Vitamin C tablets can be used to clean your swimming pool. Diving into a nice, cool pool provides an escape from the summer heat that many people find enjoyable. Swimming in a dirty pool, however, isn't as appealing. In addition to objects like bugs and leaves falling into your pool, or algae turning the water green, you can find metal stains along the walls of the pool. These orange stains are from rust created when iron is introduced into the pool water, either inside the water itself, or when an iron object is placed into the water. You can remove these stains with ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C. Lower the chlorine level in your pool to between 0 and 2 parts per million. The lower the chlorine level, the less ascorbic acid you need to use to clean the pool. You can wait for the chlorine level to drop naturally, but if time is a factor, you can add sodium thiosulfate to the water, following the manufacturer's instructions. Add an algaecide to the pool water, following the instructions on the packaging regarding the method of application and how much you need for a pool of your size.
This prevents algae from growing with the lowered chlorine levels. Rub a vitamin C tablet back-and-forth across small stains to remove them. Continue until the stains are gone. Treat large stains by adding ascorbic acid to the pool water by sprinkling it evenly over the surface of the water. Start by using a 1/2 pound of ascorbic acid per 10,000 gallons of water in the pool. Set the filter on "Circulate" and turn it on. Allow the ascorbic acid to work for a half-hour. Check the pool to see if the stains are gone. If they're still there, add more ascorbic acid, and let the filter circulate the treatment for a half-hour. Repeat this process until the pool is clean. Add a commercial enzyme to the water to prevent the stains from reoccurring. Things You Will Need Sodium thiosulfate Algaecide Vitamin C tablets Ascorbic acid Rust-preventing commercial enzyme References Natural Chemistry: Pool StainingUltimate Pool Seal: How to Recognize and Remove Swimming Pool StainsTrouble Free Pool: Metals in the Water and Metal Stains Photo Credits Liquidlibrary/liquidlibrary/Getty Images Suggest a Correction
Download our FREE guides and receive new posts every week. Stains are one of the most irritating detriments to their investment that a pool owner can endure. To address this problem, the source of the stain must be identified, and the appropriate solution introduced as soon as possible. Pool stains generally fall into two categories: The best way to distinguish metal from organic stains is by color. Different color combinations provide good indicators of exactly what substance is causing a given stain: These stains are most likely organic stains caused by leaves or other plant matter. These stains are more than likely from brightly colored berries; check the area around the pool for the offending bush. When a stain is a mixture of dark blue, green and black, and there is no evidence of organic matter, it is likely to have been caused by copper. This combination indicates iron as the culprit. This dark color combination is caused by manganese. Once you’ve got a good idea of the cause of a stain, it’s time to test the theory and confirm the source of the problem.
If an organic stain is suspected, try applying a small amount of chlorine directly to it. An organic stain will come away easily. Metal stains, on the other hand, react best to ascorbic acid, the kind found in citrus juices. The best method is to apply crushed vitamin C tablets to the stain, and see if it is removed or lightens. Organic stains are best addressed by super chlorinating the water, then brushing. First, test the water to ensure the balances of pH and alkalinity – pH should be between 7.4 and 7.6, while alkalinity should be between 100 and 150 ppm (parts per million). Use can use test strips to test the water. How to Identify and Remove Pool Stains To address this problem, the source of pool stains must be identified, and the appropriate solution introduced as soon as possible. Click here to learn more » For multiple or large stains, the water should be triple shocked by adding 3 pounds of calcium hypochlorite pool shock for every 10,000 gallons of water.
Remember always to shock at dusk, or at night, for best results. How to Shock a Swimming Pool Want to learn how to shock a pool? Watch this video and follow along with these easy steps to successfully shock your swimming pool. Once it’s been shocked, thoroughly brush all the stains, then let the pool circulate for at least eight hours. Continue to brush the stains intermittently, and keep the chlorine level high until the stains are finally gone. Metal stains usually require professional intervention. The first step is to take a water sample to your local pool care retailer to determine exactly what kinds and levels of metals are plaguing your pool. After that, the professional can recommend a special additive designed to remove metal stains. Add the chemicals according to manufacturer’s instructions, brushing the stain to help the process along. Should the additives and brushing not do the trick, you may have to use a targeted citrus-based stain remover, also available at pool care retailers, to attack the stain directly.
Natural Chemistry 07001 Metal Free 1 Liter This chemical will prevent and help remove existing metal stains in your pool by deactivating the metals in your water. Buy Now On Amazon Preventing pool stains is as important, easy, and important as any other facet of pool maintenance. To keep organic stains from forming, make sure to keep the correct level of sanitizer (i.e. chlorine) in the pool at all times. Make sure pH and alkalinity are balanced, to keep the sanitizer working properly. Keep your pool clean by regularly vacuuming (manually or with an automatic pool cleaner) and skimming the surface of the water. The best preventative measure against metal stains is to test water regularly for the presence of metals, and address it before stains form. If your pool is prone to metal contamination due to well water or other factors, be sure to use a stain and scale product as part of regular pool maintenance. These products sequester minerals in solution, preventing them from binding to pool surfaces.