Acid wash pool
DO NOT acid wash before watching this video
Many of our clients are often upset after an acid wash is done on their pool. This is because they weren’t told that the process permanently etches the smooth surface, making it feel rough and leaving blotches and streaks. It also leads to very sore feet and hands being grazed by the rough, etched surface.
Acid washing isn’t stain removal, it’s pool surface removal!
Acid Washing Pool – Quick Facts
✔ Acid washing removes the smooth layer off your pool surface
✔ It can leave surfaces rough, etched and streaky
✔ Draining a pool can risk structural damage (pool uplift)
✔ Most stains can be removed WITHOUT draining
✔ Our process avoids draining and acid washing
Because most pool shop staff have no experience or chemical knowledge about pool stain removal they suggest acid washing when it is not needed. In some cases, they even tell clients to resurface their pool to remove the staining because they simply don’t know what else to suggest. Our stain treatment removes pool stains without draining the pool. Remember, we’re the experts in the gentle, no-drain acid wash.
Acid Washing works by using a very strong acid to etch and dissolve the smooth top layer of your pool surface! This can remove stains, but it also removes a vital part of the surface at the same time. This is why most pool owners regret acid washing their pool.
Why Pool Shops suggest acid washing
- They don’t know what the stain is
- You'll need to buy tons of chemicals when it’s filled
- Shops make about $600 profit from acid washes
- They're not interested in solving your problem
- They know that their stain products won't work
What does acid washing do to my pool?
- Reduces the lifespan of the pool surface
- Makes the surface rough
- Dissolving the surface causes pebbles to dislodge
- Can cause the surface to separate and crack
- Puts your pool at risk of lifting out of ground
- The etched surface becomes a stain magnet
Risks of acid washing your pool
The importance of an insured contractor
If you insist on draining and acid washing your pool then we strongly suggest choosing a contractor with current liability insurance. This is because occasionally after the water is drained, the pool sides can buckle, crack, or even lift out of the ground.
The damage caused by pool uplift is not repairable. To help prevent this, most pools have a hydrostatic valve that releases any underground water pressure into the pool. However, in some pools, these valves can seize up, which means the water pressure under the pool remains very high. Therefore, pool uplift is a strong possibility when the water is drained.
Remember, if this uplift occurs, your pool is irreparable. This means that an entirely new pool structure is required because you cannot just push the pool back down again. You’ll require your contractor’s liability insurance to re-build an entirely new pool should this happen to you.
After being drained for an acid wash the hydrostatic pressure pushed
this concrete pool out of the ground.
Why Acid Washing Damages Pool Surfaces
We specialise in stain removal that doesn’t require draining your pool or using harsh acid washes. This is much gentler on your pool’s surface, and here’s why that’s so important.
Acid washing is an aggressive method of cleaning that involves draining the entire pool and applying a strong hydrochloric acid solution. While it can remove stains, it does so by literally “eating away” at the surface. For most pebble, glass bead, or Quartz pools, the cement layer is only a few millimeters thick, and acid washing will erode the cement that hold the surface pebbles in place. This creates tiny pits where dirt and algae can easily collect, making it much harder to keep the pool clean in the future.
This is why we won’t offer acid washing. Our no-drain process protects your pool’s surface, keeping it smooth and clean for years to come.
Our Stain Removal Products
Option 1 Stain Removal - DIY kit
- 1 Litre of our powerful stain prevention formula
- 4 Kgs of our granular stain dissolving compounds
- Phone support from our technicians
- Simple step-by-step video instructions included
- Pool does NOT need to be drained
- Kit is sent and tracked by Aramex Couriers
- Kids are back in the pool in just 7 days
Most Pools $245
Pools up to 40,000 Litres = $245
Pools 40,000 – 65,000 Litres = $295
Pools 65,000 – 90,000 Litres = $345
Option 2 Stain Removal – On Site Technician
- 1 Litre of our powerful stain release and prevention formula
- 4 Kgs of our granular stain dissolving compounds
- Complete on-site water testing
- Your pool does NOT need to be drained
- Kids are back in the pool in 7 days
- Visit is $465 for pools 40,000+ Litres
What Our Customers Say About Us
Our Company Credentials
Why Choose Us?
Speak to a stain specialist about your pool stain today. There is no cost or obligation, and we are happy to look at pictures and talk with you before we come out or send a kit. Email pictures to info@thepoolstainremovers.com.au or call us.
How to acid wash a pool
If you insist on acid washing your pool, the following instructions and video will show you how to do it. We strongly suggest having at least one other person help you through the acid wash process. Here is how to acid wash your pool. Before you start, here is what you will need to do the job properly.
Items needed to acid wash a pool
- Elbow-length acid-resistant gloves
- A garden hose that reaches all areas of the pool
- Protective glasses and breathing mask
- A submersible pump with an extension cord
- A good quality pool brush with pole
- Large watering can
- 4 kgs of soda ash or buffer
- 20-30 litres of hydrochloric or muriatic acid
- Quality knee length (rubber) gumboots
- A person to help you
Once you have these supplies in place you are ready to start the acid wash process. It is important that you do not use more acid than is needed to remove the stains. So we suggest starting with a low ratio of acid and water and add more acid if required. For example, some pools are cleaned perfectly with 20% acid and 80% water. On the other hand, other stains may need pure acid to be removed.
The acid wash process
- Drain the pool water and remove all debris from the pool using a submersible pump, brush and a hose.
- Mix hydrochloric acid (30%) and water (70%) to start with and increase the acid ratio if required and pour into a watering can.
- Wet the pool floor with the hose and then pour the acid mixture from the highest point using a watering can working your way down the pool toward the deep end.
- Rinse off the acid 15-20 seconds after it is first applied using a brush and the hose.
- Once the floor is complete then wet the walls of the pool and pour your acid mixture starting at the top using the same method as the floor.
- Work systematically and uniformly over the entire pool surface to keep the finish consistent. Don’t stop halfway through.
- Keep the submersible pump at the deep end of the pool running continually to clear out any water. This will remove the excess acidic water during the acid wash.
The truth about DIY acid washing
“Replacing a pool interior is a $15,000 investment you don’t want to make twice. Acid washing has a steep learning curve. Most professionals will admit that without proper supervision, their first few attempts were disastrous. Think twice before tackling a job where a single mistake can permanently stain or ‘burn’ your pool finish.”
How to acid wash your swimming pool
As mentioned on this page, we strongly suggest being very careful during the process of acid washing your swimming pool. This is because permanent damage will result from an excess of acidic water running or pooling in parts of the surface. Remember to watch several videos on how to acid wash your pool before starting the process. Also, have some buffer (sodium bicarbonate) handy to neutralize the water near the pump is a great idea. This will stop the surface from being etched in the areas where water is pooling.
The video shows this being done as part of the process. Remember, acidic water will eat into the surface of your pool unless it is rinsed away or neutralized with buffer. Above all, most acid wash disasters happen because of poor preparation or a lack of needed equipment. Before you start the job, make sure you have everything you need.
Remove the stain - not the pool surface
You don’t have to destroy your pool’s surface just to get it clean. Since 2013, our No-Drain Acid Wash has restored thousands of pools without the risks of etching, pool popping, or surface degradation. Browse our gallery of ‘Before & After‘ transformations to see how we can bring your pool back to life—without the drain.
