Chemicals for Cleaning In-Ground Pool Liners

Function

• A swimming pool liner covers the structure of an in-ground pool. Liners are usually made of vinyl. Liners come in a variety of designs, and pool owners can choose colors or patterns that match other outdoor accessories. Some liners are covered with tiles at the water level to improve the pool’s aesthetic.

Chlorine

• Chlorine is the basic chemical used in keeping the pool water and the pool liner clean. Chlorine kills bacteria and attacks pathogens by killing their internal structure and cell walls. Chlorine breaks down, though, and creates chloramines, which can stain the pool. To take care of these, you need to shock your pool by adding a super-chlorinated substance such as calcium hypochlorite or lithium hypochlorite or a nonchlorinated substance such as potassium peroxymonosulfate. Adding these chemicals at night to your pool and allowing them to sit for 8 hours before you use the pool will set the chlorine back to its normal state and help you avoid stains on your liner. The stabilizer cyanuric acid must also be added to chlorine pools.The chemical helps prevent the chlorine from breaking down due to sunlight by stabilizing the pool's pH level.

Bromine

• Bromine is an alternative to chlorine for cleaning your pool liner and water. Bromine kills bacteria in much the same way that chlorine does; however, it dissolves more slowly and requires an automatic chemical feeder to get the chemical into the pool. Bromines do not break down the way that chlorine does, so it takes less bromine to maintain your liner. Bromine does not irritate skin and eyes the way chlorine can; however, it is more difficult to fine-tune bromine levels than chlorine levels, and it is common to hire a pool service to help maintain the bromine levels in the pool. Bromine works better in hot water, so it is often used in hot tubs.

Spot Cleaning

• The chlorinated water in your pool will do a lot to keep the pool liner clean on its own, but won't necessarily eliminate every stain. It is important to scrub the liner on a regular basis. If you need to spot-treat a vinyl liner, you can spray it with an all-purpose cleaner or window cleaner. Keep these chemicals away from direct contact with the water, and only use them for unsightly spots above the waterline. If you cannot remove all of the spots by scrubbing, you can always purchase tiles specifically for in-ground pool liners. These will cover up any unsightly spots.