How to Acid Wash My Pool
Acid washing a pool involves using a strong acid to strip away a thin layer of your pool's plaster, revealing a new, white layer of plaster. You do not want to acid wash your pool every year, as this constant stripping away of layer after layer of plaster would eventually weaken the lining of your pool. The general rule of thumb is that if you cannot see the bottom of your pool because of algae or other contaminants in the water, then it is time for an acid wash. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Leaf strainer
- Long-handled acid brush
- Garden hose
- Protective clothing
- Rubber boots
- Eye goggles
- Breathing mask
- Heavy gloves
- Muratic acid
- Garden sprayer
- Soda ash
- Pump
Instructions
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1
Remove as many leaves and other debris from the pool as possible with a leaf skimmer. This material should be piled and dried and then bagged and disposed of in the trash.
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2
Drain the pool of water. Wash down the sides of the pool with a garden hose and brush with a long-handled acid brush, which should be available at pool supply centers. Clean as much algae and other debris off the sides as possible. Pump out as much of the dirty water as possible, pumping it into a storm drain if available.
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3
Don protective clothing, eye protection and a breathing mask designed to filter out acid fumes.
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4
Mix 1 gallon of muratic acid with 1 gallon of water in a garden sprayer. Always pour acid into water.
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5
Wet a 10-foot section of the pool wall with the garden hose, then pour the acid mixture down this section of the plaster wall. Rub immediately with a long-handled acid brush. Rinse off with a garden hose after the acid has been on the wall approximately 30 seconds. Do not leave the acid on the wall longer than 30 seconds. Continue to the next 10-foot section.
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6
Spread 2 lbs. of soda ash into the acid water collecting at the bottom of the pool for every 1 gallon of acid that you have used. This will neutralize the acid.
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7
Pump the neutralized acid water out of the pool and into a storm drain. Check with local environmental regulations beforehand to make certain that you will not be violating any local laws when doing this.
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8
Clean the area around the drain at the bottom of the pool when all of the neutralized acid water has been removed. Use the 50/50 mix of muratic acid and water to scrub around the drain, then neutralize the solution with soda ash and pump out once the job is completed.
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9
Re-fill the pool with clean water.
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Tips & Warnings
This job is best done by two people, one in the pool and the other at the top of the pool with the acid solution and a garden hose.
Be extremely careful at all times when around muratic acid. Be especially careful when transporting it.
While the muratic acid mixture is not so strong as to do immediate damage to most skin, it is advisable to wash off any acid immediately if it gets on you.
Always pour acid into water and never water into acid.
Wear a breathing mask specifically designed to filter acid vapors.
Remove all metal from the pool before starting your acid wash. If the pool has metal pipes then plug the drains with rubber or with soda-ash-soaked rags to prevent the acid water from reacting with the metal.
Never acid wash a vinyl pool.
References
- Photo Credit boy in swimming-pool image by Marzanna Syncerz from Fotolia.com
