Things You'll Need:
- Muriatic acid
- Tri-sodium phosphate
- Patching mixture or grout
- Scrapers
- Long handled brush
- Buckets
- Protective clothes
- Rubber gloves and boots
- Masks
- Safety glasses
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Step 1
Drain the water from the swimming pool and clean any debris.
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Step 2
Check the pool for old or loose paint, chalk, cracks and holes.
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Step 3
Scrape off the loose or blistered paint from the pool surface. Remove any chalk. Patch any holes or cracks with the right non-shrinking patch material or grout.
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Step 4
Prepare an acid wash solution of water and muriatic acid in a bucket to etch wash the pool. Follow the instructions on the muriatic container for the correct amounts of water and percent solution of muriatic solution you should use for your size pool. Most muriatic acids come in 20 and 30 percent strength.
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Step 5
Take a long handled brush and dip it into the acid solution and start to scrub the walls first and then the floor. For safety, wear protective clothes and equipment while performing this procedure. Let the solution stay on the pool surface a few minutes, and then rinse the entire pool with plenty of water.
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Step 6
Wash the pool with a solution of pool washing compound (tri-sodium phosphate or TSP) that you prepare in a bucket. Follow the directions on the TSP container for mixing quantities. This will clean any oil residue or dirt and neutralize any remaining acid on the surface.
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Step 7
Apply the solution with a long handled brush using the procedure in Step 5. Rinse with fresh water again. Pump out all the water after you prep the pool for painting and let the pool dry completely. It may take a few days depending on outside temperature and humidity.
