pool tile crud removal
 

I have a 38,000 gallon in ground plaster pool. Around the edge are four
rows of tiles, about 1 1/2" square. They are a pretty blue, but have a lot
of scale on them from hard water. It rubs off with a fingernail, so is not
on there really hard.

What would you use to clean this with? I am reluctant to use a power washer
because I don't want to blast the grout loose. I thought about draining the
water down, spraying it with CLR, or LimeAway, or something like that, then
scrubbing with steel wool or brushes.

Anyone got any suggestions? I want to do it right, and want it to look
nice, but I also don't want to spend lots of man hours on it.

Steve

On Mon, 9 May 2005 09:00:33 -0700, "SteveB"
wrote:

I have a 38,000 gallon in ground plaster pool. Around the edge are four
rows of tiles, about 1 1/2" square. They are a pretty blue, but have a lot
of scale on them from hard water. It rubs off with a fingernail, so is not
on there really hard.

What would you use to clean this with? I am reluctant to use a power washer
because I don't want to blast the grout loose. I thought about draining the
water down, spraying it with CLR, or LimeAway, or something like that, then
scrubbing with steel wool or brushes.

Anyone got any suggestions? I want to do it right, and want it to look
nice, but I also don't want to spend lots of man hours on it.

Steve


There is nothing better than a razor blade scraper. It goes really
fast after a few minutes of 'learning' and does minimal damage.

"Peabody" wrote in message
news:fDSfe.22622$Um.17534@lakeread08...
SteveB says...

I have a 38,000 gallon in ground plaster pool. Around
the edge are four rows of tiles, about 1 1/2" square.
They are a pretty blue, but have a lot of scale on them
from hard water. It rubs off with a fingernail, so is
not on there really hard.

What would you use to clean this with? I am reluctant
to use a power washer because I don't want to blast the
grout loose. I thought about draining the water down,
spraying it with CLR, or LimeAway, or something like
that, then scrubbing with steel wool or brushes.

Anyone got any suggestions? I want to do it right, and
want it to look nice, but I also don't want to spend
lots of man hours on it.

What I've always used is a "block" of what looks like
volcanic pumice rock that's specifically designed for this
purpose. Your pool store will have it in various sizes.
The block wears rapidly, and you have to vacuum up
afterward, but it seems to work quite well on hard water
deposits on tile without scratching it.

And of course diluted muriatic acid would also work, but you
would have to be really careful, and over time might
dissolve away some grout. DO NOT use CLR or Lime Away.

Whatever you do, I think you will have some hours of work
involved.



Eau contraire, mon ami. I intend to hire ten topless maidens to do it while
I supervise.

Steve