Has Anyone Cleaned Their Pool Tiles, and, If So, How?

[Michael1]

I posted this question on the Getting Started Forum, and got more questions than answers. I am hoping to find people who have undertaken the task of cleaning their pool tiles, and not resorting to a soda/bead blasting service.

I have seen it recommended here to use 5:1 diluted muriatic acid in a spray bottle to clean the deposits on the pool tiles. What's missing from this equation is what to use to actually rub off the deposits without it dissolving from the acid or scratching the tiles. Anyone have suggestions based on their experience?

 

[Texas Splash]

I've seen recommended before a pumice stone. It's sounds awful but apparently does quite well. You might want to try it in a small area to see.

 

[Rossterman]

Had quite a bit of dirt colored substance and calcium build up on ours. Muratic acid removed it straight away with very little scrubbing. Didnt need to use pumic just a non scratching scouring pad.

 

[OTPirate]

I hate to be one of those that asks you a question about your question...but...did the Muratic acid "etch" your tiles at all? i want mine etched a little as they are super slippery when wet.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Try a Tampico brush. You can usually find them in the section of hardware stores where masonry products are. Tampico is made from dried, fibrous husks of many different types of succulent plants. Tampico is resistant to degradation from both strong acids and strong bases and, if cut short, can be made very stiff.

As far as acid etching tiles, that's not typically the case because tile glaze is fairly resistant to even strong acids.

You want to be very careful with pumice stones. They are really designed to work on tile grout, not tile surfaces. Pumice has a Mohs hardness of 6 and so it is similar to glass beads used in bead blasting, i.e. It can easily scratch and damage ceramic tile.

 

[Michael1]

I appreciate these good ideas. Yesterday, I tried a dampened Magic Eraser as recommended in a couple of other threads. It seemed to clean up some light deposits, but would not touch the heavier deposits or whiten up the grout.

 

[Rossterman]

I completed,an acid wash on ours and it removed all the staining and buildup from the tiles without scrubbing. I wasnt able to discern and damage to the surface of the tile and suspect since it is ceramic, there is likely no etching of the finish. The tile sparkles like new!

 

[Michael1]

I completed,an acid wash on ours and it removed all the staining and buildup from the tiles without scrubbing. I wasnt able to discern and damage to the surface of the tile and suspect since it is ceramic, there is likely no etching of the finish. The tile sparkles like new!

Did you just spray it on with spray bottle? How much did you dilute the acid?

Thanks!

 

[DieselD]

Thought this might be of some interest to you guys. Our new to us pool had some really nasty build up, who knows the last time anyone cleaned up the tile! I tried a few methods but nothing really got it as clean as I thought it should be. I started asking around and found a guy that does tile cleaning via media blasting as a side business. $275 later we had brand new looking tile!

Pictures are worth a thousand words so here ya go!

Yes the coping is sealed now


during


Done

 

[jblizzle]

Good price. For the cost around here I think I could buy the equipment and do it myself. Need to just learn how to do it.