Cleaning a Gunite Swimming Pool

A gunite swimming pool differs from conventional swimming pools in terms of the basic material that is used to build it. Gunite is a unique aggregate derived from cement and is named after the application tool that is shaped like a gun. Cleaning a gunite swimming pool isn't very demanding and can be easily done by using some basic supplies and the information listed below.

Physical & Chemical Cleaning Requirements

Like most conventional pools, gunite swimming pools suffer from a blend of cleaning problems that are chemical and physical in nature. However, the real challenge lies beyond the basic classification of physical and chemical cleaning. Some cleaning requirements can be rather confusing. For instance, algae stains look like mineral stains or hard-water stains but they don’t need chemical cleaning—they can be scrubbed-off the pool’s surface.

Step 1—Getting Started

Remove all items floating in the pool. Ensure that you remove the smaller items that can get sucked in the submersible pump and cause an electrical fire. You should get down into the pool with a rake net to ensure that every floating or submersed item is removed.

Step 2—Draining Gunite Pool

You need to drain the water from the pool to about 1/4th of the pool’s depth. Simply open the drain valve of the pool. This process can be completed much faster if you backwash the filters. Turning the filters in the reversed direction helps to get rid of any sediment or mineral deposits that might be choking the water drainage. If you want to drain the pool even faster, using a submersible pump is recommended. Insert the pump within the pool. Ensure that the attached hose is positioned away from the pool to avoid any backlash of the drained water.

Step 3—Physical Cleaning

Using the pool brush, wipe the walls of the pool. Ideally, the movement of the brush should be downwards, i.e. starting at the top of the wall, move the brush towards the base of the pool. If the pool is quite old, you can use a mop dipped in a mixture of water and some dish soap.

Allow the pool to dry for about an hour. Now, use a high-powered vacuum to clean the deep edges of the pool. The vacuuming helps to get rid of the debris that is too small to be seen and scooped-away. Use the special brushes in the vacuuming kit to clean the smaller crevices of the gunite pool.

Step 4—Chemical Cleaning

You should use a mixture of muriatic acid and water for this purpose. Though a solution made of baking soda and water is also an effective cleaner, muriatic acid has the ability to dissolve the hardest of stains and chemical residues. Muriatic acid can react with the human skin, so be sure that you wear plastic gloves.

Using a tumbler, sprinkle some of the muriatic acid cleaning mixtures across the gunite pool. Leave the pool unattended for about 15 minutes. Proceed with cleaning the entire pool with a garden hose. The acid decomposes all the stains into small deposits that can be easily washed away. This includes metallic or rusting stains and stains left by calcium deposits.

Repeatedly rinse the pool with the garden hose until there is no trace of debris or any kind of foaming.