8 Cleaning Tips for Glass Pool Tiles

True luxury is swimming in a clean, clear and hygienic pool. A pool that is unkept, eroded and mouldy doesn’t quite paint that picture, though, does it?

Unfortunately for most people, just the thought of cleaning their swimming pool throws them into a state of paralysis. However we propose that enjoying a cool dip in a clean pool over the summer can be a hassle free process!

This is why we have written this article – to demystify the cleaning process and have you swimming in a sparkly pool, in next to no time! Applying these strategies will help you enjoy your spotless and clean glass pool tiles all year round. Sounds good, right?

1. Clean Organic Material Weekly

At least once a week, clear organic substances like leaves, soil, and grass from your pool area. We also recommend using an automatic vacuum to keep your pool walls and floors spotless. These vacuums also regularly skim off organic materials and debris from your pool. Outdoor pools are especially susceptible to accumulated organic substances and an automatic vacuum can make your cleaning process a lot simpler.

2. Brush Glass Pool Lines Weekly

Next, we suggest that you brush the waterline of your glass tiles on a weekly, or bi-weekly during hotter seasons, basis. The brushing prevents white calcium deposits building up on your glass pool tiles. We recommend brushing them regularly to ensure that those stains don’t become stubborn and irreversible. You want to invest in a stiff brush to clean away any buildup and work in brisk, circular movements. After you’ve brushed the tiles, use a cloth to wipe away the calcium deposits. If you have any doubts about this process, double check with the tile supplier or manufacturer. They can point you in the right direction.

3. Use the Right Cleaning Solutions

The easier way to clean your pool is to make sure you are using the correct products for your glass pool tiles. The best chemical combinations include vinegar diluted with water, vinegar diluted with baking soda or a calcium releaser for stubborn stains. For calcium releasers, you’ll need to apply a piece of plastic over the tiles to prevent the releaser evaporating.

Calcium carbonate is a white, flaky buildup, while calcium silicate is a white-grey buildup. While the former is relatively easy to remove, calcium silicate tends to be more stubborn and may need tougher tools, like pumice stones, to help remove it. If you want to figure out your pool’s scaling type, you can ask a pool expert to do a muriatic acid test for you.

Sulfamic acid, or other stain erasers, are better suited for tougher stains. Sulfamic acid is a harsh, acid-based product. So that it doesn’t ruin your glass tiles, make sure to test it on a tile patch before applying it to the whole pool. As the acid has a pungent presence, prior to application, we also recommend keeping the space well ventilated. This acid is very strong, so keep it away from plastics and metals as it can erode these materials.

As with any cleaning product, if you have any doubts or questions, refer back to the tile manufacturer. They will be best suited to advice if the cleaning product is good for your tiles or not.

4. Drain and Clean at Least Once a Year

Even if you regularly clean your glass pool tiles, calcium deposits can linger. This is why draining your pool at least once a year to give the pool line, and other affected areas, a vigorous and thorough scrub is extremely beneficial. If you don’t want to drain the entire pool, slightly reducing the water levels before brushing, can also do the trick. Just doing this simple step will help keep your pool clean and shimmering for the start of every summer year.

5. Use a Pumice Stone on Tough Stains

When a stiff brush isn’t effective, a pumice stone can help remove tough calcium deposits. You can purchase soft pumice stones from your local hardware or pool supply stores. Because you’re using a pumice stone on glass tiles, we suggest applying a very gentle force to avoid damaging the tiles.

6. The Last Resort: Soda Blasting

If the pumice stone doesn’t remove the unwanted calcium deposits, try soda blasting. When compared to salt or glass-beat blasting, soda blasting is the safest option for glass pool tiles.The process involves blasting baking soda out of a high-pressure nozzle to remove the calcium stains. When done correctly, it removes the toughest calcium stains without damaging your beautiful pool tiles. In saying this, it is usually a task most suitable for a professional to complete.

7. Use Solar Covers

Covering your pool with a solar cover is designed to keep your pool at a pleasant temperature during the warmer months while saving you on energy and water-evaporation costs. Solar covers are doubly beneficial because they keep dirt and other organic substances out of your pool. Thirdly, they also prevent water evaporation. As water evaporation contributes to calcium buildup, this can also save you time and money on keeping your pool clean.

8. Take Preventative Measures

Whether you have a chlorine or salt water pool, there are a few preventative measures you can take to maintain the cleanliness of your pool. For example, keeping the chemicals at optimal levels helps prevent the development of algae on the glass tiles. Algae can cause staining and thus damages the tiles. Since calcium scaling is caused by an imbalance between calcium levels and the pH of your pool, if possible, we also suggest lowering the pH levels in the water. If you have a serious case of calcium scaling in your pool, you can also consider a reverse osmosis water filtering system to remove calcium from the water.

In Summary

The purpose of creating a habit of scrubbing and clearing away debris from your pool on a regular basis means that you can avoid doing the bigger cleaning jobs, like emptying the pool or using pumice stone, as often. By frequently addressing these nasty buildups you can prevent and avoid re-tiling your pool and enjoy a sparkling pool area all year round.

If, on the other hand, you are looking to re-tile your pool, Armstone is Sydney’s leading provider of premium natural stones and porcelain products.

Check out our quality pool tile options and other natural stones and pavers for your next project here.

Alternatively, contact our friendly team today for more information. We love helping our customers transform their dreams into realities and look forward to helping you as well.