What to Know About Acid Washing

Frequent pool cleaning is essential, but acid washing should be performed every five years.

Taking care of the pool is essential for many reasons. If you forget to do it, the pool might get overrun by leaves, debris, or algae. Cleaning the pool frequently and changing the water and filters on time can prevent the accumulation of dirt and debris and keep the water's chemical levels balanced. If there is too much waste in the pool, it might need acid cleaning.

Please keep reading to learn about acid washing the pool and how to use acid safely.

What is an acid wash?

An acid wash uses muriatic acid to strip away a fine layer of plaster from a pool. This exposes the fresh plaster underneath. Due to the acid removing layers of plaster, pools will eventually need replastering, but infrequent acid washes won't do that much damage.

If a pool's plaster shows stains that won't go away with regular washing or the water is so murky that you can't see the bottom, it probably needs an acid wash.

How to prepare for acid washing

Acid substances can cause injury and harm the environment, so knowing how to clean the pool while staying safe is vital. One should not inhale the acid's fumes, so cleaners must wear masks, gloves, and protective clothes.

It's advisable to wear a respirator mask, rubber clothes, and boots that can be hosed down to remove possible acid contamination. Furthermore, acid and other cleaning supplies shouldn't be mixed to avoid reactions.

If the acid gets into someone's eyes or contacts the skin, rinse it with water, and it won't cause a burn.

How to clean the pool with acid

To properly wash the pool with acid, homeowners must know the cleaning order:

First, drain the water from the pool. Shut off the filtration and pumping system and drain the water using a powerful pump.

After the water is gone, remove everything accumulated inside the pool. Remove all the leaves, debris, and algae with a scrub or a broom. Otherwise, the pool may dry and leave deeper stains.

After rinsing, the pool is ready for acid washing. Use a hose while cleaning with acid to keep the tiles moist. Mix acid with water according to the instructions on the acid cleaning kit, and clean the drains first, then the deep end and walls.

It's important not to keep acid on for too long, but scrub and rinse it after one minute. To avoid damaging the pool area, use a gentle concentration of acid. Repeat the process if necessary, with less acid and more water each time.

When the walls are clean, neutralize the acid at the bottom of the pool by applying two pounds of soda ash per gallon of acid. Rinse and pump out everything in the pool while ensuring the waste doesn't touch plants, grass, or animals.

When the acid wash is complete, fill the pool with water. Then check its pH and mineral levels to ensure they stay within safe levels.

Stay cautious

Frequent pool cleaning is essential, but acid washing should be performed every five years. Wearing the proper clothes, gloves, and masks to protect yourself from hazardous fumes and substances is imperative when cleaning with acid considering this substance is extremely dangerous. If you're unsure about the best practices, consult a pool cleaning company for a professional wash that delivers sparkling results.

Pool Tile Cleaning Vegas offers pool tile cleaning, calcium removal, acid washing, pool draining, and media blasting services, in Las Vegas and Henderson. Call us at (702)605-6936.