Vinyl-lined pools are known for being stain-resistant because they are smooth, have fancy protective coatings, and are almost nonporous. This is the perfect combination for keeping stains and algae away. However, there are times when minerals, such as manganese, iron, copper, or even organic stains, can discolour vinyl. Don’t worry, our treatment will fix these stains for you.
Our product works wonders on vinyl pools. Our stain treatment kit restores the bright colour and smooth finish within days. You won’t have to drain the pool water because our treatment works with the water still in the pool. This will keep your liner fitted in its proper place in the pool and save you a lot of money.
Our product safely targets stain causing minerals, dissolving them back into suspension without damaging your liner.
WARNING: Most retail pool stain removers are NOT SAFE for use on vinyl. They can bleach or discolour the vinyl.


WARNING: RETAIL ALL-PURPOSE STAIN REMOVERS ARE OFTEN NOT SAFE ON VINYL POOLS. PLEASE READ THE FINE PRINT CAREFULLY, AS MANY STAIN PRODUCTS WILL CAUSE PERMANENT BLEACHING OR DAMAGE TO THE LINER.
IRON OR COPPER STAINS
ORGANIC STAINS (TANNINS, LEAVES OR DEAD ALGAE)
Still not sure? Feel free to call us to discuss. We can help you.
WARNING: ALL-PURPOSE STAIN REMOVERS SOLD AT THE POOL SHOP ARE OFTEN NOT SAFE ON VINYL POOLS. PLEASE READ THE FINE PRINT CAREFULLY, AS MANY STAIN PRODUCTS WILL CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE LINER AND CAUSE WIDESPREAD BLEACHING THAT CANNOT BE REMOVED.
If your vinyl appears to be fading, chances are you may have a thin calcium formation or mineral contamination on the surface, rather than a faded liner.
Vinyl lined pools do fade very slowly over a long period of time. However, it is not uncommon to see 15-year-old vinyl pools that retain almost all of their original colour. Modern vinyl has great UV resistance and is usually stronger than products used in the past.
To extend the life of your vinyl pool, test and treat your pool water regularly. Brushing the pool surface every month also helps. Vinyl doesn’t like aggressive water that is very high or very low in pH or chlorine. Vinyl is also not very resistant to high chlorine levels. High chlorine levels lead to premature fading, bleaching, and breakdown of the vinyl surface. In short, keep your water balanced, and you’ll save a lot of money because your vinyl pool liner will last a lot longer.
| Water Volume | Kit Prices - Inc. GST & Delivery | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 40,000 Litres | $245 | X 1 Bottle of SSE + 2 Bags of Stain Compound |
| Up to 65,000 Litres | $295 | X 1 Bottle of SSE + 3 Bags of Stain Compound |
| Up to 95,000 Litres | $345 | X 1 Bottle of SSE + 4 Bags of Stain Compound |
| Up to 120,000 Litres | $395 | X 2 Bottles of SSE + 5 Bags of Stain Compound |


These stains are usually from dirt or algae that have since been killed off, leaving stains behind. This is often known as non-living organic staining. This often appears in corners or areas of reduced water flow. Also, tannin oils from leaves and vegetation can leave a brown tint covering the entire pool surface. This type of staining usually takes a while to form and can be very difficult to remove with brushing or chlorine. Our stain kit will remove both of these stain types.
Copper stains are often a blue/green or grey colour and will often get darker or look worse after shock chlorination. The picture at the top of the page is a severe case of copper staining that we have removed. Iron stains are brown colour and often will partially wipe away with a brush. After brushing, iron will soon resettle and stain the pool.
Low pH (acidic) causes weakening of the vinyl, whereas high chlorine causes colour bleaching/oxidation. Very low alkalinity or high calcium hardness can cause damage to your vinyl surface. This is because the water is unbalanced and is seeking to rebalance itself. To do this, the water slowly destroys the vinyl. This type of staining can be tough to repair. Elevated chlorine levels for an extended period can also cause permanent damage to the liner. As strong as they are, vinyl liners cannot withstand high chlorine levels for very long.
Stains on vinyl pool liners are usually copper or mineral-based. While calcium and algae can stain vinyl, these types of stains are less common and usually easily removed. Likewise, fungus and bacteria stains are also uncommon, but these types of stains are on the increase.
Bacterial stains appear because dye-producing microorganisms gather on the underside of the vinyl and cause discoloration. Over time, they will slowly migrate through the vinyl and appear in the pool as stains. These will look like gray stains on the sides or bottom of the pool.
Some publishers argue that this type of staining can be removed with shock chlorination and a quality copper-based algaecide. Our experience with clients who have this issue is that this process doesn’t work, or partially works for a short time. This is because the stains are coming from under the liner, not on the top surface. We are currently investing in further research on this issue.
If you have this issue and you are considering replacing the liner, then it would be a great idea to have the sand base of the pool pretreated before you install a new liner. There are several options available for pool owners. Talk to your vinyl supplier about which one would be best suited to your situation.
Remember, mineral and copper stains are very stubborn and won’t brush away. To remove these types of stains, our treatment process is your best option.