Cleaning pool surrounds

What is the best Equipment & Chemistry for cleaning pool surrounds?

Cleaning pools surrounds in aquatic centers and public swimming areas, presents major challenges. To achieve a good result, it is absolutely essential to utilize the correct equipment and chemistry.

System 7 Pads

The System 7 pad needs to be used in conjunction with an “ultra-low” detergent cleaning solution. The System 7 Tile Pro is designed for this, however Tile & Grout Cleaner LF is very often used (and very successfully so). You can also use Tile & Grout Cleaner Pro although solutions stronger than 1:100 will tend to clog the pad. Tile & Grout Cleaner LF would be the best choice for this application.

Change room Cleaning and Pool Surround Cleaning

The soiling in a sports change rooms and Pool Surrounds is mainly a mix of two soil types:

• Body fatty acids – which requires an alkaline cleaner
• Water scale, chloride ions, etc. – Which requires an acid cleaner

Poor results are often directly a result of because only one type of cleaner is used. The most effective method (tried and tested on large aquatic centre facilities) is to clean with an alkaline product on a daily basis and then do a periodic wash with an acid clean once per month.

Daily cleaning with an acidic detergent is not advised because:

• It will damage the grout lines, and,
• It will not successfully remove the body fats/oils and the floor will gradually get a build-up of dirt.

For a restoration, deep clean it is recommended to do a thorough clean with Tile & Grout Power (alkaline) followed by a thorough clean using Tile & Grout Restore (acid).

ALKALINE Cleaning Solutions

• Tile & Grout Cleaner Pro – Outstanding multi task alkaline cleaner.
• Tile & Grout Cleaner LF – Designed specifically for use in autoscrubbers.
• Tile & Grout Power – Ultra concentrated, powerful alkali detergent for deep cleans.

ACID Cleaning Solutions

• Tile & Grout Restore – powerful acid replacement technology with strong detergency.
• Crete Clean – a more basic form of the above for straight acid cleaning.

Further Reading:

Aquatic Centre Tiles – The secret to getting them clean