you may need an acid wash.
How it works: Acid washes strip a very small layer of plaster and exposes the fresh plaster beneath. Because of this fact, it is not recommended to do this annually. That will speed up your need for re-plastering. That being said, you can also use an acid wash if you want a brighter look for your pool.
Warning: acid is a VERY dangerous substance. It is important to be properly trained and wear protective clothing during the acid wash. It is important to protect the environment so the acid waste should be neutralized with soda ash prior to being pumped to a different location.
Before performing the acid wash, your pool will need to be washed and scrubbed. Once the pool is completely empty you can begin to acid wash the plaster. If you are doing this yourself, you will need protective clothing, rubber boots, gloves, goggles, and a breathing mask specifically designed for acid fumes.
Add 1 gallon of acid to 1 gallon of water. Be sure to ALWAYS ADD THE ACID TO WATER, not the other way around. Then pour the mixture down the wall. Only let it sit for around 30 seconds, use an acid brush to scrub the surfaces, then rinse thoroughly and quickly. Repeat this process until you have cleaned all the surfaces of your pool. If you think this 50/50 mixture is too weak, you can add more acid slowly. You may just need to scrub harder.
When your wash is complete you will be left with a foamy residue on the pool floor. This needs to be neutralized before pumping out. Use 2 pounds of soda ash per 1 gallon of acid used. Use a submersible pump with a hose to pump out the rest of the acid water. It’s important to be cautious about where you pump it to. It likely will destroy plants, kill fish, or any grasses.
The most important part of this process is safety. Make sure to do it properly and carefully. Have a person nearby who can assist if necessary. We advise paying a professional to complete this service because of the delicateness of the process. Costs vary depending on the size and location of your pool.
What if your pool is vinyl lined and not plaster? Good question. If your pool has vinyl, do not use acid. Use detergents, conditioners and man power. That should remove the slime and slush on your pool.
Quick Tip: Word of caution, make sure if you are ever doing an acid wash you have a plan to get the water back in your pool as quickly as possible. You don’t ever want a gunite pool empty – so the same day you drain and clean, be ready to fill it back up again for the best chance at success!
