- [Narrator] Even if you regularly clean your pool
and balance your water,
you might still end up with pool stains.
The key to removing and preventing pool stains
is knowing what caused them
in the first place.
Check it out.
(upbeat music)
Before we dive in,
if you're looking for more help
keeping your pool clean and clear,
check out our free pool care cheat sheet
at swimuniversity.com/cheatsheet.
It's a totally free
easy to use guide
to help you keep track
of taking care of your pool.
Okay, so what causes pool stains?
Before you go out and buy a pool stain remover,
you need to determine what stained your pool.
The most common pool stains fall into two categories.
One is organic stains.
These are leaves, berries,
and other organic debris that can cause stains
if they settle
and are left there for some time
on your pool surfaces.
And number two are metal stains.
Metals like copper and iron
can enter your pool water
through things like well water
or a corroded pipe.
The best way to figure out
what type of stain you have
is by the stain's color.
Greenish brown stains
are likely organic stains
caused by leaves or plant matter.
Reddish blue stains
are likely from brightly colored berries
from a nearby tree or bush.
Bluish greenish black stains
could be caused by organic matter
like leaves or berries.
But if there's nothing like that around your pool,
it's probably copper,
either from well water or a corroded pipe.
Greenish brownish red stains
mean there's more iron in the water
from either well water or a nearby source
like a fence.
If the iron rust
and the rust flows into your pool,
say after it rains,
it can stain.
Brownish blackish purple stains
are caused by manganese.
This is found in well water,
but can also be found in some municipal water supplies.
So you've got a good idea of what caused the stain.
It's time to test your theory
and confirm the source.
Now, if you think it's an organic stain,
apply a small amount of chlorine
directly to the stain.
And this should go away easily if it's organic.
If you think it's a metal stain,
chlorine has little effect.
Instead, apply some absorbic acid, AKA vitamin C,
directly to the stain.
If the stain is removed
or lightened by the powder,
it's a metal stain.
Now that you've identified
the type of pool stain,
it's time to remove it.
First, here's how to get rid of organic pool stains.
You'll need to super chlorinate the water.
To do that,
you'll use pool shock.
First, you wanna test and balance the water.
Use test strips or a liquid test kit
to test and balance your alkalinity and pH.
Your alkalinity should be
between 100 and 150 parts per million
with 125 parts per million being ideal.
And your pH should be
between 7.4 and 7.6,
with 7.5 being ideal.
If you need help balancing your water chemistry,
be sure to check out our other videos.
Two, you wanna shock the pool.
If it's a small stain,
a regular dose of shock should work.
But if you have multiple or larger stains,
use a triple dose of shock.
This means adding three pounds
of calcium hypochlorite shock
for every 10,000 gallons of water.
Now remember to always shock your pool
at dusk or nighttime
so the sun doesn't burn away the shock.
Three,
after you've added shock,
brush your pool.
Use a stiff pool brush
to thoroughly scrub the stains.
And it's okay if you don't remove them completely
at this point.
Four, you wanna run the pump.
Allow the shock to circulate through the pool
for at least eight hours or overnight.
Five, you wanna brush the pool again.
During those eight hours
while the shock is circulating
or the next day,
scrub the stains again.
And six, check the stains.
If they're gone, great.
If not,
repeat the process of shocking your pool.
Okay.
Now, here's how to get rid of metal pool stains.
Metal stains can be a little bit more difficult
to get rid of,
but it's not impossible.
First, you wanna test the water for metals.
Knowing what kind of metal stained your pool,
will help you buy the right type
of pool stain remover.
Some home test kits will test for metals,
but your best bet is to take your water sample
to a local pool store.
Next, you wanna buy a metal pool stain remover.
Look for one that targets the type of metal
that stained your pool.
And then three, follow the instructions.
Each pool stain remover
will work a little differently.
It's usually helpful to have
a pool brush on hand to distribute
the stain remover.
Now, how do you prevent pool stains
from happening in the first place?
When it comes to preventing organic pool stains,
it's all about keeping organic contaminants
from settling in your pool.
First, you wanna keep your water balanced,
especially the alkalinity, pH,
and sanitizer levels.
Two,
keep the pool clean by using a robotic pool cleaner
or regularly vacuuming your pool.
Three, skim the pool surface often
to keep leaves, twigs,
and other organic debris
from sinking to the bottom.
Four, you wanna move plants
with fruit and berries away from the pool area.
And five, check the pool regularly for stains
and remove them while they're still small.
Finally, here's how to prevent metal pool stains.
First, you wanna test your water source for metals.
If they're present,
use a hose filter whenever you fill
or refill your pool.
Two, use a metal sequestrant in your pool.
This chemical binds with the metal particles
to keep them from settling on pool surfaces.
And it means that metal particles
can be removed by the pool filter.
Now keep in mind,
a metal sequestrant is not a metal pool stain remover.
It can prevent stains,
but it will not remove them.
Three, maintain your pool plumbing.
If your parts use copper pipes,
check them regularly for corrosion.
And four,
keep your pH levels steady.
This is especially important
if you have copper in your water.
A low pH level will make the water acidic.
Acidic water corrodes and oxidizes copper,
which will stain your pool.
Now, if you have any more questions
about pool maintenance,
go check out our free pool care cheat sheet
at swimuniversity.com/cheat sheet.
And if you found this video helpful,
leave a comment,
hit the like button
and subscribe for more pool maintenance tutorials
throughout the season.
That's it.
Thanks again.
And happy swimming.