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.
Mix vinegar, baking soda and hot water in a bucket. Use a mop to clean the liner. This will kill mold and mildew and leave the liner clean and fresh smelling.
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.
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.
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. The addition of chlorine to your pool water has to be done in a careful manner.
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.
For waterline scale on a vinyl pool: lower the water level and spray white vinegar (and a few drops of dish soap) from a spray bottle. Spray a few feet, then scrub the surface with a textured sponge or scrubber, then rinse off. Most visible scale will need an acid stronger than vinegar, however.
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.
Can you pressure wash a vinyl pool liner? 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.
We do not recommend using CLR on or in any materials associated with a swimming pool. CLR should never come into contact with chlorine (or any other household chemical). It can create a poisonous gas and is not safe.
Above-ground pools can fall victim to mold and mildew at the waterline; algae or mold and mildew on the outside walls; or black algae, green algae, or mold and mildew on the side rails. To clean the outside wall or side rails, simply: Mix 1 part Wet & Forget Outdoor with 5 parts water in a pump-up garden sprayer.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.
Brush the pool surface with a soft-bristled brush to loosen grime, dirt, and algae. Vacuum the surface of the pool (using a liner friendly vacuum) to get rid of remaining leaves, dirt, and debris. Make sure your pool water chemistry is balanced. Test the water and balance your chemicals accordingly.
Vacuuming, skimming and brushing the pool to remove accumulated dirt and algae from the walls and floor. Vacuuming to Waste: If you have the ability to vacuum to waste (with a multiport valve), this will make the process easier. Roll out the backwash hose and put the multiport valve onto the Waste setting.
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.
Chlorine can bleach the liner if the water is not circulated for several hours before the pool is closed for the season.
Answer: From the description of your pool's interior finish, it sounds as if your pool may have a buildup of scale. Scale is a deposit of calcium that leeches out of the pool water under certain conditions. It often makes the pool surface feel like sandpaper as you describe.
Chlorine bleach works fine and they will mist the floor of the pool using a garden sprayer three or four times. A second possible solution is to change the pH of the soil under and around the pool.
If you see a layer of white or greyish-white grime on the sides of your pool around the waterline, that's calcium. Calcium can build up in your pool water when the pH levels are off and leave deposits on your pool tiles. It's similar to what happens in your bathroom sink, toilet or bathtub.
Many techs say that chlorine gas should never be applied in these pools because it will lower the pH. Others also avoid liquid chlorine, or sodium hypochlorite — because it can concentrate and bleach the liner if the product isn't broadcast evenly throughout the pool.
Saltwater is extremely corrosive to certain types of metal pipes and pool equipment. Occasionally, saltwater pools are equally corrosive to pool liners. If saltwater wears away the lining of a pool long enough, it will create holes or tears in the liner. Once the liner tears, you'll have no choice but to replace it.
The typical lifespan of a vinyl liner is anywhere from 15-20 years and where your liner falls in that range depends, most crucially, upon your proper maintenance of the pool's chemistry.