If you're not one for harsh chemicals, there are plenty of natural and organic options for removing stubborn stains on your pool liner. White vinegar or organic dish soap are great alternatives and can help you tackle most mildew and stains with less health and environmental impact.
Combine one part chlorine bleach and one part water. Use a spray bottle or a small garden sprayer to apply the bleach cleaner to the liner. Let the cleaner dry on the liner so it can remove the stains. You can clean any spots on the liner while the pool is full by applying the cleaner above the water line.
Vinyl liners can rip, so you'll want to make sure that you use a brush that is compatible and that you don't use excessive force. For simple stains, apply a mild cleanser directly to the liner and then scrub it with your pool brush or a soft cloth. You can pick up various speciality cleaners from your local pool store.
White Vinegar
Just like you run vinegar through your coffee pot to get rid of calcium buildup, white vinegar can wipe away this eyesore in your pool. Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water, dip a sponge or soft cloth into it, and scrub that residue away.
Perhaps the most common forms are calcium deposits (usually caused by incorrect pH balance) and body/sun tan oils. A reaction between modern sun creams and copper in the pool water can cause yellow staining on the liner material above the water line.
If you need help getting rid of stubborn stains, you can try using a metal stain remover for vinyl liners and/or a stain-removing tool. You can wipe the stain directly with a clean cloth or use a brush or another liner cleaning tool to get at hard to reach spots.
Unlike chlorine, vinegar is non-toxic and can be used to get rid of algae in pools. It also destroys mold, weeds and other microorganisms.
You can use OxiClean's Versatile Stain Remover to clean the tiles surrounding your swimming pool. However, OxiClean does not recommend using this product to clean your swimming pool or using the OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover as a substitute for pool chemical disinfectants.
While a baking soda scrub is a great way to clean pool tiles, grout, and furniture, baking soda doesn't really “clean” a pool. Instead, baking soda helps to maintain the pH levels of the water, which keeps a pool healthy and inviting.
High concentrations of chlorine (above 1.5 ppm) will attack the liner and bleach it, thus damaging it. Any level below this range will weaken its ability to kill off bacteria.
Do not use CLR, petroleum, household cleaning products, or abrasive cleaners. Use only brushes that are approved for use on your vinyl liner. Suns effect on your liner: All pool liners installed by us are coated for protection against the fading effects of the sun, chemical absorption, algae, and mold.
During the process I started using the magic eraser to clean the vinyl above the water line which has turned gray and black. This stuff works like magic without a lot of scrubbing. It is even taking some of the yellowish (I'm asumming iron) stains off my acrylic steps.
Organic liner stains are often removable easily. Organic chemicals respond to chlorine applied directly on the surface. Sometimes just shocking the pool will lighten or remove organic pool staining. Place a chlorine tablet on a stained area for just one minute.
Use a solution of warm water and white vinegar for a pool that is only slightly grimy. You only need about 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water. Dip your rag in the solution and wipe the pool clean. Toss the rag in the trash.
The use of baking soda in pools can spot treat algae
It can turn any backyard pool murky green or cause unsightly black spots on the walls and floor of any swimming pool. If your algae come in the form of black spots, it can be extremely tough and frustrating to try and get off your pool's interior.
Ordinary household vinegar could in theory be used to lower the pH of your pool. The pH of vinegar is about 2.5, which is quite acidic when compared to your pool water. Household vinegar is very weak though (when compared to a strong acid like muriatic acid), so you would need quite a bit to lower pH.
Just as was said earlier, white household vinegar is the most preferable for lowering pH, and it can be applied by adding it directly into the pool without necessarily diluting it with water.
Baking soda can: Help to clear cloudy water and restore the sparkle. Spot-treat algae. Make the pool water softer on your skin.
If the calcium levels are too high, you see the white spots, which is the calcium hardening on the liner. Chemicals that are added can raise or lower the calcium levels. When levels reach above the 400-PPM level, you will see cloudiness in the water, making the pool appear dirty and the scaling will begin.
The only reliable way to remove calcium silicate deposits is with a pumice stone — and a lot of hard work. These stains are notoriously difficult to scrub free. If you have a vinyl or fiberglass pool, you won't be able to use a pumice stone. It would scratch the pool.
No, you should not use a pressure washer to clean a vinyl pool liner. A pressure washer is very powerful and could easily tear your liner, resulting in a very costly repair.
Chlorine tablets can damage pool liner if they come in contact with the liner's vinyl material, which gets rapidly bleached and weakened when exposed to concentrated Chlorine. It is wiser to use the tablets with a chlorine dispenser or use granular Chlorine alongside chemical stabilizers.