Do I Really Need to Acid Wash My Pool?
- Brent Knoll
- Feb 27, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 1, 2020
Keeping a pool clean involves weekly brushing, skimming and basket cleaning, plus balancing of chemicals and an equipment check. But when regular cleaning and maintenance gets skipped, your pool can start looking cloudy or even *yikes* green! That's when it's time to consider acid washing your pool.

Changing the water in your swimming pool periodically is highly recommended due to increasing levels of chemicals, total dissolved solids, and bacteria. In Arizona, we recommend every 5-7 years.
When your pool is drained, it’s a perfect time for a pool acid washing.
Pool acid washing can brighten the interior of the pool, help lighten and eliminate stubborn copper and cobalt stains, strip calcium that has accumulated into a thick layer, and kill hidden bacteria and algae.


But you don’t want to acid wash your pool every time you drain it.
Why?
Because, when a pool is acid washed, the acid removes not only the fine layer of dirt and calcium that builds up over time, but also a thin layer of plaster to reveal new plaster underneath. That means each time you acid wash a pool, you are taking away part of the finish.
When To Acid Wash Your Pool
A good rule of thumb to go by is this: If you can see the bottom, chemicals will do. If you can’t see the bottom, or the water is unusually green, it’s time to drain and acid wash it.
On the other hand, if you are looking to remove the calcium water lines from your pool tile, acid washing won’t do that for you. You need glass bead blasting to get rid of calcium deposits on the tile.
While you could do it yourself, pool acid washing is a procedure best left to a professional pool cleaner because of the hazardous chemicals involved. You can do it yourself, but it takes time and specialized equipment.


Pool acid washing is a dirty job, let us do it for you. Call for a free estimate to see if an acid wash service is best for your Arizona swimming pool. Sunset Pool Care: 480-682-7986
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