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Regular maintenance of pools is no longer just a necessity but a norm. The extent you embrace pool cleanliness, the more you uncover areas that need more attention.
Pools will always get dirty no matter the amount of maintenance scheme you invest into it. However, knowing what’s right and an appropriate product to use gives you a step ahead to have the most cleaned pool.
In as much as you tried to focus on the cleanliness of the pool’s water, some other component of the pool still gets stained. Investing your time and effort in getting the right product in cleaning pool stains will not only spark off brightness but makes everyone want to use your pool.
People often use different products for this purpose. Still, the one product that has satisfied most pool owners is Ascorbic acid.
Ascorbic acids are used on pool surfaces and other pool components to remove tough stains on both concrete and fiberglass pools.
Here is what you need to know about this great chemical.
What Makes Ascorbic Acid Great Stain Removal For Pools
Ascorbic are natural water-soluble vitamin C for lots of medical purposes. Most importantly, they are a highly reactive organic compound that has been very useful in removing oxidation or organic stains.
Ascorbic acid products have been booming in the market due to their uniqueness and chemical composition that removes the toughest spots that other chemicals can’t match.
Though it is always more expensive than other products in the market. Still, its importance outweighs the cost. So because of its molecular structure and iron chemistry which is mostly where your pool spots come from. Ascorbic acid is best at reducing the iron compositions that pile up on your pool equipment.
Remember that ascorbic acid tends to decrease the acidity and alkalinity of your pool. When that happens, wait for at least 24 hours to bring the level up using soda water or other agents. Test in between to make sure the alkaline and acid are not raised above normal.
In a nutshell, every pool owner grabs every chance in using ascorbic acid stain remover than any other swimming pool stain removers in the market.
Ascorbic Acid Pool Treatment
Ascorbic are tough iron stains removal though its effectiveness is not significant in removing copper ones; instead, they turn the stains from brown to black.
Using ascorbic acid for swimming pools treatment will neutralize the chlorine level; though not hazardous, you would need more ascorbic acid to fight the stains. On the other hand, the compound is slightly acidic and will lower the water’s pH level when used in large doses.
Remember that one gram of ascorbic acid is capable of neutralizing one milligram of chlorine per liter for 100-liter of water.
Here are ways to go about that:
Step 1: You may have chlorine present in your pool. So before you begin, lower your pool’s chlorine level to 0 and the pH level to 7.2. This is because chlorine presence eats up your ascorbic acid, making you use more ascorbic acid for the task.
Step 2: Add any algae preventive agent such as polyquat 60 to prevent algae growth while the treatment is in process. Add per the direction on the bottle.
Step 3: Remove the cartridge of the filter if you are using a cartridge filter or recirculate for an MPV filter.
Step 4: Sprinkle the ascorbic acid on the pool’s sidelines and wait for it to circulate for about half an hour. If the stains it’s not entirely removed, add a little ascorbic acid directly on the spot and circulate until all stain is removed.
Step 5: When the stain has totally cleared up, add a sequestering agent to prevent the iron dissolved in the water from redepositing more stains.
Conclusion
Ascorbic acid for pools stains removal might not seem the best solution for you if it’s wrongly applied. The fact that the stained iron gets dissolved in your pool and, in turn, stains your pool makes new buyers doubt its effectiveness.
However, when the iron stainings are dissolved, the next thing is to apply a sequestrant that binds the iron dissolved in water. This will prevent it from spreading further stains to your pool components.
A long-term option could involve draining the entire pool water and replacing it with metal-free water. This has served as the best long-term option for many.