Salt stains
Salt stain in swimming pool ?
Salt stain in swimming pool surfaces have become very common. This is due to the growing availability of low-quality, cheap salts sold across the U.S. Unlike the higher-grade salts typically found in pool stores, these low-quality options often fail to meet proper standards. Additionally, large hardware stores purchase bulk loads of lower-grade salt and sell it at discounted prices.
Cheap salt sells very well because customers think they are getting a great deal! So, because people still buy cheap salt, contamination issues and salt-related staining in swimming pools have become more common.
Remember, cheap salt usually has higher water content, which means it’s heavier. And, because salt is sold by weight, it means you’re actually getting less salt. That’s not a good deal!
Salt stains appear in various colors
Low-quality pool salt can contain tiny metal fragments, which lead to small rust stains and spots appearing on the pool surface. Also, using salt with a light brown tint (due to mineral contaminants) can cause brown staining in saltwater pools.
Remember, the salt itself doesn’t stain the pool; rather, the minerals and metals in low-quality salt are the culprits. We have a blog post that helps you know what good salt looks like. Click here to learn more.
The good news is that our treatments completely remove salt stains without the need for draining the pool or acid washing. Our proven stain removal process works on plaster, quartz, vinyl-lined, and fiberglass pools, restoring surfaces quickly and efficiently. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Salt staining in your pool - The clues
- Brown stain formed soon after adding salt
- Retail stain removers won't remove it
- Brown stains run towards the deep end of the pool
- Stain formed where salt touched the pool bottom
- Water turns murky soon after adding salt
- The salt you added look off color and damp
Why Choose Us?
Our proprietary range of products contains synthetic acids, sequestering agents, ion exchange resins and polymers. All of them have been fully tested and used for several decades in the USA and many other parts of the world. These commercial grade compounds ‘draw out’ and dissolve your pool stain. In fact, we custom blend these compounds for your specific stains. Also, so we can make sure you have the right product for your stain type, our products are not sold in pool stores. Depending on your stain type, the compound can usually remove stains within 2-5 weeks without draining the pool water or acid washing the surface. Stain treatments are what we do and all we do.
Salt Stain Removal Options
Salt Stain Removal DIY kit
- (64oz) of our powerful salt stain prevention formula
- 9 lbs of our granular salt stain dissolving compounds
- FREE Phone support from our technicians
- Simple step-by-step instructions + video included
- Pool does NOT need to be drained
- Kit is sent and tracked by FedEx
- Kids are back in the pool in just 7 days
- Kit is $295 for pools 12,000+ gallons
Salt Stain Removal –
On Site Technician
- (64oz) of our powerful salt stain prevention formula
- 9 lbs of granular salt stain dissolving compound
- Complete 7 point water test
- Your pool does NOT need to be drained
- Kids are back in the pool in 7 days
- Visit is $405 for pools 12,000+ gallons
Our Company Credentials
Good Quality Salt
- Salt flows and feels dry
- Salt is vivid white
- Salt has small crystals
- Dissolves super fast
- Has low mineral content
- Product was not the cheapest
Poor Quality Salt
- Salt feels damp and clumpy
- Crystals seem slightly brown
- Has large crystals
- Takes hours to dissolve
- High mineral content
- Salt was on sale and cheap
Before & After Images of Salt Staining
Why Choose Us?
Speak to a stain specialist about your pool stain today. There is no cost or obligation, and we’re happy to look at pictures and talk with you before we come out or send a kit. Email pictures to info@poolstainremovers.com or call us.
- Pool does not need to be drained
- Stains disappear in less than a week
- Prevention liquid helps stop stain from returning
- Direct contact with trained technician
- Proven results in over 15,000 pools
- A fraction of the cost of an acid wash
We also have a blog post that helps pool owners find and recognize good quality swimming pool salt.
What Causes Salt Staining In Pools
Low quality or contaminated salts.
Cheap salts have large, light brown crystals (grains) which take longer to dissolve which can increase the chances of staining. So, always make sure that your pool salt is thoroughly dissolved and not left sitting on the floor of the pool. Remember, the minerals in low quality salts can leave a light brown haze on the surface of your pool. You can see examples of what that may look like here.
Poor methods are used when adding salt.
Some pool owners will pour the entire bag of salt in at the shallow end of the pool, hoping that water flow will simply dissolve and distribute the salt over time. Although most pool owners are smarter than this, concentrated salt stains are still a very common type of staining. So, make sure to disperse the salt around the entire pool and then brush it until it is completely dissolved. Good quality, fine salt should dissolve quickly when added to the pool water. Remember, if you find that you’re spending a long time brushing to dissolve your pool salt, you may want to try a different brand.
Contaminated or mineral rich salt crystals.
Because salt is a natural product, it can sometimes have discoloured crystals in the bag. And, even the highest quality salt will have occasional contamination. However, if you experience this often, you may want to consider changing your brand or supplier of salt. Remember, cheap salt is cheap for a reason.
Adding salt when the water is out of balance.
When the pH of pool water is too high, it loses the ability to keep microscopic minerals and metals suspended. As a result, the brown minerals and metals commonly found in pool salt can precipitate onto the pool floor and walls, creating dark stains. Salt stains typically appear as dirty brown or dark grey, depending on the pool surface color, and rarely as white staining.
To prevent a brown stain in saltwater pool surfaces, always test and balance your pool water before adding salt. If you notice white stains or lumps, you may be dealing with calcium buildup rather than a salt stain. Click here to learn more about that issue.
How to remove salt stains from your pool
Almost all salt stains in swimming pools can be completely removed using our treatments. No matter what type of surface is in your pool, our products completely remove salt stains. And, best of all, the treatment is a fraction of the cost of a pool acid wash, and you don’t have to drain the pool water or replace all your pool chemicals!
If you are unsure of the type of stain you have, please feel free to contact us.
Remove copper and metals from pool water
CuLator Metal Eliminator effectively removes copper and other metals from pool water, helping to prevent future metal stains, including copper stains. Unlike many products that merely suspend metals, CuLator physically eliminates them from the water, ensuring long-term protection.
HOT TIP: Did you know that most products sold at pool stores don’t actually remove metal, they just control it. Then, once the product has expired, then the metals can re-stain the pool.
Your pool store can assist in testing copper and iron levels in your pool water. Most water tests will show these levels toward the bottom of the page. Click here to learn more about CuLator Metal Eliminator.
